George Kennan was an American diplomat stationed at the United States Embassy in the Soviet Union, during the post-World War II era. In 1946, he wrote an analysis of the post-war Soviet Union. In 1947, this analysis, in the form of an article, was anonymously published in an American journal, Foreign Affairs. The article presented the idea that communism must be contained to prevent it’s spread to other nations. This concept ultimately became the foundation for U.S. foreign policy for the next 40 years until the fall of communism.
In the aftermath of WWII, the Cold War began. This was not a war in the same sense as the world wars, instead, it was a “battle” over ideologies (democracy versus communism). Each side believed their idea was the best and strove to remake the rest of the world in their image. Ultimately, this would lead to U.S. involvement in two “civil wars” in both Korea and Vietnam. They could be considered “civil wars” because each nation was divided over the ideologies espoused by the U.S. and the U.S.S.R (Russia).
Read the following documents:
“Sources of Soviet Conduct” (1947)
Truman Doctrine (1947)
The Evils of Communism (Ronald Reagan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c_PsUR1wvAL
Nixon’s Kitchen Debate
Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam
Johnson’s Speech on Vietnam (1965)
Senator John F. Kennedy Conference on Vietnam (1956)
The New Containment (2016)
Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964)
Truman (1950)
As the student reads the selections, they should consider the following:
What was Kennan’s containment theory and why was it an important aspect of U.S. foreign policy?
What role did containment theory play in U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War?
Why or how did containment theory lead to U.S. involvement in both Korea and Vietnam?
How did containment policy shape America’s views of the Soviet Union and its citizens?
What is the legacy of containment theory and would it provide a viable aspect of U.S. foreign policy in today’s world? Why or why not?
The Assignment: Students are required to turn in an outline of their paper. If a student fails to turn in an outline, five points will be deducted. The outline should describe in some detail the points that you will make in each content section of the paper. For the outline, students will also need to provide at least one source for each content section of the paper.
Write a 1000-1500 word paper regarding the role of containment theory and U.S. involvement in Korea and Vietnam. Make sure to include information from all the provided documents in your analysis. Use quotes or paraphrase to support your arguments.
If the Global Paper is turned in late within this window of opportunity, there will be a 20 point reduction from the graded score.
Rubric
Human Experience
Discussing how human experience is shaped by global historical events.
10 to >8.0 pts
Exceeds
Thoroughly explains global historical events and articulates the complexity of how they affect specific elements of the human experience.
8 to >6.0 pts
Meets
Explains global historical events and articulates how they affect specific elements of the human experience.
6 to >4.0 pts
Does Not Fully Meet
Identifies historical events but does not explain the connection between them and human experience
4 to >0.0 pts
Does Not Meet
Fails to explain historical events and the connection between them and human experience.
0 pts
No Marks
GE.GC.02
Discussing how human experience is shaped by global forces.
4 pts
Exceeds Objective | Thoroughly explains the global forces and articulates the complexity of how they affect specific elements of the human experience.
3 pts
Meets Objective | Explains the global forces and articulates how they affect specific elements of the human experience.
2 pts
Does Not Fully Meet Objective | Identifies basic global forces, but does not explain the connection between elements and human experience.
1 pts
Does Not Meet Objective | Fails to explain global forces and the connection between elements and human experience.
Global Events
Analyzing the interconnectedness of global events.
10 to >8.0 pts
Exceeds
Thoroughly analyzes the interconnectedness of global events with sufficient evidence.
8 to >6.0 pts
Meets
Analyzes the interconnectedness of global events with sufficient evidence
6 to >4.0 pts
Does Not Fully Meet
Inadequately analyzes the interconnectedness of global events without evidence.
4 to >0.0 pts
Does Not Meet
Fails to analyze the interconnectedness of global events.
0 pts
No Marks
GE.GC.03
Analyzing the interconnectedness of global events and/or global systems.
4 pts
Exceeds Objective | Thoroughly analyzes the interconnectedness of global events and/or global systems with sufficient evidence.
3 pts
Meets Objective | Analyzes the interconnectedness of global events and/or global systems with sufficient evidence.
2 pts
Does Not Fully Meet Objective | Inadequately analyzes the interconnectedness of global events and/or global systems without evidence.
1 pts
Does Not Meet Objective | Fails to analyze the interconnectedness of global events and/or global systems.
Thesis
10 to >8.0 pts
Full Marks
Easily identifiable, plausible, novel, sophisticated, insightful, crystal clear.
8 to >6.0 pts
Meets
Promising, but slightly unclear, or lacking insight or originality.
6 to >4.0 pts
Does Not Fully Meet
Unclear (contains vague terms), appears unoriginal, or offers relatively little that is new; provides little around which to structure the paper.
4 to >0 pts
Does Not Meet
Has no identifiable thesis or an utterly incompetent thesis. Shows obviously minimal lack of effort or comprehension of the assignment.
STRUCTURE
20 to >17.0 pts
Exceeds
Evident, understandable, appropriate for thesis. Excellent transitions from point to point. Paragraphs support solid topic sentences.
17 to >13.0 pts
Meets
Generally clear and appropriate, though may wander occasionally. May have a few unclear transitions, or a few paragraphs without strong topic sentences.
13 to >9.0 pts
Does Not Fully Meet
Generally unclear, often wanders or jumps around. Few or weak transitions, and there are many paragraphs without topic sentences.
9 to >0 pts
Does Not Meet
Unclear, often because thesis is weak or non-existent. Transitions confusing and unclear. Few topic sentences.
USE OF EVIDENCE
20 to >17.0 pts
Exceeds
Primary or secondary source information incorporated to buttress every point. Examples support thesis and fit within paragraph. Excellent integration of quoted material into sentences. Factual information is incorporated.
17 to >13.0 pts
Meets
Examples used to support most points. Some evidence does not support point or may appear where inappropriate. Quotations are integrated well into sentences. Some factual information is incorporated
13 to >9.0 pts
Does Not Fully Meet
Examples support some points. Quotations may be poorly integrated into sentences. There may not be a clear point. Moderate amount of factual information is incorporated.
9 to >0 pts
Does Not Meet
Very few or weak examples and factual information. General failure to support statements, or evidence seems to support no particular point.
MECHANICS
20 to >17.0 pts
Exceeds
Language is clearly organized. Correct word usage, punctuation, sentence structure, and grammar; correct citation of sources; minimal to no spelling errors; absolutely no run-on sentences or comma splices.
17 to >13.0 pts
Meets
Sentence structure and grammar strong despite occasional lapses; punctuation and citation style often used correctly. Some spelling errors and at least one run-on sentence, sentence fragment, or comma splice.
13 to >9.0 pts
Does Not Fully Meet
Minor problems in sentence structure and grammar. Multiple errors in punctuation, citation style, and spelling. May have several (two to five) run-on sentences, sentence fragments, and comma splices.
9 to >0 pts
Does Not Meet
Huge problems in sentence structure and grammar. Frequent major errors in citation style, punctuation, and spelling. May have many (more than five) run-on sentences, sentence fragments, and comma splices.
PLEASE NOTE: Find attached the paper outline that was ubmitted to my Professor.
Thanks.
