For this assignment, you will write an essay that identifies yourself as one of President Roosevelt’s advisors from 1939–
1946. Based on your chosen office (Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, etc.), what advice would you give the
president regarding these two key decisions in this period?
How should he manage the American entry into the war despite a population with varied reactions to entry and participation
in World War II?
What is the appropriate global role of the United States through the end of World War II?
Write your essay as if it were a briefing to the president. Include data and as much context as available. Begin with a
specific insight or vision statement about importance of domestic versus international considerations in decision-making
about America’s role from 1939–1946. Remember that you are looking at this from the perspective of the date of your
briefing.
Follow the steps below to develop your essay:
Step1:
Choose one appropriate secondary source and one relevant print primary source. A secondary source is a peer-reviewed
history journal article or history book. A primary source is an account, item, or data generated in the historical period by a
participant or witness. Appropriate print primary sources include parts of speeches, debates, and newspaper editorials. At
least one source must come from the Waldorf Online Library.
Step2:
Complete your research. Your advice must center on two key decisions and reflect what a likely advisor and not your
modern self would reasonably be expected to say. Create a detailed portrait of the background and political views they
would be likely to have. Then, gather details and compare the alternatives for each of the two major decisions you selected. Weigh the political consequences for the president at home, as well as for the U.S. role on the global stage by 1946.
Step3:
Draw conclusions about this person’s view of the most important factors. Prepare your insight or vision statement. Your
vision statement should offer your reader your specific insight into the weight of domestic versus international
considerations in decisions. Use specific examples to make your point. Make sure that the advice reflects what this
particular persona would reasonably be expected to say.
Use the following guidelines to help compose and present your advice:
Compose a list of the characteristics of this advisor, including office, profession, education, class, and political opinions
so that you can consider these biographical elements as you formulate their advice.
Ensure that your insight or vision statement is about the period 1939–1945 only and that you are not projecting your own
personal opinions but building the likely opinions of a person in this period.
Avoid including the decision made by President Harry Truman to drop the atomic bomb, but you are free to include
Roosevelt’s decisions to pursue the Manhattan Project and plans to drop the bomb.
Use specific decisions and/or data.
Consider the relative weight of domestic political concerns and geopolitical struggles in making the two decisions.
Consider the advisor’s reactions to other political ideologies involved in World War II.
Ask yourself how the chosen primary source can be presented by this advisor to shape Roosevelt’s decision-making. HIS 1120, American History II 3
Direct quotations from this primary source should not exceed 10% of your content.
Step4:
Compose your briefing in essay form.
Your essay must be at least two pages in length, double-spaced. Adhere to APA Style when creating citations and
references for this assignment. APA formatting, however, is not necessary. Please note that no abstract is needed.
This formal paper example provided by the Waldorf University Writing Center shows this type of formatting.
https://mywaldorf.waldorf.edu/media/formal-essay-with-bubbles/
link to the Textbook for reference is available in the study guide attached.
