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History 370


  Overview 


This site is designed by an undergraduate history and integrated social studies major to be a teaching unit for high school students in the 11th or 12th grade, at the end of the year. After a course in World History, this unit will challenge the students to ask themselves where the world is now, where it is headed, and how the United Nations will facilitate progress. 

 

It is to be assumed that students have been exposed to a yearlong curriculum that addressed economic power and the cultural influences that “stronger” nations and societies have had on the rest of the world. Possible issues for examination prior to this unit may include: European imperialism in Africa, Chinese expansion in Asia, Spanish and Portuguese influence in South America, German expansion prior to World War 2, French influence in Indochina and the Caribbean, U.S. relations with Native Americans and Mexico, Japanese imperialism in the Pacific, and U.S. intervention in Latin America. Exposure to these issues at previous points in the curriculum will prepare students to examine economic power and influence in a contemporary setting.

 

The theme for the unit is world balance from a non-Western perspective: How does economic power affect a nation’s ability to influence world systems? The theme will be addressed by examining the history of the United Nations, the actions of select members, and the economic power of these nations.

 

 My inspiration for this unit was the United Nations website, which states that its purposes for establishment were to “maintain international peace and security,” and to “develop friendly relations among nations.” In consideration of colonial dominance and the imposition of modernity on the “third world,” it seems to me as though the United Nations is a wonderful organization, in theory. I want students to explore the role that non-Western nations play in this organization, and to see if friendly relations and mutual respect are promoted among all nations of the world.

 

Goals: Students will

*  Gain a basic understanding of the United Nations, its governing bodies, and its purposes for existence, as demonstrated in group participation and the submission of a completed worksheet

*  Utilize technological skills to electronically research data to complete the required assignments

*  Analyze information and draw conclusions based on findings by creating an essay about a non-Western nation of their choice (Egypt, Chile, China)

*  Form an opinion about the current importance of economic power in international relations and world balance, as demonstrated in the essay

 

Justification:

 

From the National Council for the Social Studies website:

 

http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/toc.html

 

*  Ten Thematic Strands in Social Studies
Culture
Time, Continuity, and Change
People, Places, and Environment
Individual Development and Identity
Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
Power, Authority, and Governance
Production, Distribution, and Consumption
Science, Technology, and Society
Global Connections
Civic Ideals and Practices

 

I chose Global Connections and found the quote below:

 

“The realities of global interdependence require understanding the increasingly important and diverse global connections among world societies.”

Instructions for unit use and classroom activities

 

 

 


This website was created as an assignment for Dr. Makela’s Summer Workshop in World History for Teachers (HIS 370) at Cleveland State University.  This page was created on July 8, 2003 and last revised on August 4, 2003.