A unit based on Foxfire Principles
America at War in the Twentieth Century
Assessment Questions
Givens

Foxfire Core Practices

Standards

Assessment Questions

Links

Rubric

 

At the end of the United States at War unit, you may (1) create a portfolio, (2) take an essay examination, or (3) participate in a small group seminar to demonstrate your grasp of the following (based on the California Social Studies Standards):

Spanish American War and U. S. Imperialism

1. What lead the U.S. and other industrial powers to turn to imperialism?
2. Why did the United States become involved in the Spanish-American war?
3. Discuss U.S. involvement in and the consequences for the following countries: Samoa, Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, China.
4. How did Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson apply the Monroe Doctrine to Latin American countries?
5. How did the Mexican Revolution affect the ties between Mexico and the U.S.?
 

World War I

6. What factors contributed to the outbreak of World War I?
7. Why did the U.S. finally enter World War I?
8. Explain why the U.S. failed to participate in the League of Nations.
 

World War II

9. What factors lead to war in 1939?
10. What steps brought the U.S. closer toward involvement in WW II?
11. How did the U.S. mobilize for war?
12. Discuss battles which were significant turning points in WW II?
13. What factors lead to the Japanese-Americans internment during the war?
14. How did the U.S. respond to Hitlerâs atrocities against the Jews?
15. Discuss the decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the consequences.
 

The Cold War, the Korean War and the Vietnam War

16. What is the purpose and role of the United Nations?
17. What were the main causes of the Cold War?
18. Explain the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, and the Berlin Airlift.
19. What were the major events of the Korean War?
20. Discuss how the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Berlin Crisis and the Cuban missile crisis affected Soviet-American relations.
21. How and why did the U.S. become involved in the Vietnam war?
22. Why did some Americans oppose the war in Vietnam? 
23. What factors lead to a cease-fire in Vietnam?
24. How did the Vietnam War influence Americans?
 

Making Connections

25. What role have developments in technology played in the wars of the twentieth century?
26. What role have alliances played in contributing to and preventing wars of the twentieth century?
27. What events contributed to Americansâ fear of nuclear war? How were these fears reduced?
28. Create a timeline of American involvement in wars of the twentieth century by date and presidential term.