Foreign Policy and the 3 Branches of Government

This lesson is designed to introduce students to the process of forming foreign policy in the branches of government.  Students will analyze a primary document (Obama’s letter to Congress) to understand the relationship among the branches of government in making foreign policy decisions.  Students will connect information they have learned from the Origins podcast about the value of an historian’s perspective when making foreign policy decisions.  Through class discussions, small group work, and reflection students will integrate multiple sources of information (slides, discussion, podcast homework, Obama’s letter) to answer the essential question; What is the value of an historian’s perspective when making foreign policy decisions?