How much of your life has the U.S. spent at war?
AP US Government and Politics
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
According to the visual above, what portion of their lifetime would an American born in 2001 have spent at war?
According to the visual above, Now that the U.S. has withdrawn from Afghanistan (listed as War on Terror in the chart above), about what portion of your lifetime has the United States spent at war?
If you had to make a statement, based on the data from the chart above, would you call the United States more of a peace-loving, or a war-making country?
What is the big story this chart tells?
List two reasons the U.S. has been at war so frequently during your lifetime?
What are two consequences of the U.S. being at war so much?
How has US warfare personally affected you?
We currently have a volunteer military - in which no Americans presently are forced to serve. If we abandoned this system, and instead, EVERY American had to serve and fight in the US military, how would that impact our foreign and military policy and the frequency of warfare?
The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the exclusive power to declare war (Article I, Section 8, Clause 11). This authority includes raising/supporting armies, maintaining the navy, and regulating the armed forces. While the President is Commander-in-Chief, Congress holds the power to formally authorize military action. We are now at war with Iran but the Congress has not declared war on Iran. Do you think the Congress will now declare war on Iran?
In the comments section below, explain which of the wars we have waged during your lifetime have been worth fighting:
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Call the White House and advise President Trump on what he should do regarding Iran. Comments: 202-456-1111. Also, you must register for the Selective Service System within 30 days of your 18th birthday.
Get Creative
Based on what you learned about America’s war fighting history, create a logo that accurately reflects the values of the United States of America.
