Realism vs. Idealism

Over the past two centuries, two schools of thought, known as realism and idealism, have shaped U.S. foreign policy. Realism is based on the belief that relations with other countries should be guided by national self-interest. From this perspective, foreign policy should pursue practical objectives that benefit the American people. Such objectives might include national security, increased trade with other nations, and access to overseas resources.

Idealism in foreign policy is based on the belief that values and ideals should influence how countries relate to one another. From this point of view, foreign policy should be used to promote America's founding ideals—particularly democracy, liberty, and rights—to ensure a better world not just for Americans, but for all people.

Was American foreign policy during the 1800s motivated more by realism or idealism?  

What about today?

Where would Donald Trump's foreign policy go on the spectrum?  Barack Obama?  Why?  

What conclusions can we draw?

Progressive President Party

As you move around the room and 'Mingle' answer these questions on the back of your 'mask:'

1) Which of the Presidents would you bring to a party based on their personality?  Why?

2) Who would you turn to if you needed something done around the house 'as soon as possible' (ASAP)?

3) Who did the most to help women?

4) Who did the most to help the 'American Worker?'

5) Who fought the hardest against 'Big Business?'

6) How would the current President compare to the 'Progressives?'  Would he be invited to their party?  Why or why not?

Dear FLOTUS

When was the last time you wrote a letter?

If the answer is "not recently," then you can count yourself among the millions of Americans who just don't write letters anymore. The post office says the average American home receives only one personal letter about every two months.

"It's becoming a lost art," says Deb Bruzewski.

The City Beautiful Movement

The Chicago World’s Fair played a key role in the creation of the City Beautiful movement.  At the core of the fair was an area that quickly became known as the White City for its buildings with white stucco siding and its streets illuminated by electric lights. Buildings and monuments by Charles McKim, Daniel Burnham, Augusts Saint-Gaudens and Richard Morris Hunt and lush landscaping by Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of New York’s Central Park, left a lasting impression on municipal planners looking for a way to bring open spaces and grand public buildings into crowded cities. Chicago itself was one of the first cities to adopt aspects of the new City Beautiful movement. Dozens of other cities across the country followed its lead, most notably Washington, D.C., where by 1902 plans were in place for a redesign of the city center that would result in the creation of the National Mall and its surrounding monuments.

How did the City Beautiful movement change the way we view American Cities?

CityScape

Do you have what it takes to be the next Daniel Burnham?

Can you build the next great 'American Metropolis?'

You have been assigned to create a new city in a recently discovered region that is prime for development! Rank the 18 urban aspects at your disposal to build your city, but only the proper order will achieve the highest ranking: a teeming Cityscape! Good Luck! 

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So Proudly We Hail!

The tremendous manpower needs faced by the United States during World War II created numerous new social and economic opportunities for American women. Both society as a whole and the United States military found an increasing number of roles for women. As large numbers of women entered industry for the first time, so to did the need for nurses clarify the status of the nursing profession.

In 1the 1942 film 'So Proudly We Hail', an Army plane brings eight nurses from the Philippines to Australia. They are the only female survivors from the hard-hit Army base in Corregidor, and are put aboard a ship to the US. Their leader, Lt. Janet 'Davy' Davidson (Claudette Colbert), does not speak, and the doctor on board asks the nurses to tell their story so he can try to help her.

What characteristics could be used to describe these brave nurses? Compare these women to women of today. How are they alike/ different? Were the nurses more of a help or a hinderance? How have women's roles in war continued to change?

Why were these nurses lucky to have escaped Bataan?

Tomahawk vs. Zero

The P-40 Warhawk and A6M Zero were two prominent U.S. and Japanese fighters at the beginning of the Second World War. Both had achieved admirable records. Being two of the most recognizable and widely used aircraft of the war, their paths crossed many times. Yet their performance and career tracks were very different.

Which airplane had the biggest advantage at Pearl Harbor?  Why?

Can you defend Pearl Harbor from the Japanese attack?

Try flying these other historic aircraft.