4.3 International Conflicts

Why did the United States enter into World War I?

• The United States had a defensive alliance with Britain and France.

• American leaders hoped to annex new territories as a result of the war.

• German submarines were attacking American ships in the Atlantic Ocean.

• Japanese warplanes had bombed American ships at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Why did the United States enter World War II?

• Germany had unleashed unrestricted submarine warfare against American merchant ships.

• The United States came to the defense of its ally, the Soviet Union.

• The United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by Japan.

• Americans feared Nazi Germany might conquer the world.

Why did the United States become involved in the Korean War?

• to free Korea from occupation by Japan

• to stop the North Korean invasion of South Korea

• to prevent the Soviet Union from taking over Korea

• to protect oil reserves found on the Korean Peninsula

Why did the United States invade Afghanistan in 2001?

• Its leaders refused to sell their oil to Americans.

• Its leaders had issued threats against the United States.

• Its leaders had seized staff of the American Embassy as hostages.

• Its leaders were protecting members of al-Qaeda responsible for the attack on the World Trade Center.

Why did the United States send its troops into Iraq in 2003?

• American leaders feared that Iraq was about to fall under Communist rule.

• American leaders believed Iraq’s dictator was hiding weapons of mass destruction.

• American leaders had promised to free the Iraqi people from the grip of a ruthless dictator.

• American leaders suspected Iraq’s dictator was behind the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center.

The excerpt above is from President Harry Truman’s address to Congress on March 12, 1947. Which U.S. foreign policy was adopted based on this speech?

• intervention in Iraq

• the containment of Communism

• American entry into World War II

• humanitarian aid to developing nations

The newspaper headline above identifies an event in U.S. history. What led to the event described in this newspaper headline?

• Communist North Korea had invaded South Korea.

• Students in Tehran had seized the staff of the U.S. Embassy as hostages.

• Japan had launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

• Vietnamese Communists had attempted to topple the government of South Vietnam.

In October 1962, American spy planes discovered that the Soviet Union was about to install nuclear missiles in Cuba, 90 miles from Florida. How did President John F. Kennedy respond to this crisis?

• He ordered the invasion of Cuba by an army of Cuban exiles.

• He threatened the Soviet Union with an immediate nuclear attack.

• He established a naval blockade around Cuba until the missiles were removed.

• He agreed to let the missiles remain in Cuba in order to avoid a nuclear war.

What is the relationship between President Obama’s statement and US involvement in Syrian political affairs?

• Development of Diplomatic Alliances

• Support for the Rule of Law

• Economic Development

• Conflict Resolution

What factor for conflict or compromise is described in this speech by President Obama?

• Motivations

• Actions

• Conditions

• Conflict Resolution