U.S. Leaders React to Queen’s Passing
President Biden led national political leaders in expressing condolences after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The White House’s official statement referred to the long-serving monarch as a “Stateswoman of unmatched dignity.”
Queen Elizabeth II’s tenure spanned fourteen presidencies and was seen as someone who transcended politics. The Queen was a strong proponent of the U.S./U.K special relationship, and foreign policy experts consider the United Kingdom to be the United States’ staunchest ally.
Which U.S. president was the only one to not meet with Queen Elizabeth II during her tenure?
INSTRUCTORS: click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.
Videos:
News Articles:
Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s Steadfast Monarch, Dies
Time
9/8/22
https://time.com/4619423/queen-elizabeth-dies/
Biden’s offer condolences after death of Queen Elizabeth, whose reign spanned 14 American presidents
Politico
9/8/22
‘Stateswoman of unmatched dignity’: US leaders pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
The Guardian
9/8/22
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/08/queen-elizabeth-tributes-biden-clinton-us-presidents
US Presidents React to News of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: ‘She Defined An Era’
People
9/8/22
https://people.com/royals/us-presidents-react-to-news-of-queen-elizabeth-death/
News Articles (Analyses):
The Not-So-Secret Weapon in the Special Relationship
Politico
9/8/22
How Queen Elizabeth II maintained a special relationship with the United States: “She loved America”
CBS News
9/9/22
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/queen-elizabeth-relationship-united-states/
Biden says he’ll attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral
CNN
9/9/22
King Charles Is Too Political for the USA
Politico
9/8/22
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/09/biden-says-he-will-attend-queen-elizabeths-funeral-00055948
Long an Uneasy Prince, King Charles III Takes On a Role He Was Born To
NY Times
9/10/22
Assessment:
Writing: A public opinion poll conducted before Queen Elizabeth II’s death found that over 60 percent of Americans had a favorable opinion of the monarch. What lessons can American political leaders borrow from the Queen in order to appeal to a larger cross-section of Americans?
Debate: Should American media coverage of the royal family always provide context about British colonialism and their past support of the slave trade?
Poll: Should monarchies still exist in the year 2022?
Short Answer: Why are the British such natural allies to the United States despite the Revolutionary War?
QUIZ:
Why did so many consider Queen Elizabeth II the perfect envoy to the United States?
- she understood the personalities and idiosyncrasies of American government
- she owned a home in the United States
- she had dual UK/US citizenship
- she attended college in the United States
When did President Biden first meet Queen Elizabeth II?
- in 2009 during the inauguration of President Obama
- in 2004 at the funeral of former President Reagan
- in 2021 at his inauguration
- in 1982 during his time as a U.S. senator
Queen Elizabeth II famously went ______ with President Reagan during a visit to the United States?
- to a baseball game
- skydiving
- horseback writing
- Disney World
At 73, King Charles III becomes the oldest person to assume the British crown. (T/F)
King Charles has expressed a strong desire to reset the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States. (T/F)
British support for American invasion of Iraq in 2003 tested the special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States. (T/F)
