Tuesday, April 7th

The topic for the next couple of days is the viewpoints in America as WWII starts brewing in Europe. These two viewpoints were isolationism and internationalism.

We first did a Quick Write to stimulate thinking about these two views. Put your quick write on the back of handout #16. Here is the prompt: "If you could guarantee the capture of Osama Bin Laden but for certain it would lead to WWIII ... would you do it?"

If your belief is that we must do whatever is necessary to bring Bin Laden to justice you share a viewpoint similar to the Internationalists prior to WWII. If you think WWIII is too scary a price to pay then you have a viewpoint that is similar to the isolationists before WWII.

Next we need to go into more detail concerning the viewpoints of isolation and internationalism. You should read handout #15 and pages 711-712 in your book about these beliefs and complete the t-chart on handout #16. On this chart list the arguments that would support each viewpoint.

Here are some viewpoints to consider-decide whether each of these is an isolationist viewpoint or an internationalist viewpoint:

--WWI settled nothing
--Stop Hitler before he gets too powerful
--Britain and France are important to us
--We must deal with problems at home (i.e. the Great Depression)
--It is a European war
--America became great by focusing on America
--WWI was debts unpaid
--A war in Europe affects the U.S. greatly
--War gives profits to arms dealers ("merchants of death")
--world trade helps world peace
--the Great Depression is over
--world alliances would drag the U.S. into conflict
--great power means we must assume great responsibilities
--America had been tricked into WWI (Nye Committee)
--Neutrality might drag the U.S. into war anyway
--Europe and a European war are far away
--This is the 1930's and 1940's things happening in the world are not that far away
--Europe will always be at war

When you are done adding these to your chart on #16. Read the two speech excerpts on handout #17 and underline key points of each man's speech. FDR will make a case for internationalism and Robert Hutchins will make a case for isolationism. You can add these arguments to your chart on #16. Then answer the questions on the back of #17.
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