HIS 100 Module Three Activity Template: Historical Context
Replace the bracketed text below with your responses.
Identify the topic you chose to explore:
[Founding of NATO]
Describe the historical context surrounding your historical event.
[After World War II, Europe was left in ruins. The Western democracies became very concerned
with the communist policies the Soviet Union was expanding into the broken Eastern European
countries liberated from Nazi occupation. This led to the ideological clash between communism
and democracy. Both Sides were fighting for influence and control in Europe.]
Describe a key historical figure or group’s participation in your historical event.
[President Harry S. Truman played a significant role in the founding of NATO. On April 4, 1949,
President Truman signed the North Atlantic Treaty on behalf of the United States.]
Explain the key historical figure or group’s motivation to participate in your historical event.
[President Truman was an advocate for the Western democracies coming together to stop the
spread of communism through Europe. This strong advocacy was a key driver for the
establishment of NATO.]
Articulate how the historical context caused or influenced your chosen historical event.
[The Competition between Democracy and Communism was the key influence for the Founding
of NATO. The founding of NATO included Article 5 which is an attack against one member is an
attack against all members. That was a strong deterrent against an invasion from the Soviet
Union.]
Explain how connecting your historical event and current event improves the understanding of
On your topic.
[Connecting the founding of NATO and the War in Ukraine improved my understanding of how
well a NATO membership really influences the political world.]
