Lesson 6 Introduction

Concepts to Consider for the Lesson

In Lesson 6 you might get the impression this is in part a history class on World War II. But the underlying message is that oil plays a key role in global conflicts. It may not be the cause of the conflict, but it surely can influence it. We shall cover the war in the Atlantic and in Europe and the role oil played in the war as well as how oil impacted American society because of the war.

It was after World War II that the world saw the establishment of the Middle East as an oil powerhouse. We will find out how America, and not Britain, became the major power in Middle East oil and politics. We will learn when and how America became a net importer of oil and discuss how the Red Line Agreement was finally abandoned, paving the way for major American involvement in Middle East Oil. Lesson 6 highlights how over history, the issue of energy independence and being a net exporter vs. importer has notable implications for national security.

Learning Objectives

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

• Recall course concepts relating to Oil Strategy and World War II
• 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

What is due for Lesson 6?

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.