Of what
significance
is the Pan-American Union?
Beard - 1931 - Questions and Problems in American Government - Syllabus by Erbe
References
Beard's Readings in American Government and Politics, New and Re-
vised Edition, Chap. XX.
Young's The New American Government and Its Work (1023), Chap.
XIV.
Pinchot's "The Conservation of Natural Resources" in the Outlook,
Vol. 87, pp. 291-294.
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? CHAPTER XVn
(PP- 383-396)
TERRITORIES AND EMPIRE
1. Did the Constitutional Fathers contemplate a Union of
equal States? What is meant by a "Union of equal States"?
2. What different views are now held in regard to the ac-
quisition and government of territories?
3. Explain the expression "the white man's burden. "
4. Under what authority has the United States acquired
additional territory?
5. Do the various provisions of the Federal Constitution
apply to the people of the territories the same as to the residents
of the United States proper? Explain.
6. What significance may be attached to the decision of the
Supreme Court in the "Insular Cases"?
7. In what different ways has the United States acquired
additional territory? Illustrate each.
8. How are the following territories governed?
a. District of Columbia e. Porto Rico
b. Alaska /. Virgin Islands
c. Hawaii g. Panama Canal Zone
d. Philippine Islands h. Guam and Samoa
9. Does the United States have a central Colonial Office for
the government of its territories? What are the advantages of
a central Colonial Office?
10. What is a protectorate? How does it differ from a man-
date?
11. List the protectorates of the United States. Under what
circumstances were each of these protectorates established?
54
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? TERRITORIES AND EMPIRE 55
12. Has Congress acquired the territories of the United States
under a definite policy of colonial expansion?
13. What may be said concerning the future of American
colonial possessions?
14. Do the American colonial possessions tend to bolster-up
national defense? Explain.
15. What is the relation of the tariff to American colonial
policy?
16. Are the people of all the territorial possessions, citizens
of the United States? Discuss.
17. Is there a growing tendency for the American people to
become imperialistic? Explain.
18. Of what significance is the Monroe Doctrine in American
foreign policy?
Questions and Problems for Further Study and
Discussion
1. What are the motives prompting colonial expansion?
2. Outline briefly the colonial policy of the United States.
3. May non-contiguous territory be organized and admitted
to Statehood?
4. What degree of local self-government has been granted
to our insular possessions?
5. Should the Filipinos be granted their independence? De-
bate.
6. Does free trade exist between the United States and her
insular possessions? What are your views on this question?
7. Do the inhabitants of the territories participate in the
election of the President?
8. Are the inhabitants of our insular possessions, who are
natural-born citizens of the United States, eligible to the presi-
dency?
9. How does the United States protect her possessions against
foreign aggression?
10. Do the inhabitants of the territories enjoy the same rights,
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? 56 PROBLEMS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
privileges, and immunities under the Constitution that are en-
joyed by the citizens of the United States proper?
n. What important principles were laid down by the Supreme
Court in the "Insular Cases"?
12. How does the colonial policy of the United States com-
pare with that of England; France; Japan; Italy; Holland; and
Portugal?
13. List the territorial possessions now held by the United
States. Give the date of acquisition, the cost, the area in square
miles, and the present population of each.
14. Do the major parties in the United States differ in their
attitudes in regard to the government and control of our terri-
tories? With which of the two do your own views more nearly
correspond? Give reasons.
References
Beard's Readings in American Government and Politics, New and Re-
vised Edition, Chap. XXI.
Munro's The Government of the United States, Third Edition, Chap.
XXVI.
Ogg and Ray's Introduction to American Government, Fourth Edition,
Chap. XXIX.
Mathews and Berdahl's Documents and Readings in American Govern-
ment (1928), pp. 528-545-
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? CHAPTER XVIII
(PP- 397-429)
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
1. How is a nation's destiny related to the manner in which
it conducts its foreign affairs?
2. Who is responsible for the general direction of foreign
affairs in the United States?
