Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences

History Day Workshop September 28, 2010 Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences

Debate and Diplomacy • This is a brand-new theme • Contrary to past History Day rules, interpret this theme as “Debate AND/OR Diplomacy” • Staff encourages students to include connections to both, if possible

Debate • Debate: • A discussion involving opposing points; an argument

Debate • Debate • A discussion involving opposing points; an argument • Deliberation, consideration

Debate • Debate • A discussion involving opposing points; an argument • Deliberation, consideration • A formal contest in which the affirmative and the negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers

Debate • To be a “debate,” a topic needs to be more complex than a disagreement • Debate implies large issues, long-term discussion of opposing sides, and impactful consequences • For example, students and teachers can disagree about school dress code, but can debate about students’ rights to use dress as a method of free speech (Tinker v. Des Moines)

Debate • Most debates, disagreements and arguments involve controversy • The difference is that debates must have a historical significance • Use the postscript “Successes, Failures, Consequences” to define the historical significance and impact

Debate: Physical vs. Ideological • Physical debates: • Kennedy/Nixon, Lincoln/Douglas, other presidential debates. Instead of focusing on the mere presence of these debates, focus on the substance behind the debates. • Ideological debates: • Subjects debated within communities or nations. Change, or non-change, is a motivating factor behind participants’ efforts. Ideological debates may be resurrected throughout history.

Debate: Timeline of Debates • Pick a social/political/economic issue and find points in time when it was debated. Women’s Suffrage 1848 1869 1872 1890 1912 1919 Declaration of Sentiments Split from Susan B. Anthony’s arrest Merger of AWSA and Alice Paul forms 19th amend. abolitionists NWSA militant NWP passed

Debate: Modern Debates • Modern debated issues: Find the origin or similar topics in the past • Current debate may become a part of the impact, but define the debate in historical terms • For example: Gays in the military • Women in the military, women in combat • Blacks in the military, separate companies • Compulsory draft, conscientious objectors • Young people in war, unable to vote

Debates: Where to Look • Places to look for debates… • Court cases (the context of the court case will generally demonstrate debate). Gideon v. Wainwright • Medical controversies (as new issues arise, new technologies are discovered, changes in social viewpoints). Methods of polio treatment • Within a movement (methods, leadership, warring factions). Different methods of Malcolm X and MLK • Governmental change (look for the source of the change, act, amendment, leadership shift). Alien and Sedition Acts.

Diplomacy • Diplomacy • The art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations, as in alliances, treaties or agreements.

Diplomacy • Diplomacy • The art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations, as in alliances, treaties or agreements. • The conduct of the relations of one state with another by peaceful means.

Diplomacy • Diplomacy • The art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations, as in alliances, treaties or agreements. • The conduct of the relations of one state with another by peaceful means. • Tact, skill or cunning at dealing with people.

Diplomacy • Generally, diplomacy is defined as international relations • But diplomacy can also be conducted by sovereign nations, nations in a civil war, within governments, between defined interest groups • Define diplomacy as an organized gathering with a resolution in mind. The goal of diplomacy is an outcome • Diplomacy is not always equal.

Diplomacy: Modern Diplomacy • When looking at current diplomatic topics, look for other diplomatic events between the same countries, or similar issues between different countries. • For example: U.S. hikers hostage in Iran • Iran-Contra • British hostages in China, 1960s • Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979 • Iranian Coup D’Etat, 1953

Diplomacy: Where to Look • Places to look for diplomacy… • Treaties between nations, sovereign nations, or large collections of nations. Geneva Conventions • Agreements (as resolutions to end wars or conflict, aid allies, forge alliances). Surrender at Appomattox • Federal Acts (intended to resolve or deal with controversies). Cherokee Removal Act

Debate and Diplomacy • Debate often precedes or succeeds diplomacy • Debate can lead to diplomacy, and diplomacy can spark debate • For both to be included, students must be able to argue that the discussion before or after diplomacy is actually debate, or that the agreements surrounding debates are actually diplomacy

Debate and Diplomacy • Students’ “main point” will likely be either debate or diplomacy, and the other will fall in the context or impact section. • For example, the main topic might be the Three-Fifths Compromise, which is diplomacy. But the preceding debate over slaves’ status and the following debate regarding slavery itself would be, respectively, context and impact.

Cautions About D&D • This is not the debate team. In other words, the student is not part of the argument and should not be projecting opinions. • Students must be objective and should not join in the debate. • It is necessary to address both sides of the debate. In order for it to be a debate, there must be two or more sides. Both must be understood and explained. • Do not make a debate into a tennis match.

Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences