National First Ladies' Library
Missionaries, Expansionism, and The Philippines
Students examine the quality of sources in research in the process of gaining an understanding of the Spanish American War, American expansionism, and the role of missionaries in history. They meet in groups to provide an audio/visual...
Anti-Defamation League
Analyzing Primary Source Documents to Understand U.S. Expansionism and 19th Century U.S.-Indian Relations
Historical events can be viewed from multiple perspectives. This simple truth is brought home in a lesson that examines primary source documents related to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Doctrine of Discovery and Manifest Destiny,...
Curated OER
Charles Young Photographs
Learners analyze photographs as an introduction to the Spanish American War. The concepts of American expansionism are explored through the process.
Curated OER
U.S. Expansion and the Age of Empire
In this American foreign policy worksheet, students respond to 2 essay questions about expansionism in the country during the 20th century.
Curated OER
The American Landscape (1800 - 1850)
Students are introduced to the romantic cultural movement in America. Reading examples of pictures of Washington Irving's home, they identify the characteristics of the movement. They view other paintings of artists from the same time...
Curated OER
Vietnam 1945 - 1975 :The 10,000 Day War
Each phase of the Vietnam War is fully developed and defined in terms of political cause and effect and social action. Phase one covers the onset of the war in 1945 through the French defeat at Dienbienphu. Phase two discusses American...
Curated OER
Charles Young Photographs
Pupils view photographs of Charles Young. They analyze the photograph to decipher the time period. As an introduction, students brainstorm questions they may ask the man in the photograph. Pupils investigate the era of the...
Curated OER
Imperialism
Students explore the concept of Imperialism. In this foreign policy lesson, students examine the policies of the US and other countries through time. Students then create a political cartoon of their own and create a timeline that...
Curated OER
Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States 1846-48
Students investigate how the United States acquired land after the Revolutionary War ended. In this establishing borders lesson, students use maps to identify territories acquired by the US and the states that later developed. Students...
Curated OER
U.S. Expansion and the Age of Empire
In this American foreign policy activity, students respond to 20 essay questions about expansionism in the country during the 20th century.
Curated OER
Rotation in Office
Eleventh graders explore the concept of the spoils system. In this presidential history lesson, 11th graders examine Andrew Jackson's Inaugural Address as well as a letter to him from Mary Barney in order to gain an understanding of the...
Curated OER
Alaska Purchase Debate
Students examine the benefits and the challenges Alaska has presented to the United States. They research what the government and the people of the United States considered at the time of the purchase of Alaska in order to debate the...
National First Ladies' Library
Anarchists
High schoolers identify and gain an understanding of the politics behind the killing of President McKinley, as well as the anarchist movements that continue to exist worldwide. Then they select a form of anarchy and write a short story...
OpenStax
Open Stax: American Foreign Policy 1890 1914: Turner, Mahan, and Roots of Empire
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.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: The Spanish American War in the Philippines (1898)
After giving a general summary of the Spanish-American War in the Western Hemisphere, the course of the war as waged in the Philippines is explained. See how the Philippines was annexed to the United States.
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: William Mc Kinley: Foreign Affairs
A good description of the foreign policy of President Wiliam McKinley including infornation about the Spanish-American War, the Open Door policy, and the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands.
PBS
Pbs: America 1900: Vice Presidential Nominee: Theodore Roosevelt
Read about Theodore Roosevelt's support for expanding into the Pacific and his desire to make the 20th century the Pacific Century. From an interview with Walter LaFeber on the PBS American Experience series, America 1900.
Curated OER
History Matters: Manifest Destiny, Continued: Mc Kinley Defends u.s. Expansionism
Enhanced by an introduction and commentary, read a speech given by U.S. President William McKinley to a delegation of Methodist church leaders in 1899 in which he defined the United States intervention in the Philippines as the proper...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Ambivalent Empire
Overview of U.S. domestic, foreign and colonial policy during an era of U.S. expansion and imperialism.
Country Studies US
Country Studies: Ambivalent Empire
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...
History Tools
History Tools: John O'sullivan Coins the Phrase Manifest Destiny 1845 [Pdf]
What was "manifest destiny"? In this excerpt, learn the role race played in American expansionism and the proposed addition of Texas to the United States.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Road to Pearl Harbor
A brief overview of the decade prior to the American entrance into World War II. Read about the rise in militarism in both Europe and Japan.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Pearl Harbor
A concise look at the economic relations between Japan and the United States just prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Find out what the Japanese hoped to achieve with the attack, and read about the American response.
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Foreign Affairs
Scroll through this discussion of Franklin Roosevelt's attention to foreign policy during his several terms in office to "Confronting Germany and Japan" and "Descent into War." Here you will find out about the United States' position of...