The document outlines a lesson plan on the topic of American imperialism and empire. It discusses having students analyze reasons for US expansion through history, examine arguments for and against imperialism, identify motivations like economic and military factors in a historical advertisement, and consider debates around whether the US engaged in imperialist actions or was an empire in the 20th century.

1. By: Jackie White
Danvers High School

2.  Key Question:
 What is an empire?
 Learning Objectives:
 Students will understand the meaning of the word
empire by creating their own definitions.

3.  What does “super” mean?
 What does “power” mean?
 What is a “super power?”

4.  Military supremacy, economic power, global influence,
technological and scientific prowess, and world wide
alliances.
 How does a country become a superpower?

5.  Read 2 different articles on empire Colossus The Price
of America’s Empire by Niall Ferguson (2004) & Paul
Schroeder article Is the U.S. an Empire.(hard copies)

6.  Create your own definition of empire using the 4
square model: definition, examples, used in a
sentence, & visualization.

7. Definition: Examples:
Empire- a transactional political formation by which a state exerts power over Roman, Ottoman, British, French, American, etc.
another subordinated society, territory, and peoples.
Political control exercised by one organized political unit over another unit
separate from and alien to it. But need not mean direct rule exercised by
formal occupation by one unit within a community of units not under a
single authority. Imperial power rules over subordinates. Imperialism by
definition, empire is the negation of political freedom, liberation, and self-
determination.
Used in a sentence: Visual:
The United States began creating an empire when it annexed Hawaii at the
turn of the 20th century.

8. Working Definition: a transnational political
formation by which a state exerts power over
another subordinated society, territory and
peoples.

10. FORMAL: INFORMAL:
Directly ruling foreign Exercising power without
territory direct rule over nominally
Imperial state declares independent states
sovereignty over territory (e.g. financial aid, military
(aka “colonial”) invasion or temporary military
occupation, “gunboat
diplomacy”, covert operations,
etc.)

11.  Do you think that the United States engaged in
imperialist actions? If so, can you think of any
examples?
 Click on Time Rime timeline and have identify 3
instances when the U.S. appeared to engage in
imperialistic actions.
 “Was the United States an empire in the 20th
century?”

13.  Key Questions:
 What are the arguments in favor of and against
American expansion?
 Learning Objectives:
 Students will understand the major arguments in favor
of and against imperialism and be able to explain their
personal opinion.
 Activity:
 Click the Imperialist Reasoning Guide link on the next
page and check the response that corresponds with your
beliefs.

15.  Move around the room to indicate your level of
agreement with each of the statements.
 As a group discuss the reasons for your beliefs.
 Select a group spokesperson to share the groups
reasoning with the rest of the class.
 Each group shares their beliefs and discusses the
merits and drawbacks of each position.

16.  Key Questions:
 What factors motivate American expansion?
 Learning Objectives:
 Students will understand the various factors that motivate
American expansion and be able to identify them in a Pears Soap
Advertisement.
 Main Idea:
 Beginning in 1867 and continuing through the century, global
competition, economic, military, & political factors caused the
United States to expand.
 Why It Matters Now:
 During this time period, the United States acquired Hawaii and
Alaska, both of which became states in 1959.

17. What do you notice about this
picture?
Everyone can see the picture
so everyone can notice
something.
Once a student notices
something the class will stick
with it until there is nothing
else to notice.

18.  When should the U.S.
intervene in the
affairs of another
country?

19.  George Washington was
appointed president for 2
terms in 1789.
 At the end of his presidency,
George Washington passed 2
very important documents
which shaped the beginning of
U.S. foreign policy.

20.  The issue being considered
was US involvement in the
French Revolution.
 States that the US will be
neutral to any foreign
conflict and not have
permanent alliances.
 The Proclamation of
Neutrality in 1793 provided
the basis for United States
foreign policy until World
War 1 and World War 2.

21.  Washington warned the
nation to steer clear of any
permanent alliance with
Europe because he believed
European and American
interest were different.
 Stressed trade and warned
against "entangling
alliances."◦
 This policy of isolationism
lasted until the Boxer
Rebellion.

22.  During the Early
Republic America
practiced a policy of
isolationism.
 A policy to remain
neutral in world
conflicts and not form
permanent alliances
with other countries.

23.  19th century doctrine in which the U.S. believed it had the “God given right”
to expand into the whole North American continent

24.  The closing of the
frontier in 1890
marked the end to
westward expansion in
the U.S.
 Manifest destiny
encouraged the US to
expand to spread
American culture,
Christian religion, and
democratic government
abroad

25.  Policy in which
stronger nations
seek to extend
their economic,
political, or
military control
over weaker
nations.

26.  1. Political: Global
Competition
 2. Military: Desire for
military strength
 3. Economic: Thirst for
new markets
 4. Cultural: Belief in
cultural superiority of
Anglo Saxon race

27.  European nations
competed for territory in
Africa & Asia, especially
China,.
 Japan began
modernizing
 Japan joined other
European nations in
competing for China.

