“Learning to Lead our Lives” WJEC Module 3: 20th Century America and the Wider World: In or Out ? Skill: Knowledge and Understanding/ Communication NGfL: USA 1929 - 1990 All images/ cartoons are believed to be in the public domain. Many of the images were sourced from the internet encyclopaedia wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org

You are an adviser to the president of the United States of America You are an adviser to the president of the United States of America. You must choose one of two foreign policies. Either, to be fully involved in World Affairs, or, have absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the World at all. What reasons might America have for wanting to be involved in World Affairs? How might you argue that America is better off staying out of World Affairs?

Your understanding of American Politics What impact do you think the following have on America’s decision on whether or not to be involved in the wider world?:- Your understanding of American Politics Your understanding of American Culture Your understanding of American Economics Your understanding of American Society Your understanding of American Religion Your understanding of American Nationalism Your understanding of the way America views the outside world

Benefits of staying out of World Affairs Consider with your partner the benefits of each policy and record your ideas in a table like the one below. Benefits of staying out of World Affairs Drawbacks of staying out of World Affairs Benefits of being involved in world affairs Drawbacks of being involved in world affairs

Those in Favour of U.S. involvement Those Against U.S. involvement What decision has your pair come to ? Now write a brief speech outlining your policy decision to the rest of the class. Can you convince people to vote your way? Those in Favour of U.S. involvement Those Against U.S. involvement What does the whole class think?

Let us see if you are right! Now consider the position of America after World War 1. How might these experiences have influenced your decision? Let us see if you are right!

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Political and Economic Isolation Can you define the term: “Political and Economic Isolationism”?

The Economic Isolation 1922 Fordney McCumber Tariff Act All foreign (Non-American) goods had to pay a huge import or export? tariff to allow their goods into America. This meant that the American government generated much more income than they spent This made foreign goods extremely expensive. Most Americans could only therefore buy American goods

How would Economic Isolation help make America rich? How can stopping foreign imports help America? Ford Production line in 1913. This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years or less How would this help a company like Ford?

Political Isolation after WW1 Why did America want to stay out of European politics? What did Woodrow Wilson propose to ensure lasting peace and stability that the US people rejected? This file has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. This applies worldwide.

The first meeting of the League Nations in 1920 The League of Nations This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. This applies worldwide. The first meeting of the League Nations in 1920

What would the League of Nations need to be effective? Improve working and living conditions for everyone Prevent Wars and use sanctions effectively Resolve disputes peacefully What would the League of Nations need to be effective? Have the respect of and authority over all nations Police the World freeing slaves and stopping drug trafficking BUT . . . Fewer than half of the World’s nations joined . . . Including America. It had no army and therefore no way of backing up any sanctions it made. It therefore failed to deliver the International stability and security that were its primary objectives.

Isolationism Definition 1. The United States would avoid, at all costs, involvement in European wars. 2. No President would be allowed to take the American people into any conflict This was called the Neutrality Act and kept the USA out of WW2 until December 7 1941. What event took place on that date to irrevocably change the foundation of American foreign policy of the last 20 years?

The End of Isolationism? photo# k-13513 USS Arizona's forward Magazines explode December 7, 1941 http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm License: All information on this site is in the public domain and may be distributed or copied unless otherwise specified. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credits is requested - http://www.history.navy.mil/warning.htm

The Attack on Pearl Harbour America was left no option but to become involved in World Affairs after Japan declared war on America through a surprise attack on the Naval Base. Germany, at this time allied to Japan, also declared war on America. This forced America into a war not only against the Japanese in the Pacific but also against the Germans in Europe and perhaps changed the course of the Second World War. Credit: Office of War Information. "President Roosevelt Signing the Declaration of War Against Japan." December 1941. This image is in the public domain because it comprises materials that originally came from the United States Government.

After Pearl Harbour American attitudes changed. Why might this be? As we look at different aspects of American foreign policy after World War 2 you will create a summary of each episode in an Iluminatus page and link it to the correct area of the World Map.

Can you work out some of the names of the countries that the USA was involved with after 1945? Korea Cuba r k a e o b c a u Berlin Vietnam r l n b i e e m n v t a i