Central Question: Why did the United States adopt imperial policies in the late 19th century?
With the annexation of new territories and intervention abroad, the United States began to establish dominance beyond its shores. For many, these interests were economic; new raw materials would enrich booming American industry. For others, it was “the white man’s burden” to civilize the “barbaric,” non- white peoples of the world.
For more background, read “Social Darwinism” on Encyclopedia.com and “Empire Building” on the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History website (free login required).
Scholars understand and can fluently use the following Unit 5 Key Terms:
Scholars understand early American imperialism and can explain the factors that sparked the rise of these imperial policies.
Preparation
Launch (2 minutes)
Watch (3 minutes)
Discuss (5 minutes)
Homework
Central Question: Why did the United States invade Cuba in 1898?
The Spanish-American War was a conflict between the United States and Spain. It ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and gave the United States new territories in the Western Pacific and Latin America. The war was an important turning point in the history of both countries. Spain’s defeat decisively turned the nation’s attention away from its overseas colonial adventures and inward toward the country’s own needs at home. The result was both a cultural and a literary revival and two decades of much- needed economic development in Spain. The victorious United States, on the other hand, emerged from the war a world power with far-flung overseas possessions. It gained a new prominence in international politics that would soon lead it to play a determining role in the affairs of Europe.
For more background, browse PBS’s The Crucible of Empire website, and read “The Spanish-American War” on the History Channel website.
Scholars understand and can fluently use the following Unit 5 Key Terms:
Scholars can apply their knowledge of United States’ history to interpret original sources and use these sources to write clear, concise, and compelling claims about the Spanish-American War.
Read and Write (8 minutes)
Discuss (10 minutes)
Give scholars 2 minutes to revise their main ideas or claims based on the discussion.
Teacher Feedback Guidance
Central Question: Why did the United States invade Cuba in 1898?
Scholars can plan and draft clear and compelling written arguments that answer a historical question with strong theses and evidence that supports or proves their theses.
Outline (15 minutes)
Draft (15 minutes)
Teacher Feedback Guidance
Central Question: Why did the United States invade Cuba in 1898?
Scholars revise their essays based on individualized teacher feedback to make their essays stronger and clearer and understand how to use their feedback to grow as writers.
Preparation
Homework
Teacher Feedback Guidance
Central Question: How did presidents McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson promote American imperialism?
President William McKinley, elected in 1896, sparked the trend of imperialist U.S. presidents. In addition to U.S. intervention in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, McKinley led a war in the Philippines, as well as pursuits in China and Latin America. Presidents Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson followed in McKinley’s footsteps, although each president developed his own method, style, and justification for the interference. Although Roosevelt saw himself and the United States as guardians of the Western Hemisphere, Taft hoped to promote American economic interests abroad, whereas Wilson insisted he was acting on his moral duty to protect democracy and people across the globe.
For more background, read “The Spanish-American War in the Philippines” and “The U.S. and China” on the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History website (free login required), and read “William Taft: Foreign Affairs” on the Presidential Profiles website. Watch “Theodore Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy” on the History Channel website.
Scholars understand and can fluently use the following Unit 5 Key Terms:
Scholars understand American involvement in foreign conflicts around the world and can explain how presidents McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson each promoted American imperialism.
Preparation
Launch (2 minutes)
Examine (5 minutes)
Discuss (3 minutes)
Homework
Central Question: Why did people at home and abroad oppose American imperialism?
While America grew as an imperial power, its imperial policies were not universally supported, neither at home nor in the countries in which they intervened. Many Americans objected on philosophical grounds; the ethos of imperialism did not align with those of democracy and American values. Furthermore, as reports of brutality and violence came from the Philippines, many Americans objected to the harsh treatment of people abroad. And some Americans believed that imperialism would bring more troubles than riches. These Americans, led by leaders such as Andrew Carnegie, Mark Twain, and William Jennings Bryan, formed the Anti-Imperialist League to combat American imperial policy. Abroad, critiques were similar, as people used the rhetoric of the American Revolution to promote their own sovereignty and called on international law to stop American injustices and violence.