28.  Alfred T Mahan urged
the U.S. to build up its
navy power to compete
with other powerful
nations
 Transformed the U.S.
into the 3rd largest
naval power in the
world.
Great White Fleet

29.  19th century advances in
technology enabled
farmers and factories to
produce far more goods
than Americans could
consume.
 The U.S. needed raw
materials for the factories
and new markets for U.S.
goods.

30.  U.S. had a
responsibility to
spread Christianity,
and civilization to
uplift “inferior people”
 Used to justify
imperialism

31.  Ticket to leave index card: What were some American
motives for expansion illustrated in the Pear’s Soap
advertisement?

32.  Beginning in 1867 and continuing through the century,
global competition caused the United States to
expand.
 During this time period, the United States acquired
Hawaii and Alaska, both of which became states in
1959.

33.  To understand the media’s potential to sway public
opinion and even to dictate events
 To understand the main reasons why the United States
declared war on Spain

34.  William Seward a
supporter of American
expansion arranged to
buy Alaska from Russia
for $7.2 million, or .02
cents per acre.
 They called it “Seward’s
Ice box”
 It was rich in timber,
minerals, & oil

35.  No one lived on the
island the event did not
attract much attention
 http://maps.google.com
/maps?hl=en&client=saf
ari&rls=en&biw=942&bi
h=625&q=midway%20isl
ands&um=1&ie=UTF-
8&sa=N&tab=wl

36.  In the 1820’s American missionaries founded Christian schools
and churches on the island.
 A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area
to carry on ministries of the Word of God
 The missionaries children and grandchildren grew up to be
sugar planters on the island.

37. QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are neede d to see this picture.

38. In 1875, U.S. agreed to import Hawaiian
sugar duty (tax) free.
 McKinley Tariff of 1890 eliminated the
duty (tax) free status of Hawaiian sugar
causing American planters to face
competition in U.S. market
 American planters wanted to US to
annex Hawaii so they would not have to
pay the duty

39.  Since the 1790’s U.S. merchant
ships stopped in Hawaii on
their way to China and East
India
 1887 U.S. military leaders
pressured Hawaii to build a
naval base at Pearl Harbor
which became a refueling
station for American ships

40.  Hawaii had a monarchy
form of government led
by King Kalakaua
 American business
leaders forced the king to
amend Hawaii’s
constitution to give
voting rights only to
wealthy landowners
 He died in 1891 and his
sister came to power.

41.  Queen Liliuokalani
succeeded her brother.
 Promoted a “Hawaii for
Hawaiians” agenda
 Proposed moving
property owning
qualifications for voting
which would allow for
more Hawaiians to vote

42. QuickTime™ an d a
decompressor
are need ed to see this picture.
Quic kTime™ and a
decom pres sor
are needed to s ee this picture.  Wealthy American plantation owners did not
want the property owning qualifications
removed so they organized a revolution and
with the help of the U.S. Marines they
overthrew the queen and set up a government
led by American Sanford Dole

43.  President Grover
Cleveland directed that
the queen be restored to
her throne
 He refused to consider
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor annexation of the
are neede d to se e this picture.
Republic of Hawaii
unless the majority of
the Hawaiians voted in
favor of it

44.  William McKinley succeeded
Cleveland as president
 He favored annexation
 On august 12, 1898 Congress
proclaimed Hawaii a U.S. territory
although the Hawaiians never had
a chance to vote
QuickTime™ and a
 In 1959 Hawaii became the 50th
decompressor
are neede d to se e this picture.
state in the U.S.

45.  U.S. sugar planters call for the U.S. to annex (take
over) Hawaii so they don’t have to pay the duty/tax.
 U.S. sugar planters on the island sold most of their
crop to U.S.
 U.S. imported Hawaiian sugar duty (tax) free.
 McKinley Tariff (1890) removed the duty free status
of Hawaiian sugar

46.  U.S. Marines overthrew
Queen Liluokalani
 President William
McKinley favored
annexing Hawaii
QuickTime™ a nd a
TIFF (Uncompressed) deco mpressor  1898 Congress
are need ed to see this picture.
proclaimed Hawaii an
American territory
 1959 Hawaii became the
50th state

47.  http://ahiv
.alexanders
treet.com/V
iew/777561
 http://www.
pbs.org/wgb
h/amex/hawa
ii/program.
html

48.  Read the excerpt from
Michner’s sweeping saga
about the poiwer
struggle between the
native Hawaiians and
the American sugar
planters.
 Was the US justified in
taking over Hawaii, why
or why not?