Linking Theme: The Presidents and Central/South America 1945-81
You will be issued with your 'Presidents in the Americas' Pack before we begin this unit. This is a crucial linking theme for HL students. Expected previous knowledge includes your Cold War unit (SL) as well as an in-depth revision of the theme of Presidential power (see the 'politics' section for Truman-Carter.) - plus International affairs/foreign policy. A specialized understanding of your Fidel Castro unit is essential also. Chapter 17 is recommended in the book below:
Guiding questions:
Content: What challenges did each President face in Central and South America? What economic/political/military strategies did he use? How effective were they? Analysis: What key issues/debates arise out of US foreign policy aims and strategies? How did covert operations affect the Presidency and North America's relationship with Central/South America? What schools of thought are there?
A thematic question on the Presidential Policy/Cold War and its impact on the Americas
A question comparing the Cold War policies of the Presidents in the Americas
Lesson Ideas 1. Research, edit and develop the framework of events on the time line on learning links above or Outline_map_of_Latin_America.gif - print out an enlarged A3 version of this map. Annotate onto it the key events and developments in Latin America from 1959-1990. Include a key. 2. Refer to the CNN Cold War website and watch video 5 Episode 18. The whole episode can be viewed on google video (see below) Take notes for these guiding questions: 1) What do you learn about the intentions and methods used by the USA to prevent the spread of Communism in "Their own backyard?" 2) What do you learn about the intentions of Castro and his methods to bring about "A hundred Vietnams?"
Linking Theme: The Presidents and Central/South America 1945-81
You will be issued with your 'Presidents in the Americas' Pack before we begin this unit. This is a crucial linking theme for HL students. Expected previous knowledge includes your Cold War unit (SL) as well as an in-depth revision of the theme of Presidential power (see the 'politics' section for Truman-Carter.) - plus International affairs/foreign policy. A specialized understanding of your Fidel Castro unit is essential also. Chapter 17 is recommended in the book below:Guiding questions:
Content: What challenges did each President face in Central and South America? What economic/political/military strategies did he use? How effective were they?Analysis: What key issues/debates arise out of US foreign policy aims and strategies? How did covert operations affect the Presidency and North America's relationship with Central/South America? What schools of thought are there?
Learning Links:
Keep the guiding questions in mind and be selective with what you need to know:
For general information:
Cold War context -
Time line of events - Here's a framework for you to build up your facts with
Digital History chronology
Presidents in the americas.ppt - used in class
For detailed information:
Highly recommended Study Unit on ProQuest History
The HistoryQuest database - on Latin American history and US interventions
The EBSCO database features many articles/encyclopedias. Here's a good article: EBSCO article US Latin American policy 1823-1965 and Article on the Caudillo
CNN video/documentary Episode 18 Backyard 1945-1990; watch the whole episode on googlevideo-see below
American Intelligence Agencies
Shafr.org
US interventions Excellent for stats and key themes/debates - including PPT used in class
Possible essay questions:
- A thematic question on the Presidential Policy/Cold War and its impact on the Americas
- A question comparing the Cold War policies of the Presidents in the Americas
Lesson Ideas1. Research, edit and develop the framework of events on the time line on learning links above
or
Outline_map_of_Latin_America.gif - print out an enlarged A3 version of this map. Annotate onto it the key events and developments in Latin America from 1959-1990. Include a key.
2. Refer to the CNN Cold War website and watch video 5 Episode 18. The whole episode can be viewed on google video (see below)
Take notes for these guiding questions:
1) What do you learn about the intentions and methods used by the USA to prevent the spread of Communism in "Their own backyard?"
2) What do you learn about the intentions of Castro and his methods to bring about "A hundred Vietnams?"