Name:

Date:

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ALREADY?               

QUESTION

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Answer before you read.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

Answer as you read.

1.  In what year did the UN start?

    

2.  How many countries were the original UN founders/signers?

    

3.  How many countries are in the UN now?

    

4.  In what city is the UN headquarters?

    

5.      What is the recognized head of the UN called?

    

6.      What is the current UN senior officer called (title)?

    

7.      What are the six official UN languages?

    

8.      What world organization dedicated to peace preceded the UN?

    

9.      Name 3 NGOs.

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

10.  Who is head of the UN?

    

Circle the letter of the best answer.

11.  What similarities does the UN have with a country ?   

  1. It has its own flag, mayor, army
  2. It has its own territory, postage stamps and flag
  3. It has its own capital, ruler and tax system

12.  What were the two basic main goals of the League?                

  1. peace and economic/social development
  2. collective action and world army
  3. peace and environmental protection

13.  Who pressed the most for the creation of the UN?                

  1. Dwight D. Eisenhower and Winston Churchill (US and UK)
  2. The press and the public
  3. Germany and Japan

14.  Which major UN body has the most power?   (Refer to UN System Resource Point C- 2 pages)

  1. General Assembly
  2. Security Council
  3. International Court of Justice
  4. Secretariat
  5. Economic and Social Council

15.  Who were given permanent seats on the Security Council and veto power?

  1. The 5 richest nations
  2. The 5 winners of WWII
  3. The 5 nations (US, UK, China, South Africa and Argentina) representing the 5 major continents (N. Amer., Europe, Asia, Africa and South America)

16.  What document, signed by all UN members, affirms human rights?                                                

  1. The UN Charter
  2. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
  3. The UN System

VOCABULARY (You may use a dictionary for this) - Match

____17.  Sovereignty                                       A.  A government order prohibiting the entry or departure of commercial ships at its ports

____18.  Sanctions                                           B.  A coercive measure, as a blockade of shipping, usually taken by several nations together, for forcing a nation considered to have violated international law to end the violation

____19.  Embargo                                            C.  Supreme and independent political authority;

                                                                  self-determination

____20.  Imperialism                                       D.  The policy of extending a nation’s authority by territorial acquisition or economic influence

____21.  Hegemony                                         E.  Overwhelming influence on one country over others, authoritarian

____22.  Autonomy                                          F.  Condition of being self-governing, self-determination

......................................................................................................................................................................
Team Essay Question

1.  Team up with one other person.

2.  Define Roles: 

      Recorder

      Typer

3.      Choose a topic and develop a response.  Each team must pick a different topic. 

The recorder will draft the first copy while you both talk.
The typer will take this first copy home and type it up.
Both the recorder and typer will read to the class equal parts of their combined response

4.  This presentation is due on the next school day.

TOPIC CHOICES

1.      Why was the League of Nations not continued after 1945?  Do you think the decision to start a new organization was the right one?

2.       What were some of the reasons the League of Nations failed?  Why do you think the UN has been able to stay in existence and increase its membership?

3.      What important countries were not involved in planning the UN?  Do you think their absence was justified?  Write a justification for your answer.

4.      Nationalism is a belief which exalts the nation state, a territory which has a single practical identity and a common government.  The state often makes a powerful and emotional claim on the loyalty of its citizens.  Give examples of nationalism.  Do you think nationalism in the cases you cited has produced a good or bad effect?

5.      War causes upheaval in many ways.  It shakes up established ideas.  After WWII, many of the UN members believed in the importance of agreeing on

·        standards for human rights
·        independence for colonies
·        democracy
·        abolishment of dictatorships. 

Give examples, taken from the years after 1945 of:

a)      human rights which have been obtained

b)      colonies which have obtained their independence

c)      dictatorships which have been ended

6.      People traditionally defend their lands.  Is it true to say that the defense of individual nations should be a greater priority than anything else?  Make arguments for and against.

7.      Is it right that the victors in WWII should be the only permanent members of the UN Security Council?

8.  Some politicians continue to criticize US involvement in the UN.  Also, our Congress has refused to allocate money to pay its debt (around one billion dollars) to the UN.  Develop arguments for and against continued US participation in the UN.