Lesson 5 Introduction

Concepts to Consider for the Lesson

Here we will explore oil discovery in the area that was not supposed to have oil, Arabia (Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi), and the problems posed by the troublesome Red Line agreement. The reasons for the economic hardships of the area that made concessions possible in these areas will be discussed. The different objectives of the American and British companies that made it possible for America to beat the British in Arabian oil dominance will also be explored.

Followed by the rise of nationalism and military expansionism in Japan in the 1930s, and the deadly paradox/dilemma Japan faced in choosing food to be a synthetic fuel instead of feeding their citizens. This will lead Japan into the Pearl Harbor attack, its key success elements, objectives, impacts, and the miscalculations of both sides. We will then discuss the innovations in chemistry that helped with synthetic oil production in Germany, and how synthetic oil shaped Hitler’s WWII plans and strategy in Europe. Finally, we conclude with a ponderable comparison to the Iraq War of 2003.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Recall course concepts relating to Boom and Bust Cycles
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of oil in relation to pivotal events in history
• Discuss the role of oil in business applications, global markets, conflicts, energy security, and various unconventional applications
• Produce an evaluative statement that justifies your answer to a posed homework question

What is due for Lesson 5?

This lesson will take us one week to complete. Please refer to the Course Syllabus for specific time frames and due dates. Specific directions for the assignment below can be found within this lesson.

Questions?

Each week an announcement is sent out in which you will have the opportunity to contribute questions about the topics you are learning about in this course. You are encouraged to engage in these discussions. The more we talk about these ideas and share our thoughts, the more we can learn from each other.