Aim: What is Imperialism?
Bell
Ringer: Journal 40 – Describe an empire.
Objectives:
1. Students will explain the
motives of the United States’ acquisition of the territories.
2. Students will examine
causes, course, and consequences of the Spanish-American War.
Agenda:
1.Bell Ringer (10 min)
2.Lesson Opening: Introduce students to the
topic of US Imperialism by showing the American Empire, 1900 map (Attachment
A). Ask students to locate American possessions as of 1900 using the map.
Discuss how this map compares to today’s map. Ask students why they think the
United States acquired these territories (military, economic, political, other
reasons). (10 min)
3.Assign students to complete their own map
identifying and labeling locations that played a key role in American
imperialism during the late 19th-early 20th century time period (Attachment B).
Locate and label the following: (15 min)
o United States o Mexico o Canada
o Alaska o Russia o Pacific Ocean o Atlantic Ocean o Hawaii o Japan o China o
The Philippines o Cuba o Puerto Rico o South America o Panama Canal o Midway
Island o Wake Island o Guam o American Samoa o Australia
4.Vocabulary Activity: Assign pairs of
students one of the content focus key terms from this unit (see Key Vocabulary
above). Have them create a mini-poster for their key term. (rest of class) o
First, have students fold a blank piece of paper to make 4 squares. In one
square, have them write their key term in bold letters. In the other squares
they must do the following: draw a picture or symbol representing the term;
write a definition of the term in their own words; write a sentence using the
term.
Big Stick, expansionism, imperialism, Open Door policy,
Panama Canal, Philippines, Platt Amendment, Roosevelt Corollary,
Spanish-American War, Teller Amendment, Treaty of Portsmouth (1905), yellow fever,
yellow press/yellow journalism.
Home Learning: Complete Concept
Map
