1. Do Now
One day at school you notice a huge ring of students jostling and pushing. As you get closer, you hear some of the students yelling, “Fight!” Like the rest, you want to see what is happening. Finally finding a vantage point, you see two students threatening one another. One is a good friend; the other is a former friend and current enemy who owes you money. What will you do?
1. Turn away and leave because the fight does not concern you and getting involved will only mean trouble.
2. Convince a couple of friends to help you separate the two students before they hurt each other.
3. Get into the fight on your friend’s side and punch out the former friend who owes you money since he deserves it.
4. Punch out both students to show the rest of the school who is the toughest kid at Unami.

2. Today, you will be examining the choices the United States has made in its foreign policy relations with other countries.
What is foreign policy?
The diplomatic policy of a nation in its interactions with other nations.

3. The Foreign Policy Spectrum
Isolationism
Collective Security
Internationalism
Imperialism
“World Policeman”
“Loner”
“Team Player”
“World Bully”
Strict non-involvement in the affairs of other nations
Working with other countries to influence world affairs
Intervening in other countries’ affairs to promote important national interests and/or to safeguard national security
Extending power by acquiring territory around the globe or exploiting weaker nations to serve national interests.

4. The Foreign Policy Spectrum
Isolationism
Collective Security
Internationalism
Imperialism
“World Policeman”
“Loner”
“Team Player”
“World Bully”
Where do the “fight” scenarios fit on the spectrum?
Turn away and leave because the fight does not concern you and getting involved will only mean trouble.
Convince a couple of friends to help you separate the two students before they hurt each other.
Get into the fight on your friend’s side and punch out the former friend who owes you money since he deserves it.
Punch out both students to show the rest of the school who is the toughest kid at Unami.

5. With a partner, you will read the foreign policy action cards.
Activity
Write a short justification of your placement then continue the process until all of the events are completed.
After reading the description carefully decide where it should be placed on the foreign policy spectrum. Then shade in the spaces that correspond to the foreign policy stance you think the action represents.
With a partner, you will read the foreign policy action cards.

7. Closure
1. Which foreign policy stance has the United States appeared to favor the most? The least?
2. Do you notice any patterns in U.S. foreign policy over the course of U.S. history?
3. What do you think might explain the constant shifting of U.S. foreign policy from one stance to another?
4. Why do you think the United States began taking a more active role in world affairs in the twentieth century?
5. Where on the foreign policy spectrum should the United States position itself today? Explain.