Discussion Guide – Decisions of Consequence

1. Which decision of consequence do you feel is the most important and why?

   1. Which do you think had the most impact on America?

   2. Which do you think had the most impact internationally?

2. Which do you think George Washington was thinking about most when he left the presidency after two terms? Why?

   1. Did not want to establish a precedent of more than two terms.

   2. Did not want to become a monarch.

   3. Was tired and wanted to retire

3. Which decision of Consequence do you think was the most difficult for the president to make, and why?  

   1. Would you make the same decision as the president?

   2. If not, what would you do differently?

4. Which type of decisions do you believe are more important: military, diplomatic, or social decisions?  

   1. What is your rationale?

5. What do you think would have happened if, following the death of William Henry Harrison (the first president to die in office), John Tyler had become a caretaker president instead of assuming the full authority of the presidency?

6. What do you think are some of the factors that the presidents who decided to go to war considered?  

7. Based on the readings, which presidents would be in your top five list and why?

8. Given the number of close elections, do you feel that the Electoral System of selecting the president should be retained or abolished?

9. Starting with George Washington, many presidents have tried to keep the United States neutral in global conflicts.  Good idea or bad?

10. Given the American History of expansionism, would you support Puerto Rico and other U.S. commonwealths and territories becoming states?