Process

Step 1

To answer the question of what motivated the United States to get involved in the three previously mentioned conflicts first you will go to the following website to answer the question for World War One.

Dates of World War One

First look at the First dates that war was declared between Germany and its enemies toward the top of the page, and then scroll down to the date that the United States entered the war. 

 1.  How much time separates the time war was first declared by Germany against Russia versus the time the United States declared war against Germany?

 2.  What does this amount of time tell you about the United States involvement in World War One?

 3.  What reasons might exist for the United States taking so long to get involved in the conflict?

 Next go to a page on the sinking of the Lusitania found at:

  Lusitania

 4.  What nation did the Lusitania come from?  Why is this significant?

 5.  Was any warning made by the Germans to Americans travelling on British vessels?  If so why is this important?

 6.  What Role did the sinking of the Lusitania play in the United States becoming involved in WWI?

 7.  How might this be related to the attacks on the World Trade center on September 11, 2001?

Now open the link to the Library of Congress Website where you can either listen to or read a speech by Stephen Wise called “What are we fighting for?”

1.  What reasons does Stephen Wise give to justify the United States involvment in WWI?

2.  Do you think any of these reasons are reasonable?  Why or Why not?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2 

Vietnam

Go to the following link: Vietnam

Read the timeline that follows the United States involvement in the Vietnam Conflict.

1.  What event takes place in 1964 that leads Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to defend South Asia?

2.  Why is this Resolution criticized?

Now go to the following page that explains more of the reasons for the United States going to war in Vietnam: A Brief History

3.  What was the United States reasoning for getting involved in Vietnam in the first place?

4.  How might lessons learned from these reasons be applied to the situation you are facing in the aftermath of September 11, 2001?

Step 3

 Go to the Experiencing War: Stories from The Veterans History Project

 Choose an interview with a veteran from any war of your choice and answer the following questions.

 1.  Was the person scared to go to war? If so what sort of fears did they have, if not why were they not scared?

 2.  Did the person going off to war believe that the reason they were going was a good reason? Why or Why not?

 3.  How can this experience help to inform you on your questions and how will it effect the way you present the information in your presentation at the Whitehouse?

 

Step 4

With all of the information that you have found in your internet research, prepare a 7 minute presentation of the different questions that you were able to answer in your research.  Your presentation will essentially be explaining what lessons were learned by previous armed conflicts and how our nation can avoid those same mistakes today.  Follow the rubric for evaluation to determine the different requirements for the project and refer to the questions from the web guide to determine your options for the making the project.