Self-determination

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

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/self-determination

1. What is the international legal basis?
2. What is the historical catalyst?
3. What does self-determination mean for people and nations?
4. Why did self-determination become important after World War I and World War II?

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. What is the international legal basis?Recognized in the UN Charter and core international human rights covenants
2. What is the historical catalyst?Key driver of decolonization movements and the formation of post-colonial states
3. What does self-determination mean for people and nations?It means people can choose how they want to live, including politics, culture, and the economy. It is a right that international law protects.
4. Why did self-determination become important after World War I and World War II?After the wars, many colonies wanted to become independent. The idea of self-determination helped create new countries and end colonial rule.

Popular Sovereignty: The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people.
Territorial Integrity: The principle that the borders of a state should not be violated by external forces.
Informed Consent: Permission granted by a person after they have been fully informed about the potential risks and benefits of a procedure or action.