Lesson Plan
Anti-Defamation League

Analyzing Primary Source Documents to Understand U.S. Expansionism and 19th Century U.S.-Indian Relations

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
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,...
Worksheet
Curated OER

U.S. Expansion and the Age of Empire

For Students 9th - 12th
In this American foreign policy activity, students respond to 20 essay questions about expansionism in the country during the 20th century.      
Worksheet
Curated OER

U.S. Expansion and the Age of Empire

For Students 8th - 12th
In this American foreign policy worksheet, students respond to 2 essay questions about expansionism in the country during the 20th century.    
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Missionaries, Expansionism, and The Philippines

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Imperialism

For Teachers 10th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States 1846-48

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
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...
PPT
Curated OER

Vietnam 1945 - 1975 :The 10,000 Day War

For Teachers 10th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Anarchists

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
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...
Primary
Curated OER

History Matters: Manifest Destiny, Continued: Mc Kinley Defends u.s. Expansionism

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: Japan's Decision for War

For Students 9th - 10th
Chapter from a book discussing Japan's expansionism, including the move into Indochina and the negotiations that followed.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: War Breaks Out

For Students 5th - 8th
A brief look at the expansionist moves of Japan in China, including a description of the Rape of Nanking. Also read about the military expansionism in Europe and Africa by both Germany and Italy, finally resulting in a declaration of war...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Ambivalent Empire

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview of U.S. domestic, foreign and colonial policy during an era of U.S. expansion and imperialism.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Reactions to a Troubled World

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about the rising militarism and fascism in Europe and Asia as dictators expanded their territories. See how the United States reacted with its series of three neutrality acts.
Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Foreign Affairs

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Website
Other

On Line History of the United States: The Age of Imperialism

For Students 9th - 10th
Online history page containing numerous links to specific incidents of U.S. expansion in the Pacific, Latin America, China, and Cuba.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Road to Pearl Harbor

For Students 5th - 8th
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.
Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: William Mc Kinley: Foreign Affairs

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Pearl Harbor

For Students 5th - 8th
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.
Primary
Mount Holyoke College

Mt. Holyoke College: The Lust for Empire

For Students 9th - 10th
Text of speech by George Hoar denouncing U.S. involvement in the Philippines.
Unit Plan
Department of Defense

Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 4: A House Divided

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive learning module examines how the United States became more connected with the world as it pursued an expansionist foreign policy, became the destination for many new immigrants, and encouraged migration to the Pacific...
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: The Spanish American War in the Philippines (1898)

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Website
Schools of California Online Resources for Education

Score: White Man's Burden

For Students 9th - 10th
Teachers: Lesson from SCORE that explores the Expansionist/ Anti-Imperialist debate at the turn of the century. Organized as a U.S. history unit, content includes information about the debate, as well as numerous resources, online...
Primary
Mount Holyoke College

Mt. Holyoke:

For Students 9th - 10th
Text of speech by William Jennings Bryan at the 1900 Democratic convention. Details his anti-imperialistic stance in terms of the U.S. involvement in the Philippines.
Article
Charles I. Kelly and Lawrence E. Kelly

Many things.org: In 1845, Republic of Texas Faces a Choice

For Students 5th - 8th
An explanation of the difficulties the Republic of Texas encountered when deciding whether to join the Union. Also discusses President James Polk's efforts to expand the territories held by the United States, which brought him into...