• Policies of United States government which promote or fail to promote relationships with other countries include national defense (military), arms control, security of other nations, trade, human rights, economic sanctions, and foreign aid.
• Contemporary concerns and goals which affect international relationships include national security, economic well-being, the spread of democracy, developing nations, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, global economic conditions, and private agencies.

1. Ask students the following discussion question:
   Why does the United States provide foreign aid to other nations?
    
2. Have students list on their own paper any policies or goals that they associate with American foreign policy. Write student responses on the chalkboard. Students may come up with concepts that are not in the assessment limits. Include any legitimate foreign policies or goals.
    
3. Distribute the handout United States Foreign Policy and have students categorize their responses into political, social or economic goals. This can be done as a class or in small groups and then shared. See the Teacher Resource Sheet for possible responses. Many terms may be listed under more than one category.
    
4. Ask students these summary questions:
   • Which foreign policy goal seems most important to the United States right now? Why?
   • How can the United States carry out that particular foreign policy goal?

Country X has annoyed the world community by bullying neighbors and developing weapons of mass destruction. After ten years of sanctions against Country X, the world community is proposing to end the sanctions. The United States disagrees with this proposal.

• What actions could the United States take to convince other countries to maintain the sanctions?
• Which action would be the most effective? Justify your choice.
• Include details and examples to support your answers.