May 31, 2017

THE BASICS

Topic: Trump Abroad II

Articles

  • “President Trump Calls His First Trip Abroad a ‘Home Run’” (5/27) (Time)
  • “Is NATO ‘obsolete’ or not? Trump and military alliance aim to work out differences” (5/24) (USA Today)
  • “Trump still deciding on Paris climate agreement” (5/24) (The Hill)
  • “Pope-Trump meeting agenda: Climate change, terrorism” (5/24) (CNN)
  • “Unusual Place for a President’s Family on a Foreign Trip: Center Stage” (5/22) (The NY Times)
  • “Trump’s Israel Visit: 5 Key Issues” (5/21) (CNBC)

Questions to Consider

  • How will the second part of President Trump’s trip abroad look different from his visit to Saudi Arabia?
  • What is the significance of the first direct flight from Saudi Arabia to Israel?
  • What issues are part of the Presidential visit to Israel?
  • What does the firstsittingPresidential visit to The Western Wallof the Second Templein Jerusalem mean?What is the significance of the Wall?Why does identification of Jerusalem as part of Israel matter to Israel? Matter to the Palestinians?
  • Why did Prime Minister Netanyahudecide not togo to the Wall with Mr. Trump? What prayer/thought do you think Mr. Trump put in the cracks of the Wall?
  • Doesthe intelligenceinformation given to the Russians impact US/Israel relations?
  • Is a peace deal possible between Israel and the Palestinians? What does atwo-statesolution mean?
  • Why is peace between the Palestinians and Israel so complicatedand soimportant?Who is Benjamin Netanyahu?Who isMahmoud Abbas?What details came out of Mr. Trump’s meeting with Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem?
  • Does an “unconventional” President help or hurt diplomacy in the Middle East?
  • What is the role of the President’s family on his trip abroad?Is diplomacy usually conducted by family members?
  • Who is Pope Francis?
  • What are the issues that the President and the Popediscussed? Is climate change on the top of that list?
  • What is the protest message in Brussels, Belgium around President Trump’s arrival for the NATO meeting?
  • What is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?
  • What is the role that the United States plays in NATO?Is NATO “obsolete”? What is an equitable way to pay for NATO?What is Article 5?IsNATO important in 2017?
  • What is the G7?
  • What is the Paris Climate Agreement? Why are our allies and the Pope interested in the U.S. decision to be part of this agreement?
  • Do intelligence leaks affect cooperation between NATO allies?
  • Which international issue included in President Trump’s trip is most crucial? Most likely to be resolved? Fighting terrorism, cooperation with Muslim countries, peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, security, economic cooperation, climate change or something else?

THE EXTRAS

Pre-teaching, Extensions & Further Reading

  • “New Map Explores The History of Presidential Trips Abroad”(5/25) (National Geographic)
  • “Paris Agreement: Essential Elements”(United Nations)
  • “What is NATO?”(NATO.intl)
  • “The Group of 7 (G7)”(CRF)

Lesson Plans

  • "Making a Difference in the Midst of the Israeli-Palestinan Conflict"(OPB)

What’s the Connection?

Constitutional

  • “Trump’s NATO Article 5 problem” (5/17) (The Brookings Institute)
  • “Commander in Chief”(Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School)

Oregon State Social Science Standards

8.26. Examine a controversial event, issue, or problem from more than one perspective.

HS.31. Describe United States foreign policy and evaluate its impact on the United States and other countries.

HS.33. Explain the role of government in various current events.

HS.59. Demonstrate the skills and dispositions needed to be a critical consumer of information.

HS.60. Analyze an event, issue, problem, or phenomenon from varied or opposing perspectives or points of view.

CCSS Anchor Standards

2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

6. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.

7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.

8. Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.

We the People Lesson Connections

Middle School, Level 2

  • Unit 6, Lesson 28: What is the relationship of the United States to other nations in the world?

High School, Level 3

  • Unit 4, Lesson 23: What is the role of the president in American Constitutional system?
  • Unit 6, Lesson 38: What are the challenges of the participation of the United States in world affairs?