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The Realities of War Discussion 7-1 US History ~ Chapter 7 Topic Discussions E Lundberg Topic of Discussion – The Realities of War Related Topics Chapter Information ~ Ch 7; 4 sections; 35 pages The American Revolutionary War The American Revolution (1775-1783) The French Revolutionary War Section 1 ~ The Early Years of the War Pages 194-203 Section 2 ~ The War Expands Pages 204-211 The Declaration of Independence Section 3 ~ The Path to Victory Pages 212-221 The Continental Congress Section 4 ~ The Legacy of the War Pages 222-228 Treason against the British Crown Key Ideas Key Connections - 10 Major (Common) Themes 1. How cultures change through the blending of different ethnic groups. What is the cost of War? 2. Taking the land. 3. The individual versus the state. How does War impact us today? 4. The quest for equity - slavery and it’s end, women’s suffrage etc. 5. Sectionalism. What does it take to declare War? 6. Immigration and Americanization. 7. The change in social class. The United States has been involved in many Wars. 8. Technology developments and the environment. 9. Relations with other nations. What impact does War have on Patriotism? 10. Historiography, how we know things. Talking Points I Introduction 1. Is war necessary? This question divides people. There are reasons to support both sides of the issue. War is seen by most as a measure that should only be used if there is no other alternative. Some would argue that war should be an offensive strategy because if we perceive a country as a threat, we should be able fight them. And the others point out that war should never be used. Only diplomatic resolutions should be used. But no matter what opinion one may have on the issue, it seems that war is inevitable is our world. Throughout the his- tory of the human race, we have been at conflict with each other because of our differences and failure to coop- erate with each other. 2. Is war ever justified? How would you argue? Take a look at the Iraq War for example. Saddam Hussein was a mass murderer who was responsible for the deaths of thousands of his own people. He tried to attain chemicals to make deadly weapons and failed to listen to the United Nations. The only alternative in this situation was to take him out of power. Even though this is a controversial issue, it seems that no matter what anyone says, war will happen and we have to realize that. 3. Let us look at the reality of the situation. Why is war evil? It kills people and destroys nations. Why is war good? It gives us a positive outlook on the future and allows us to be able to look over our mistakes. The human race has Questions to Think About Supporting Materials How can the US go to War with another country if War The Radicalism of the American Revolution by Wood is not officially declared? Revolutionary Summer by Ellis What powers does the President have regarding the The People's War by Rae War Powers Act? The Struggle to set America Free by Ferling Is War necessary? Discussion 7-1 US History ~ Chapter 7 Topic Discussions E Lundberg Topic of Discussion – The Realities of War Related Topics Chapter Information ~ Ch 7; 4 sections; 35 pages The American Revolutionary War The American Revolution (1775-1783) The French Revolutionary War Section 1 ~ The Early Years of the War Pages 194-203 Section 2 ~ The War Expands Pages 204-211 The Declaration of Independence Section 3 ~ The Path to Victory Pages 212-221 The Continental Congress Section 4 ~ The Legacy of the War Pages 222-228 Treason against the British Crown Key Ideas Key Connections - 10 Major (Common) Themes 1. How cultures change through the blending of different ethnic groups. What is the cost of War? 2. Taking the land. 3. The individual versus the state. How does War impact us today? 4. The quest for equity - slavery and it’s end, women’s suffrage etc. 5. Sectionalism. What does it take to declare War? 6. Immigration and Americanization. 7. The change in social class. The United States has been involved in many Wars. 8. Technology developments and the environment. 9. Relations with other nations. What impact does War have on Patriotism? 10. Historiography, how we know things. Talking Points been embroiled in conflict since our first days, but the wars of the world have made us a stronger people and that is undeniable. II The Effects of War 1. Here are some other relevant figures. Our country sent more than two million men and women to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 6,500 of them are dead. Tens of thousands were physically injured, including some 1,500 amputees. Iraq and Afghanistan were minefields, literally and metaphorically, rife with improvised explo- sive devices, or I.E.D.’s. 2. Of the two-million-plus Americans who spent time there, studies suggest that 20 to 30 percent have come home with post-traumatic stress disorder. Depression, anxiety, nightmares, memory problems, personality changes, and suicidal thoughts: every war has its after-war, and so it is with the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan, which have created some five hundred thousand mentally wounded American veterans.” 