Military+Conflict+Hypothesis+Project+Presentation+-+2013



Effectively present and defend the conditions upon which a government should lead its people into military conflict.
 * Objective: **

You will prepare your theory in the form of a sentence outline. The outline will contain the three conditions upon which you believe a government should lead its people into military conflict and the historical evidence that support those conditions.Your conditions can be supported by any of the historical events we have studied this year in class.
 * Step 1: Writing the Theory Proposal **

This proposal will provide evidence of your abilities...
 * to demonstrate a strong and comprehensive understanding of the historical events studied in this U.S. History class.
 * to write both clear and concise explanations that include accurate interpretations of historical events related to your military conflict conditions
 * to think critically in order to effectively refute opposing positions and arguments made against your military conflict conditions.
 * to be a motivated learner by putting in extra time, effort and attention to neatness, detail, and precision of thought.

//** Military Conflict Hypothesis Outline Components **// Include the following for each one of the THREE conditions found within your military conflict hypothesis:
 * 1 Point - Clear single sentence position statement
 * 2 Historical Examples - (Direct quotes w/ proper in-text citations)
 * 2 Explains - Single sentence explantations of the historical relationship that exists between your Point and your Historical Examples
 * 1 Counter Argument / Refutation - Cited historical counter-argument and refutation1 Conclusion - Clear single sentence conclusion that summarizes the main ideas of each condition
 * A counter argument and refutation is required for only ONE of your three military conflict conditions
 * 1 Conclusion - A Single sentence conclusion for each condition that fully summarizes your Point, Historical Examples, and Explanations

//** Resources **//
 * // "Jus ad bellum" // - Perspectives of the "Right to War" theory by Stanford University & the Catholic Church ([|Handout])

Demonstrate your ability to be an Effective Communicator and Motivated Learner by creating a media presentation (4 minutes max**) that accomplishes the following:
 * Step 2: Presentation Requirements **


 * Part A) Effectively communicates to others the three conditions upon which you believe a government is justified in leading its people into military conflict. The presentation should be creative, engaging and well-designed. The presenter will not be allowed to use note cards.


 * Part B) Demonstrate your ability to effectively apply your military conflict hypothesis to ONE of the following options.

**OPTION 1** **Secession or Union?** Based on your understanding and interpretation of the events leading to the American Civil War, provide a defense for the decision of A) the Confederate government to secede from the Union and lead its people into military conflict -OR- B) the decision of the National government to lead their people into military conflict in order to preserve the Union.

Resources Use the following resources to help you prepare and complete your final presentation.
 * [|Blog] Entries (Military Conflict Theory)
 * [|American Foreign Policy DBQ]
 * [|Manifest Destiny (Florida, Texas, War w/ Mexico) DBQ]
 * [|Abolitionists, Wage Slaves, Slavery DBQ]
 * [|Lincoln, Secession, & the Civil War DBQ]
 * [|Jus Ad Bellum - Just War Doctrine] (Stanford University & Roman Catholic Church)

**OPTION 2** **Should the U.S. Intervene in Syria with Military Action?** Research the events related to the current civil war occurring in Syria. Based on your military conflict hypothesis, provide an argument as to why the U.S. should or should not lead its people into military conflict to aid the rebels in Syria. You are also free to choose another modern day military conflict, but you must first get approval from Mr. Armstrong.

Resources Use the following resources to help you prepare and complete your final presentation.
 * [|Should the U.S. intervene in Syria Debate]
 * [|Chemical weapons used in Syria]
 * [|What to do about Syria]
 * [|Obama: US has 'moral obligation' to help end civil war in Syria]
 * [|Syrian Refugee Crisis Growing]

**OPTION 3** **How can the decision to enter military conflicts affect combatants, civilians, or the physical environment?** Compare and contrast the events of the Civil War to America's most recent conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan. Demonstrate how a government's decision to lead its people into military conflict can impact military soldiers and their families.

Soldiers
 * New Realities of War (Hart 311)
 * African-Americans at War (Hart 317)
 * [|Confederate vs. Union Soldier]
 * [|Hardening Effect of Combat]
 * [|Women at Arms] & [|Females Sue To End No-Combat Rule]
 * [|Post Traumatic Stress Disorder]
 * [|Struggle of Amputee Soldiers]


 * Step 3: Military Conflict Theory Oral Defense **

A question and answer period, not to exceed 3 minutes, will immediately follow your presentation. During this time, you will be required to effectively defend your military conflict theory and analysis against the questions and counter-arguments made by your fellow classmates and Mr. Armstrong. During the oral defense, the presenter will be granted limited use of their Social Studies textbook and research notebook.

At the end of this process, your classmates and Mr. Armstrong will submit their evaluation of you and your ability to effectively present and defend your military conflict theory.