Nixon's domestic policies aimed to solve several issues including the Vietnam War and the relationships with China and the U.S.S.R. Using a spider map, students will outline, define, and explain the foreign policies initiated by Nixon during his presidency.
This activity serves as a great way to provide students with a background from which they can analyze and synthesize how Nixon conducted foreign affairs as a whole, including his role in the continuing Cold War. Teachers may pre-select which major policies define his foreign agenda. Below are some suggested topics that students can also select from.
Extended Activity
Have students create a 5 Ws spider map on one specific foreign policy. Students should define and explain the major points of why such policy was initiated, as well as what effect it had on the American government, public, and global relations. This will allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of Nixon’s policies as a president, as well as place his actions into a broader historical and global context.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Create a spider map outlining the foreign policies Nixon initiated during his presidency.
Primary sources help students connect directly with historical events and perspectives, making their analysis more authentic and engaging.
Choose short, relevant excerpts such as Nixon’s speeches on China, SALT I agreements, or news articles from the era to ensure students can read and understand the material independently.
Encourage students to highlight key points and write questions or reactions in the margins, helping them engage critically with the text and connect it to their spider map.
Organize students into small groups to share their annotations, discuss differing interpretations, and collaboratively deepen their understanding of Nixon’s foreign policy decisions.
Have students cite specific evidence from the sources in their spider map descriptions, strengthening their analysis and linking firsthand accounts to each policy’s summary and impact.
President Nixon's main foreign policies included Realpolitik, détente with the U.S.S.R., Ping-Pong Diplomacy with China, involvement in the Vietnam War, the SALT I nuclear arms agreement, and addressing the energy crisis. Each aimed to reshape America's global relationships during the Cold War.
Students can use a spider map by placing Nixon's foreign policies as main branches. For each branch, they summarize the policy, its goals, and its effects, and add illustrations. This visual organizer helps students analyze and connect key aspects of Nixon's international actions.
Détente is the easing of strained relations between countries. Nixon pursued détente with the U.S.S.R. through diplomacy and arms limitation talks, notably the SALT I agreement, to reduce Cold War tensions and promote global stability.
Ping-Pong Diplomacy refers to the exchange of table tennis players between the U.S. and China, which paved the way for Nixon to open diplomatic relations with China. This shift significantly changed the global balance of power during the Cold War.
To create a lesson: 1. Select key Nixon foreign policies. 2. Have students research and summarize each policy’s aims and effects. 3. Use a spider map for organization. 4. Include activities like illustration or 5 Ws analysis to deepen understanding.