GREATER DENVER METRO NATIONAL HISTORY DAY
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The best way to view the Themebook is to download it to your computer. Created by the National NHD office, this book offers many topic suggestions. 
Please go to www.nhd.org to download the 69 page Themebook.

​   2022 Theme Narrative:
    Debate and Diplomacy 

in History
Throughout the 2021–2022 academic year, National History 
 Day (NHD) students will explore the theme of Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences. Some topics might be stories of debate and diplomacy, 
 while others might cover debate with little diplomatic effort 
 or diplomacy without debate. Students must investigate 
 to determine whether one or both of those themes are 
 present in their narrative. 
 Think of debate and diplomacy as a chess game. Several 
 pieces are on the board, each with its unique talents and 
 abilities. Some moves are aggressive and designed to 
 advance the player one step closer to checkmate. Other 
 actions involve the sacrifice of certain game pieces to 
 advance. 
 Debates are formal or informal meetings where people 
 argue opposing views. Some debates involve two 
 sides, while others involve three (or more) perspectives.   Diplomacy usually involves negotiating, compromising, and 
 communicating with people or nations to find a nonviolent 
 solution. Debate and diplomacy can occur independently or 
 be intertwined. Can diplomacy lead to new debates? Can 
 debates lack diplomacy? 
 Students must also consider the successes, failures, 
 and consequences of debates or diplomatic exchanges. 
 Were they successful, and for how long? Did they fail to 
 resolve the issues or have unintended consequences? It is 
 important to consider the short-term and long-term impact 
 of different events or exchanges on history. Students need 
 to determine the legacies and consequences, good and 
 bad, of the debates and diplomatic actions they choose. 
 They must ask questions about successes, failures, and 
 consequences to drive analysis. What do we consider a 
 successful debate or diplomatic endeavor? Can a failure 
 turn into a success or vice versa? 
 In the study of debate and diplomacy, key moments stand 
 out, such as the Iran-Contra Affair (1985–1987), the Lincoln Douglas debates (1858), or U.S. neutrality during the 
 Great War (1914–1918). But what other instances of debate 
 and diplomacy have defined international relationships, 
 brokered or ended peace, and helped us better understand 
 the past? 
 Consider the many different topics surrounding the Cold 
 War (1947–1991). The Cold War exposed many social and 
 cultural issues in the Soviet Union and the United States. 
 Students might explore the Berlin Blockade (1948-1949), the 
 Cold War’s first crisis. Soviet Premier Josef Stalin blocked 
 U.S., French, and British railway, road, and water access into 
 West Berlin, hoping the western powers would surrender 
 the city. What was the initial impact of this action? How 
 might the events have launched the U.S. and its allies 
 into another war? How did this crisis affect the diplomatic 
 relationship between western powers and the Soviet 
 Union? Students might explore other Cold War topics such 
 as the Truman Doctrine (1947), the Korean War (1950-1953), 
 the Kitchen Debates (1959), or the Cuban Missile Crisis 
 (1962). Who was involved? Were these events instances of 
 successful diplomacy, or were they diplomatic failures? How 
 did their success or failure affect the relationship between 
 the Western and Eastern blocs during the Cold War? 
Others might look at how New Zealand established 
 itself as a diplomatic force during World War II and its 
 active involvement in building the United Nations (1945). 
 Before World War II, New Zealand maintained only one 
 foreign outpost in London, England. What changed for 
 New Zealand? What new alliances did New Zealand 
 establish? How did treaties involving New Zealand, such 
 as the ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand, United States) 
 Defence Treaty in 1951 and SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty 
 Organization) in 1954, influence New Zealand’s status as 
 a world power? Why did New Zealand seek to establish 
 relationships with the United States, Canada, and Asian 
 countries? What happens when diplomatic relations fail? Following 
 the German invasion of Czechoslovakia (now the Czech 
 Republic and Slovakia) in 1938, British Prime Minister 
 Neville Chamberlain few to Berchtesgaden, Germany, 
 to meet German Chancellor Adolf Hitler. Chamberlain’s 
 goal was to appease Hitler and de-escalate the growing 
 unrest in Europe. What diplomatic agreement resulted from 
 this meeting? What happened when actors involved no 
 longer wished to follow the guidelines set forth? What was 
 the impact on Czechoslovakia? What were the ultimate 
 consequences of appeasement? How did it set in motion a 
 domino effect that led to World War II?  
Students might look at diplomatic challenges that have 
 reappeared throughout history. Following World War I, 
 President Woodrow Wilson proposed a League of Nations. 
 Why did President Wilson develop the League? Was it 
 successful, or did it fail? Did the League have power on a 
 world scale? How was the League diferent from the United 
 Nations established in 1945? What patterns or trends do we 
 notice in diplomatic exchange? 
 Students interested in Asia might explore the tensions 
 between China and Japan throughout history. How has the 
 relationship between these two nations changed over time? 
 Consider the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) or the 
 Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945). Did these wars 
 lead to diplomatic relationships between the two countries? 
 Were they successful, or did they fail? 
 

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  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Judges Information
  • 2022 THEME
  • TEACHER RESOURCES
    • Tech Tools for Teachers
    • Teacher Professional Development Resources
    • WORKSHOP WEDNESDAYS >
      • EVALUATION TOOLS
  • STUDENT RESOURCES
    • Local Libraries in GDM area
    • RESEARCH HELP
  • RESEARCH AND RESOURCES