Unit II: U.S. Role in the Worldunit Overviewkemp

Unit II: U.S. Role in the WorldUnit OverviewKemp

The US’ rationale for involvement abroad has changed over time in response to economic, political and ideological motivations

How has the US’ rationale for involvement abroad changed over time?

How and why did the US become a superpower?

What role should the US play in the world?

Key Terms:

American Imperialism:Reading--Tues. Sept 27:Text Pp. 342-345 (imperialism)

Manifest DestinyBlock 9/28: U.S.Involvement presentations

Annexation of HawaiiReading—Tues. Oct. 4:Text pp. 346-366 (early foreign policy)

Spanish American WarBlock 10/6: Perspectives on U.S. Foreign Policy

Dollar DiplomacyReading—Tues. Oct. 11:Text pp. 372-387 ( WWI)

Roosevelt CorollaryBlock 10/12: Historiography: Why did the U.S. get involved?

Reading—Tues. Oct. 18: Text pp. 550-553 (WWII)

WWI:Block 10/19: Understanding Isolationism

Fourteen PointsReading—Tues. Oct. 25: Text pp. 562-588 (WWII)

Woodrow WilsonBlock 10/26: Moral Dilemmas: Why war crimes?

Zimmerman telegramReading—Tues. Nov. 1: Text pp. 602-615 (Cold War)

LusitaniaBlock 11/2 : Seminar: Did our fervent anti-communist stance perpetuate the Cold War?

WWII:

Lend-Lease Act

Neutrality Acts

North Africa Campaign

War in the Pacific

Alliances

Cold War:

Atomic bomb (use of in WWII)

Bay of Pigs

Berlin airlift

Berlin wall

Containment

Cuban Missile Crisis

domino theory

iron curtain

Korean War

Marshall Plan

NSC-68

Truman Doctrine

Questions and Strategies for learning the material in this unit: Remember, we are focusing on U.S. foreign policy. We will study the impacts of our involvement in international affairs on the homefront in other units. A useful starting point is the two-page spread on pp. 404-405 in your textbook.

Re: 404-405: What were America’s motives of getting involved in each of the four eras covered? Discuss whether the motives would be valid in 2016.

Reading--Tues. Sept 27:Text Pp. 342-345 (imperialism)

1. How does the expansion of the U.S. into places like Alaska and Hawaii correlate with our tradition of Manifest Destiny?

Reading—Tues. Oct. 4:Text pp. 346-366 (early foreign policy)

1. What were economic and societal motives for getting involved in Asia and Latin America between 1898 and 1916?
2. Is there a difference between imperialism and expansionism?

Reading—Tues. Oct. 11:Text pp. 372-387 (World War I)

1. To what extent was U.S. involvement in WWI consistent with earlier U.S. foreign policy?

Reading—Tues. Oct. 18: Text pp. 550-553 (1930s & Isolationism)

1. What are the geopolitical and economic consequences of isolationism?
2. What were the major turning points leading up to the outbreak of WWII?

Reading—Tues. Oct. 25: Text pp. 562-588 (World War II)

1. What was the correlation between US entry into World War II and our conduct in the war?
2. What moral dilemmas did the U.S. face?

Reading—Tues. Nov. 1: Text pp. 602-615 (The Cold War)

1. What were the causes of the Cold War?
2. How did U.S. foreign policy change as a result of increasing tensions between the U.S. and USSR?

A note about assignments: Reading assignments will sometimes involve notes or responses to questions, other times you may be just asked to read. However, be sure that you use the questions above and in the margins of your text to check your understanding. Block Days will likely be preceded by a reading or activity to prep you to engage in the planned activity.

NOTES……