For more background, read “Debate Over the Treaty of Paris” on the PBS website “American Soldiers Write Home About the Philippine War” on George Mason University’s History Matters website, and Chapters LIII–LVII of Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen available digitally on the University of Pennsylvania digital library.
Scholars understand and can fluently use the following Unit 5 Key Terms:
Scholars understand how imperialism affected people around the globe and can explain why people — at home and abroad — opposed American imperialism.
Launch (2 minutes)
Listen (2 minutes)
Discuss (6 minutes)
Homework
Central Question: Why did World War I become a global conflict?
In 1914, World War I erupted in Europe. Sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the conflict had roots far deeper in European history. Colonial and imperial ambitions caused intense rivalries among European nations; the “Scramble for Africa” had caused deep tensions in Europe over control of the African continent. As a result of these tensions, along with the technological innovations of the era, many European nations began to build up their militaries, ready and waiting for war to begin.
Furthermore, this era saw the rise of ethnic nationalism, as small groups within nations began to push for their own independence. Tensions were high in Europe, so many European nations began making alliances with each other, creating a complicated network of alliances and treaties. All that was needed was one event — such as the assassination of Ferdinand — to bring the entire continent into chaos.
For more background, read “The Origins of WWI” on the BBC website.
Scholars understand and can fluently use the following Unit 5 Key Terms:
Scholars understand the roots of conflict in prewar Europe in the early 20th century and can explain how these factors led to the outbreak of World War I through a simulation.
Preparation
Launch (2 minutes)
Discuss (3 minutes)
Homework
Central Question: Why did the United States join World War I?
When World War I broke out across Europe in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the United States would remain neutral, and many Americans supported this policy of nonintervention. However, public opinion about neutrality started to change after the sinking of the British ocean liner Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915; almost 2,000 people perished, including 128 Americans. Along with news of the Zimmerman Telegram threatening an alliance between Germany and Mexico, Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. The United States officially entered the conflict on April 6, 1917.
For more background, read “American Entry into WWI” on the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History website (free login required).
Scholars understand and can fluently use the following Unit 5 Key Terms:
Scholars can apply their knowledge of United States history to interpret original sources and use these sources to write clear, concise, and compelling claims about why the United States joined World War I.
Read and Write (8 minutes)
Discuss (10 minutes)
Give scholars 2 minutes to revise their main ideas or claims based on the discussion.
Teacher Feedback Guidance
Central Question: Why did the United States join World War I?
Scholars can plan and draft clear and compelling written arguments that answer a historical question with strong theses and evidence that supports or proves their theses.
Plan — 15 minutes
Outline (15 minutes)
Draft (15 minutes)
Teacher Feedback Guidance
Central Question: Why did the United States join World War I?
Scholars revise their essays based on individualized teacher feedback to make their essays stronger and clearer and understand how to use their feedback to grow as writers.
Preparation
Revise 2 — 10 minutes
Homework
Teacher Feedback Guidance
Central Question: Should the United States have signed the Treaty of Versailles?
When World War I came to a close, the leaders of France, Russia, Great Britain, and the United States created the Treaty of Versailles, which intended to punish Germany for its aggression and restore a devastated Europe. President Wilson, however, hoped to bring nations together to prevent another global conflict. He presented his Fourteen Points, which included a plan for a League of Nations. Many of his points, including the league, were adopted in the Treaty of Versailles. Many Americans, however, were wary of this treaty; they feared further U.S. entanglement in European wars and preferred isolationism. Ultimately, the United States did not sign the Treaty of Versailles.
For more background, read “The Treaty of Versailles and President Wilson” on the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History website (free login required), and browse Khan Academy’s The Treaty of Versailles course.
Scholars understand and can fluently use the following Unit 5 Key Terms:
Scholars can evaluate the United States’ decision to not sign the Treaty of Versailles by simulating the treaty debate in the U.S. Senate.
Preparation
Launch (2 minutes)
Discuss (3 minutes)
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