Colin Powell

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/colin-powell

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Colin Powell born?April 5, 1937
2. Where was Colin Powell born?New York City, New York
3. What is the military service duration?35 years
4. What is the highest military position?Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989-1993)
5. Who was Colin Powell?Colin Powell was a leader from New York City who became a four‑star general in the U.S. Army and later the first African‑American Secretary of State.
6. What is the Powell Doctrine?The Powell Doctrine says the U.S. should use military force only when it is absolutely necessary, when it can win quickly, and when the public supports it.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: The highest-ranking military officer in the U.S. Armed Forces, serving as the principal military advisor to the President and Secretary of Defense.
Secretary of State: The chief foreign affairs officer of the U.S. government, responsible for implementing foreign policy and managing diplomatic relations.
Powell Doctrine: A strategic framework for military intervention that requires a clear national security interest, overwhelming force, and widespread public support.
Diplomat: An official representing a country abroad, engaged in negotiations and maintaining international relations.