3. What part, if any, does Congress play in the conduct of
foreign affairs?
4. Through what channels are negotiations with foreign
countries carried on?
5. Point out the function of the Department of State? How
is this department organized?
6. What diplomatic representatives and consular agents
does the United States send to foreign governments?
7. How are diplomatic agents and consuls selected? In
what manner may their posts be terminated?
8. Outline the duties of a diplomatic agent. Of a consular
agent.
9. Describe the changes that have taken place in the develop-
ment of the personnel for foreign service. Is the present plan
immune of criticism? Explain.
10. Who exercises the treaty-making power in the United
States?
ix. What rules did Jefferson lay down for the making of
treaties? To what extent are these rules followed today?
12. Are these limitations on the powers of the United States
Government? Explain.
13. Outline the steps in the process of negotiating treaties in
the United States.
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? 58 PROBLEMS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
14. Is it diplomatic for the President to assure himself of
senatorial approval before he commits himself on important
treaties?
15. After a treaty has been made, how may it be broken?
16. What is "secret diplomacy"? To what extent is this
practice followed in the United States?
17. What has been the policy of the United States in regard
to foreign alliances?
18. Is it possible or practical for the United States to main-
tain a policy of isolation?
19. Explain the provisions of the Monroe Doctrine. Under
what circumstances was this policy adopted?
20. What attitude have Latin-American statesmen taken
toward the Monroe Doctrine?
21. How has the United States looked upon the establishment
of spheres of influence by foreign powers in backward countries?
22. What phase of American foreign policy is incorporated
in the Kellogg Pact of 1928?
23. Describe the organization of the League of Nations.
24. What are some of the outstanding obligations of members
of the League of Nations?
25. Characterize the relation of the United States to the
League of Nations.
26.
Of what significance is the Pan-American Union?
27. Describe the organization of the World Court.
28. What are some other international agencies that perform
functions of World-wide interest?
Questions and Problems for Further Study and
Discussion
1. May the Federal Government intervene in the adminis-
tration of the criminal law of a State where the treaty rights of
foreigners residing in the United States are involved?
2. Should the United States abandon the Monroe Doctrine?
Explain.
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? FOREIGN AFFAIRS
59
3. Should the United States join the League of Nations?
Give reasons for your answer.
4. How can the rights and independence of small states be
made secure against aggression and conquest from larger states?
5. How may international law be enforced?
6. Would it be feasible to refer the question of whether the
state should enter upon war to the people?
7. How does a treaty differ from an executive agreement?
8. What is meant by "extraterritoriality"?
9. Who is considered to be the most important Cabinet
officer?
10. Under what conditions has the United States agreed to
join the League of Nations? Do you think she is justified in
taking this stand?
11. What protection does the government afford American
citizens abroad?
12. Is the government justified in protecting capital invested
in foreign fields by American speculators?
13. Does the government sometimes encourage citizens to
invest in foreign fields? Do you think it should or should not?
Explain.
14. How do you account for our long-continued differences
with Nicaragua?
15. What has been done to promote good will and a closer
relationship between the states of the Western Hemisphere?
16. What may be said of foreign service as a life career?
17. What efforts are being made to outlaw war and to guar-
antee permanent and lasting peace?
References
Beard's Readings in American Government and Politics, New and Re-
vised Edition, Chap. XVI.
Munro's The Government of the United States, Third Edition, pp. 212-
215, 241-242.
Ogg and Ray's Introduction to American Government, Fourth Edition,
pp. 281-297, 330-340-
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? 6o PROBLEMS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Hart's Actual Government as Applied under American Conditions,
Fourth Edition, Chaps. XXIII-XXIV.
Martin and George's American Government and Citizenship (1927),
Chaps. XIII-XIV.
Mathews and Berdahl's Documents and Readings in American Govern-
ment (1928), Chap. XIV.
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? CHAPTER XIX
(pp. 43? -447)
NATIONAL DEFENSE
1. Do people differ in their opinions and beliefs concerning
the desirability of war?
