Ch. 25: The United States and Foreign Affairs Summary
Lesson 1: Global Interdependence and Issues
• Because each nation has different resources, global advantages, and needs, nations rely on each other for the exchange of goods and services (global interdependence).
• Trade barriers protect domestic businesses, but they can hurt consumers, who have to pay higher prices for domestic goods.
• There is a wide economic gap between rich, developed countries and poor, developing countries.
• Countries that trade with each other may have conflicting views about global issues.
• Industries that contribute to economic growth may cause pollution and other environmental issues. Switching to cleaner energy sources is expensive and may slow the growth of developing nations.
• Major global issues include immigration; clashes between ethnic groups; terrorism; and refugees who are driven out of their countries by war, famine, conflict, or natural disaster.
Lesson 2: The United States and International Organizations
• Organizations to address certain global issues are formed by governments (governmental organizations or GOs) or by private citizens (nongovernmental organizations or NGOs).
• The United Nations (UN) was formed in 1945 to keep peace among nations. It now has 192 member nations.
• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a group of 28 North American and European nations that keep peace and defend NATO members in times of war.
• The World Trade Organization (WTO) promotes free trade for its 150 member nations.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) is a part of the UN that directs efforts to fight and prevent disease around the world.
• The Peace Corps is a U.S. governmental organization of volunteers in 77 countries worldwide who work on public health issues, teach people how to use modern technology, and help with local business development.
• The International Committee of the Red Cross is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that unites the efforts of aid organizations around the world to help victims of war or natural disasters.
Lesson 3: The United States and World Affairs
• Human rights have shaped important political events, such as the American Revolution. They include the right to adequate food, safety, and shelter, as well as the right to be protected under law and to exercise freedom of thought.
• In 1948, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• The United States and the Soviet Union were the main rivals in the Cold War, which ended in 1991, when the Soviet Union broke into 15 separate nations.
• On September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by members of a terrorist group called al Qaeda.
• The U.S. government responded to the September 11th attacks by setting up the Department of Homeland Security to reduce, prevent, and help recover from terrorist attacks.
• The U.S. also enacted the Patriot Act, which gives the government power to seek information related to terrorism, and it sent troops into Afghanistan and Iraq.
• In May 2011, United States forces captured and killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden hiding in Pakistan.
• Because each nation has different resources, global advantages, and needs, nations rely on each other for the exchange of goods and services (global interdependence).
• Trade barriers protect domestic businesses, but they can hurt consumers, who have to pay higher prices for domestic goods.
• There is a wide economic gap between rich, developed countries and poor, developing countries.
• Countries that trade with each other may have conflicting views about global issues.
• Industries that contribute to economic growth may cause pollution and other environmental issues. Switching to cleaner energy sources is expensive and may slow the growth of developing nations.
• Major global issues include immigration; clashes between ethnic groups; terrorism; and refugees who are driven out of their countries by war, famine, conflict, or natural disaster.
Lesson 2: The United States and International Organizations
• Organizations to address certain global issues are formed by governments (governmental organizations or GOs) or by private citizens (nongovernmental organizations or NGOs).
• The United Nations (UN) was formed in 1945 to keep peace among nations. It now has 192 member nations.
• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a group of 28 North American and European nations that keep peace and defend NATO members in times of war.
• The World Trade Organization (WTO) promotes free trade for its 150 member nations.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) is a part of the UN that directs efforts to fight and prevent disease around the world.
• The Peace Corps is a U.S. governmental organization of volunteers in 77 countries worldwide who work on public health issues, teach people how to use modern technology, and help with local business development.
• The International Committee of the Red Cross is a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that unites the efforts of aid organizations around the world to help victims of war or natural disasters.
Lesson 3: The United States and World Affairs
• Human rights have shaped important political events, such as the American Revolution. They include the right to adequate food, safety, and shelter, as well as the right to be protected under law and to exercise freedom of thought.
• In 1948, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• The United States and the Soviet Union were the main rivals in the Cold War, which ended in 1991, when the Soviet Union broke into 15 separate nations.
• On September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by members of a terrorist group called al Qaeda.
• The U.S. government responded to the September 11th attacks by setting up the Department of Homeland Security to reduce, prevent, and help recover from terrorist attacks.
• The U.S. also enacted the Patriot Act, which gives the government power to seek information related to terrorism, and it sent troops into Afghanistan and Iraq.
• In May 2011, United States forces captured and killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden hiding in Pakistan.
References: The McGraw-Hill Company