3. Pause here for a few seconds. Take that in. Half a million Americans carry around a darkness they didn’t used to, because when our country went to war, they, unlike most of us, actually had to go. 4. There is also the financial strain of military engagement. There’s the wrath of nations that disapprove of it and the possible repercussion from terrorists. With Syria, each of these has been discussed. Questions to Think About Supporting Materials How can the US go to War with another country if War The Radicalism of the American Revolution by Wood is not officially declared? Revolutionary Summer by Ellis What powers does the President have regarding the The People's War by Rae War Powers Act? The Struggle to set America Free by Ferling Is War necessary? Discussion 7-1 US History ~ Chapter 7 Topic Discussions E Lundberg Topic of Discussion – The Realities of War Related Topics Chapter Information ~ Ch 7; 4 sections; 35 pages The American Revolutionary War The American Revolution (1775-1783) The French Revolutionary War Section 1 ~ The Early Years of the War Pages 194-203 Section 2 ~ The War Expands Pages 204-211 The Declaration of Independence Section 3 ~ The Path to Victory Pages 212-221 The Continental Congress Section 4 ~ The Legacy of the War Pages 222-228 Treason against the British Crown Key Ideas Key Connections - 10 Major (Common) Themes 1. How cultures change through the blending of different ethnic groups. What is the cost of War? 2. Taking the land. 3. The individual versus the state. How does War impact us today? 4. The quest for equity - slavery and it’s end, women’s suffrage etc. 5. Sectionalism. What does it take to declare War? 6. Immigration and Americanization. 7. The change in social class. The United States has been involved in many Wars. 8. Technology developments and the environment. 9. Relations with other nations. What impact does War have on Patriotism? 10. Historiography, how we know things. Talking Points 5. But there’s also a worst-case scenario of a point, down the line, when things get messier than we ever meant them to and when there’s a call for something more than aerial bombardment, for the presence and the sacri- fice of American servicemen and servicewomen. III The American Revolutionary War 1. No one knows exactly how many people died in the American Revolutionary War, but eight years of fighting took a terrible toll. An estimated 25,700 Americans died in the war, and 1,400 remained missing. Over 8,200 Americans were wounded. Some were left with permanent disabilities, such as amputated limbs. The British military suffered about 10,000 deaths. 2. Debts and Losses Many soldiers who survived the war left the army with no money. They had received little or no pay. Instead of back pay, the government gave some soldiers certificates for land in the West. Many men sold that land to get money for food and other basic needs. 3. Both the Congress and the states had borrowed money to finance the conflict. The war left the nation with a debt of about $27 million—a debt that would prove difficult to pay off. 4. Those who supported the losing side in the war also suffered. Thousands of Loyalists lost their property. Be- tween 60,000 and 100,000 Loyalists left the United States during and after the war. Among them were several Questions to Think About Supporting Materials How can the US go to War with another country if War The Radicalism of the American Revolution by Wood is not officially declared? Revolutionary Summer by Ellis What powers does the President have regarding the The People's War by Rae War Powers Act? The Struggle to set America Free by Ferling Is War necessary? Discussion 7-1 US History ~ Chapter 7 Topic Discussions E Lundberg Topic of Discussion – The Realities of War Related Topics Chapter Information ~ Ch 7; 4 sections; 35 pages The American Revolutionary War The American Revolution (1775-1783) The French Revolutionary War Section 1 ~ The Early Years of the War Pages 194-203 Section 2 ~ The War Expands Pages 204-211 The Declaration of Independence Section 3 ~ The Path to Victory Pages 212-221 The Continental Congress Section 4 ~ The Legacy of the War Pages 222-228 Treason against the British Crown Key Ideas Key Connections - 10 Major (Common) Themes 1.
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