Activity 2:
Social Darwinism and Formation of American Foreign Policy[1]
General Information:
- The readings of this activity will be discussed in class on Monday,
August 31.
- Prior to our discussion, you will take a quiz on these
readings worth 20 points. Questions
on this quiz will be based on the readings of this activity as well as the
assigned pages of Chapter 20 of the textbook.
- These documents and readings will be the basis for a group
& class discussion.
- You must be in class to get credit for this assignment.
Activity:
The purpose of this activity is to understand
and evaluate the ways that Social Darwinism and Reform Darwinism were applied
to the formation of American foreign policy in the 1890s. As the semester
continues, we will also evaluate whether these concepts still impacted this
country’s foreign policy.
In this activity, you will read three primary
sources which focus on this country’s approach to foreign policy in the 1890s.
America’s foreign policy is the primary topic of Chapter 20 of the textbook as
well as a topic for lectures and discussions.
Prior to reading the documents in this
activity review the concepts of Social Darwinism and Reform Darwinism. You can also refer to the glossary of terms
for Social Darwinism and Reform Darwinism.
Process:
- Read pages 599-614 in Chapter 20.
- Read the primary sources included below
and answer the questions that appear at the end of each. These readings
and questions will be the basis for the quiz on February 5.
Documents:
Josiah Strong – Our Country
Document Analysis
- What role did missionaries play in Strong's
version of the future?
- What role did evolutionary theory play in
Strong's view of the world?
- In your opinion, is Strong a Social Darwinist
or a Reform Darwinist? Or are his
ideas a mix of both? Provide one or
two specific examples that support your point of view.
Albert Beveridge -The March Of The Flag
Document Analysis
- According to this address, why should the
United States expand overseas?
- What benefits would expansion bring to the
United States? What benefits would the United States bring to its annexed
territories?
- What is the nature of Beveridge's
interpretation of history, as expressed in the last paragraph?
- In your opinion, is Beveridge a Social
Darwinist or a Reform Darwinist? Or
are his ideas a mix of both?
Provide one or two specific examples that support your point of
view.
President William McKinley - Justifying Annexation of the Philliipines
(1898)
Document Analysis
- According to McKinley's speech, why couldn't
the Filipinos rule themselves?
- Why and how did McKinley believe that U.S.
rule would benefit the Filipinos?
- In your opinion, is McKinley a Social Darwinist
or a Reform Darwinist? Or are his
ideas a mix of both? Provide one or
two specific examples that support your point of view.