Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Imperialism and Expansion: Part 2

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the concept of American Imperialism. In this American foreign policy lesson plan, students take notes on the Spanish-American War and foreign policy practices of the United States in the late 1800s.
Interactive
Curated OER

The Imperial Republic: 1865-1914 (6)

For Students 9th - 12th
In this online interactive American history worksheet, students respond to 12 matching questions regarding 1865-1914 America. Students may check their answers immediately.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Expansion of The United States, 1846-1848

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students interpret historical maps,identify territories acquired by the United States in the 1840s. Also they identify states later formed from these territories. The primary sources for the lesson are the maps found in the lesson's...
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: The Alaska Purchase: Debating the Sale

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The 1867 Treaty of Cession, in which the United States purchased Alaska from the Russian empire, marked an unusually peaceful transition. The purchase of Alaska was done under amicable circumstances, and both Russia and the U.S. felt...
Website
Other

Alaska History and Cultural Studies: Governing Alaska

For Students 9th - 10th
The history of Alaska's government from the time it was first purchased from Russia up until it became a state is described. The structure of its government today is also explained.
Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Check for the Purchase of Alaska (1868)

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive images of two documents important in Alaska's history: the check written for its 1868 purchase from Russia and the Russian Treaty of Cession (an English transcript is provided), which concluded the deal.
Graphic
University of Oregon

University of Oregon: Mapping History: Alaska and Hawaii

For Students 9th - 10th
On this map you can see Alaska and Hawaii in relation to the contiguous United States and read brief text about their purchase/annexation, territorial status, and addition as states.
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Purchase of Alaska, 1867

For Students 9th - 10th
A base map of Alaska showing the territory purchased from Russia in 1867.
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Alaska Boundary Controversy, 1867 1903

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of southeastern border of Alaska and Canada showing the area of boundary dispute and the boundary established by the Hay-Herbert Treaty between Britain and the United States in 1903. The map shows the coastline and fjords of the...
Graphic
Curated OER

Wikipedia: National Historic Landmarks in Alaska: Russian American Building #29

For Students 9th - 10th
Siding covered log building; dates back to the years after the 1867 purchase of Alaska.
Handout
Country Studies US

Country Studies: Ambivalent Empire

For Students 9th - 10th
With the purchase of Alaska in 1867, the United States embarked on the road of building an empire. From Alaska to the Spanish-American War to the Philippine Islands, the U.S. grew as an imperial nation throughout the latter half of the...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Early Stirrings

For Students 5th - 8th
American desire for overseas expansion began as early as the purchase of Alaska from Russia. See what other actions were taken in the latter part of the 19th century, and find out why this imperialist view was taking hold.
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: American Foreign Policy 1890 1914: Turner, Mahan, and Roots of Empire

For Students 11th - 12th
Examines the development of American foreign policy in the latter part of the 1800s, and what Frederick Jackson Turner and Alfred Thayer Mahan did to further American imperialistic interests.
Website
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: Empire Building

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] A lengthy essay about American focus on foreign affairs after the Civil War, expanding particularly in the late 19th century. Read about U.S. exploits in the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Pacific...
Handout
US Department of State

Biographies of the Secretaries of State: William Henry Seward (1801 1872)

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief biography on William Henry Seward who was appointed Secretary of State by Abraham Lincoln on March 5, 1861, and served until March 4, 1869. Seward carefully managed international affairs during the Civil War and also negotiated the...
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Andrew Johnson

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Britannica provides information on President Andrew Johnson.
Handout
Other

Impeachment of Andrew Johnson: William H. Seward

For Students 9th - 10th
Short biography of the man who served as secretary of state under President Lincoln and Johnson.
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: The Growth of the United States, 1776 1867

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the United States showing the growth of the nation from 1776-1867. The map is color-coded to show the thirteen original states, the territory acquired by conquest during the revolution and the Treaty of 1783, the Louisiana...
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Territorial Development of the United States, 1783 1867

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the United States showing the growth of the nation from 1783-1867. The map is color-coded to show the thirteen original states, the territory acquired by conquest during the revolution and the Treaty of 1783, the Louisiana...
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: The Alaskan Boundary Dispute, 1825 1903

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the northern Pacific coastland of North America showing the territorial dispute of the Alaska boundary from the Anglo-Russian Treaty of St. Petersburg in 1825 that established the British claims, the purchase of the area by the...
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Territorial Growth of the United States , 1783 1867

For Students 9th - 10th
A map from 1897 of the United States showing the territorial growth from the original States and the Northwest Territory in 1783 to the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. The map is color-coded to show the progression from the...
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Territorial Growth of the United States, 1783 1867

For Students 9th - 10th
A map from 1897 of the United States showing the territorial growth from the original States and the Northwest Territory in 1783 to the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. The map is color-coded to show the progression from the...
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Territorial Growth of the United States, 1783 1900

For Students 9th - 10th
A map from 1911 of the United States showing the territorial acquisitions from the original states and territory established in 1783 to the Tripartite Convention of 1899 in which Germany and the United States divided the Samoan...
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Acquisition of Territory by the United States, 1783 1917

For Students 9th - 10th
A map from 1922 of the United States showing the acquisition of territory from 1783 to the purchase of the Dutch West Indies (Virgin Islands) in 1917. This map is color-coded to show each of the acquisitions with map notations giving...