2. What constitutes adequate national defense for the
United States? Explain.
3. Does propaganda play an important part in the success
or failure of a state at war? Discuss.
4. Is there any relation between national defense and foreign
affairs? Explain.
5. What agencies and factors determine the amount and
character of national defense provided in the United States?
6. How extensive are the powers of Congress to provide for
military operations?
7. Describe the general organization of the armed forces in
the United States.
8. What provision has the National Government made for
educating and training army and navy officers?
9. With what degree of success is the Reserve Officers Train-
ing Corps meeting? Why?
10. What is the relationship of the Departments of War and
Navy to national defense? Explain.
11. How did the National Government proceed to mobilize
its troops upon the entrance of the United States into the World
War? Its economic resources?
12. Why did the Federal Government secure control of most
of the common carriers?
13. What steps were taken by the National Government to
protect itself against enemies and disloyal citizens in the state?
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? 62 PROBLEMS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
14. Point out some of the important boards and organizations
that were created to maintain the United States on a war
footing.
15. What part did the States play in helping the National
Government to carry on its gigantic war operations?
16. Did the war serve as a means of amassing large fortunes
for some of our citizens?
17. How does the cost of paying and preparing for war com-
pare with the cost of maintaining the civil functions in the
United States?
18. In what ways has the United States rewarded and cared
for its war veterans? Is it an easy matter for a government to
administer soldiers relief? Explain.
Questions and Problems for Further Study and
Discussion
1. What is the present strength of our standing army, our
navy, and our aerial defense?
2. How does our defense strength compare with that of
other world powers?
3. How much money was spent in the United States last
year for military purposes? Do you consider this amount ex-
cessive?
4. Assuming that preparation for war is a necessity, which
should receive most attention, the army, the navy, the aerial
service or coast defense?
5. When, if ever, is war justifiable?
6. Is that civilization a success which requires five or six
times as much outlay by the National Government for war and
protection as for the support of all of its constructive and peace-
ful functions?
7. Was Cromwell right when he said, "A man-of-war is the
best ambassador"?
8. Comment on the following quotations.
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? NATIONAL DEFENSE
63
a. "To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means
of preserving peace. "--Washington.
b. "Battles are never the end of war; for the dead must be buried
and the cost of the conflict must be paid. "--Garfield.
c. "War kills men, and men deplore the loss; but war also crushes
bad principles and tyrants, and so saves societies. "--Colton.
d. "War is one of the greatest plagues that can afflict humanity;
it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families.
Any scourge, in fact, is preferable to it. Famine and pestilence
become as nothing in comparison with it. "--Martin Luther.
e. "Among great nations all war is waged by borrowed money;
the capitalist lends the 'sinews of war'--ominous word! --and
for the sake of good investment is ready to foment quarrels
in every part of the world. The politicians declare war, the
capitalists finance it, and the people pay for it. "--Walsh.
f. "Were half the power that fills the world with terror,
Were half the wealth bestowed on camps and courts,
Given to redeem the human mind from error,
There were no need of arsenals or forts. "
--Longfellow.
g. "It is a sad fact that sixty-seven per cent of the expenses of
our government are being expended either because of past
wars or in preparation for possible future wars. "--Capan.
h. "War raises to the surface the worst passions and vices of
men, and whoever expects soldiers, whether they be English,
French, German, or Boers, to act in the heat of battle as a
gentleman would act in a London drawing room, has very
little knowledge of the ferocity latent in human nature. When
life and death are the stakes for which men play, chivalry
and mercy are easily forgotten, and the original savage reap-
pears, not much changed from the primeval time. "--Crosby.
i. "War is one of the principal causes of the degradation of the
human race. "--Novicow.
j. "War regenerates corrupt peoples, it awakens dormant na-
tions, it rouses self-forgetful, self-abandoned races from their
mortal languor. "--Jahns.
9. On an outline map of the world draw dotted lines from
the nearest seaport in the United States to each of our respective
territorial possessions. Estimate these distances as accurately
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