History of USA 2020
No. 2. Amongst the Congress, the Judiciary, and the Executive branches of the United States Government, which one of the government branches is much more powerful and why? Elaborate through the prism of the US Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances systems. (20)
No. 3. Even though the Great Britain and the United States of America fought a Revolutionary War in the 1770s and the War of 1812, how did the two powers come closer in the later parts of the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries? Elaborate. (20)
No. 4. How did the American-Spanish War in 1898 raise the United States status as one of the leading world powers? (20)
No. 5. After the end of WWI (1914-1918), why the US President Woodrow Wilson failed to convince the US Congress to become part of the League of the Nations despite his longstanding efforts for the creation of this International Organization through the prism of his Fourteen Points? (20)
No. 6. In the wake of the WWII (1939-1945), two major powers the US and the Soviet Union emerged constituting a bipolar system. Elaborate conceptually if the bipolar world remained more peaceful and stable than the multi-polar word in the pre-World Wars era. (20)
No. 7. Since the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949, why the United States desires to further expand NATO? Elaborate opportunities and challenges for the expansion of the NATO. (20)
No. 8. The tectonic plates of international politics seem to shift away from Europe to the Asia-Pacific region, which the U.S. President Barak Obama had termed as a “pivot to Asia” or “rebalancing” strategy. In the light of changing geo-strategic environment, how could you see the rise of China vis-à-vis the U.S. geo-strategic interests in the Asia- Pacific region? (20)
Summaries of Questions:
No. 2. Amongst the Congress, the Judiciary, and the Executive branches of the United States Government, which one of the government branches is much more powerful and why? Elaborate through the prism of the US Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances systems.
While each branch of the US government has defined powers, the Executive branch, under the President, is often seen as the most powerful due to its authority in foreign policy, military command, and executive orders. However, the system of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances ensures that Congress can limit executive power through legislation, and the Judiciary can review actions through judicial review, maintaining balance.
No. 3. Even though Great Britain and the United States of America fought a Revolutionary War in the 1770s and the War of 1812, how did the two powers come closer in the later parts of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries? Elaborate.
After the wars, both nations focused on common interests like trade, defense, and global stability. The US emerged as an industrial power, and Britain’s imperial interests began to wane. Shared cultural ties, economic cooperation, and mutual geopolitical goals, especially during both World Wars, strengthened the Anglo-American relationship in the 19th and 20th centuries.
No. 4. How did the American-Spanish War in 1898 raise the United States’ status as one of the leading world powers?
The American-Spanish War of 1898 resulted in the US acquiring overseas territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. This marked the US’s emergence as a global imperial power, signaling its shift from continental expansion to international influence in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
No. 5. After the end of WWI (1914-1918), why did US President Woodrow Wilson fail to convince the US Congress to become part of the League of Nations despite his longstanding efforts for the creation of this International Organization through the prism of his Fourteen Points?
Wilson’s failure to gain Senate approval for the League of Nations was due to opposition from isolationist senators who feared entanglement in European conflicts. Despite Wilson’s advocacy, his inability to compromise and the political divide over internationalism versus isolationism led to the US not joining the League, weakening its global role in post-WWI diplomacy.
No. 6. In the wake of WWII (1939-1945), two major powers, the US and the Soviet Union, emerged constituting a bipolar system. Elaborate conceptually if the bipolar world remained more peaceful and stable than the multi-polar world in the pre-World Wars era.
The bipolar world after WWII was more stable in some respects due to the clear power division between the US and the USSR, which led to mutually assured destruction (MAD) and prevented direct conflicts. However, the multi-polar world before the World Wars had more complex alliances and tensions, leading to frequent wars, but also offering more diplomatic flexibility and balance in power dynamics.
No. 7. Since the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949, why does the United States desire to further expand NATO? Elaborate opportunities and challenges for the expansion of NATO.
The US supports NATO expansion to increase its global influence, ensure European stability, and contain potential threats like Russia. The expansion helps spread democratic values, but challenges include managing regional tensions, ensuring military readiness, and addressing opposition from non-member countries, especially Russia, which sees NATO’s enlargement as a direct threat.
No. 8. The tectonic plates of international politics seem to shift away from Europe to the Asia-Pacific region, which US President Barack Obama termed as a “pivot to Asia” or “rebalancing” strategy. In light of the changing geo-strategic environment, how could you see the rise of China vis-à-vis the US geo-strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region?
The rise of China poses a direct challenge to US strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific. China’s growing economic and military power threatens US influence in the region, especially in areas like trade routes, territorial disputes, and alliances. The US’s “Pivot to Asia” aims to strengthen its alliances with countries like Japan, South Korea, and Australia to counterbalance China’s regional dominance.