SS.7.C.4.1

Differentiate concepts related to U.S. domestic and foreign policy.

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The U.S. Constitution lists several powers for Congress that deal specifically with foreign and domestic policy. Foreign policy is the nation’s overall plan for dealing with other nations. Domestic policy is the nation’s plan for making laws and policies that impact citizen and non-citizen behavior in the United States.  There are several different areas that the U.S. government focuses on when it comes to developing domestic policy. The U.S. government focuses on social programs, health care, and education when developing its domestic policy.

 

The U.S. government also has to think about several areas when developing its foreign policy plan. The government has to create a plan for diplomacy, which is ways to maintain relationships with other nations. The government needs to consider which countries to join in an alliance with, which is making military or defensive union with other nations. Finally, the government also considers making treaties, or formal agreements, with other nations for the purposes of trade, defense, and other reasons. There are many different areas that the U.S. government focuses on when it comes to developing domestic policy. Some examples of domestic policy issues are social welfare, health care, and education. The U.S. government creates laws and policies related to social welfare, which is when the government provides economic assistance to those in need. The government has designed economic programs for mothers with children, people who are unemployed and people who are disabled. The Social Security program, for example, was enacted in 1936 to help the elderly by providing them with a monthly income during retirement. As well, the government is concerned with providing needed medical care. Medicare was enacted to help pay for the medical care and medicines that elderly people need and often cannot afford. Medicaid was enacted to help pay for medical care and medicines that poor people need and often cannot afford.

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Finally, the federal government focuses on improving education as part of its domestic policy plan. The government provides teaching and learning resources to students from nursery school age through high school and college. One example of a policy related to education was the addition of the No Child Left Behind Act, which changed education standards and created new tests to measure student achievement. On the other hand, the federal government is also concerned about foreign affairs, or dealings with other nations. The federal government’s foreign policy plan addresses how the government plans to interact with nations around the world. The president and the Secretary of State are the nation’s primary foreign policy agents. There are general goals that the president and the Secretary of State keep in mind when developing the nation’s foreign policy plan. These goals include: (1) national security (keeping the United States safe especially at its borders), (2) promoting peace (creating diplomatic relationships and allies (friendships/protection) with other nations), (3) spreading democracy (teaching other nations about the benefits of democratic governments), (4) promoting international trade (expanding the number of goods sold to other countries and good purchased from other countries) and (5) providing foreign aid (providing military, economic health and other types of assistance to other countries that are in need). One example of foreign aid was the aid offered after the United States signed the Marshall Plan, which was a plan to rebuild war-torn Europe after World War II. The U.S. government has to think about several areas when creating its foreign policy plan. The government has to create a plan for diplomacy, which is ways to establish and maintain relationships with other nations. Ambassadors and diplomats, including the Secretary of State, establish good working relationships with other nations.

As well, the government needs to consider which countries with which to join in an alliance. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is one example of a military alliance between several countries, and the United States is a member. By joining with another nation in a military or economic agreement, the United States considers that nation to be an allied nation. The government also considers making treaties, or formal agreements, with the leaders of other nations for the purposes of trade, defense, security and other goals. All of these international relations (dealings with other countries) create better working relationships with nations around the world. It is often the case that what is going on in other places in the world affects domestic policy in the United States. The U.S. government may increase its military spending, and spend less on domestic programs if there are conflicts happening between nations or threats of attack against the United States that may threaten the safety of Americans or U.S. allies. For example, in the 1990s many communist nations fell (except Cuba and China) which allowed for less military spending and domestic spending in the United States. This is one example of how global events changed policies and actions inside the United States. There are very clear goals that the United States has when it comes to developing domestic and foreign policy plans. Domestic policy is any set of laws or actions that are related to government programs that impact the citizens and people within the borders of the United States. The domesticpolicy covers a wide range of areas, from education to the economy, taxes, social welfare, and healthcare. The main goal of any domestic policy plan is to make laws and rules that benefit and protect the citizens and people within U.S. borders. Foreign policy is a nation’s overall plan for dealing with other nations.

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As part of the president’s Cabinet, the U.S. State Department has an important role in guiding and carrying out of the nation’s foreign policy plan. The Secretary of State is responsible for meeting with and offering suggestions to the president, visiting other nations, holding meetings with foreign leaders and government officials, and keeping the United States safe.  By visiting and meeting with leaders of other nations, the Secretary of State learns more about these countries and reports back to the president with important information that will help the president and Congress create a foreign policy plan based on safety and the creation of good relationships.

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SS.7.C. 4.2

Recognize government and citizen participation in international organizations.

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The end of World War II, and more specifically the Holocaust, brought international attention to issues and problems of worldwide concern. People all over the world began to pay closer attention to human rights (rights that people have because they exist) and different organizations were created to support these concerns. Governments all over the world created and participated in a number of international organizations that protected human rights and focused on economic and trade-related concerns. Several international organizations exist that protect human rights (the rights of all people) and focus on economic and trade-related concerns. While these organizations have members from countries around the world, some of these organizations are located in the United States. The United Nations is headquartered in New York City. The UN was founded after World War II and is an organization that keeps peace and helps to develop friendly relationships between and among countries. 193 nations (governments) are members of the United Nations and meet in New York City at different times throughout the year.

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Below are some examples of major international organizations in which governments participate.