Bringing Korea into the Curriculum
RESOURCES
ESSAYS
Bringing Korea into the Curriculum
United States , World , and European History
By Mary E . Connor
THE RATIONALE FOR A DBQ LESSON Document-Based Essay ( DBQ ) questions teach students who are enrolled in Advanced Placement classes invaluable thinking and writing skills . Students learn to interpret primary source documents , critically examine different points of view , and deepen their understanding of textbooks and classroom discussions . Students in World , European , and United States History AP classes learn to combine outside information with the primary source material , an important step for writing research papers and college preparation . Traditionally the DBQ has been the preserve of gifted students . It is too valuable an instrument to be thus restricted because it offers opportunities for all students to participate in high-level critical thinking and writing exercises
THE UNITED STATES , WORLD , AND EUROPEAN
HISTORY DBQ ESSAY QUESTIONS All students study late nineteenth and early twentieth century imperialism , but they may only learn about Korea when they examine the United States policy of containment and the Korean War in the eighth and eleventh grades . The following DBQ lessons provide additional opportunities to incorporate Korea into the curriculum .
This lesson seeks to illustrate by means of historical documents the rivalry among the world powers and its impact on Asia and the world in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century . The implications of nationalism , industrialism , and imperialism on a small nation such as Korea are clear . Students will comprehend the significance of unequal treaties and spheres of influence , concepts that are seldom understood . They will see the connections between the interests of the United States in the Philippines and the annexation of Korea by Japan . In the process of examining the documents , students will gain perspectives on American , European , Japanese , and Korean points of view . They may grow to understand the complexities of internal politics at a time when a nation is besieged simultaneously by major domestic and foreign challenges .
UNITED STATES HISTORY DOCUMENT-BASED ESSAY QUESTION ( Suggested reading time – 15 minutes ) ( Suggested writing time – 45 minutes ) Directions : The following question requires you to construct a coherent essay that integrates your interpretation of Documents A- M and your knowledge of the period referred to in the question . High scores will be earned only by essays that both cite key pieces of evidence from the documents and draw on outside knowledge of the period ( Most of the documents have been edited for the purpose of this exercise ).
This question is designed to test your ability to work with and understand historical documents . Write an essay that :
■ Has a relevant thesis supported by evidence from the documents .
■ Uses all of the documents .
■ Analyzes the documents by grouping them in as many appropriate ways as possible . Does not simply summarize the documents individually .
■ Takes into account both the sources of the documents and the authors ’ points of view .
Using specific examples from the documents below and your knowledge of United States history between 1865 and 1917 , analyze the impact of Western rivalry and Japanese expansion in Korea .
Instructor ’ s Note : Utilize the Historical Background from the European / World History DBQ . Also use all of the documents in the European / World History DBQ except for Documents A , I , and K . Substitute the following documents in their place .
Document A Source : Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States of America and Korea ( Shufeldt Treaty ), May 22 , 1882 .
Article I . There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between the President of the United States and the King of Chosen and the citizens and subjects of their respective Governments .
Article XIV . The High Contracting Powers hereby agree that , should at any time the King of Chosen grant to any nation , or to the merchants or citizens of any nation , any right , privilege , or favor , connected either with navigation , commerce , political or other intercourse , which is not conferred by this Treaty , such right , privilege , and favor shall freely inure to the benefit of the United States , its public officers , merchants , and citizens .
Document I Source : Senator Albert J . Beveridge salutes American imperialism , 1900 .
God has not been preparing the English-speaking and Teutonic peoples for a thousand years for nothing but vain and idle self-contemplation and admiration . No ! He has given us the spirit of progress to overwhelm the forces of reaction throughout the earth . He has marked the American people as his chosen nation to finally lead in the regeneration of the glory , all the happiness possible to man . We are trustees of the world ’ s progress , guardians of its righteous peace .
Document K Source : The Portsmouth Treaty ( negotiated by President Teddy Roosevelt following the Russo-Japanese War ), 1905 .
Article 1 . The Government of Japan , through the Department of Foreign Affairs at Tokyo , will hereafter have control and direction of the external relations and affairs of Corea , and the diplomatic and consular representatives of Japan will have the charge of the subjects and interests of Corea in foreign countries .
BIBLIOGRAPHY Beveridge , Albert J . “ Albert J . Beveridge Salutes American Imperialism , 1900 .” In Dennis Merrill and Thomas G . Paterson , eds . Major Problems in American Foreign Relations , Vol . I . Boston : Houghton Mifflin Co ., 2000 .
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