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Cold War
(1947-1991)
 Civil Defense

Civil Defense
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 6 to 8
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   8.37

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    sheeting, nuclear, radiation, unsafe, agency, entrances, teaching, stocking, notify, natural, provided, enemy, symbol, screening, operation, government
     content words:    Cold War, United States, Soviet Union, President Truman, Federal Civil Defense Administration, World Trade, Homeland Security

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Civil Defense
By Sharon Fabian 		  
1     The symbol was posted at entrances to public buildings all around the country. A black circle with three yellow triangles inside. On the yellow background, below the black circle were arrows to show the people where to go.
 
2     In the 1950's, these signs were posted on public buildings everywhere to show the way to emergency shelters. In case of a nuclear attack, people were to follow the signs.
 
3     Americans feared a nuclear attack in the 1950's because of the Cold War. In this Cold War, both the United States and the Soviet Union were building up supplies of deadly nuclear weapons. It was a dangerous time.
 
4     During this time, communities made plans for what to do in case of an attack. These plans were called civil defense. Citizens felt a little safer when they knew what to do if an attack came. If the Soviets ever attacked, Americans were to run into one of the public shelters identified with the yellow and black signs, or run down to a basement shelter in their home.

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