APUSH
Unit 2: Imperialist Era (1865-1914)
Mr. McLaughlin
Introduction:
This unit will be broken into five lessons. You will be responsible for reading all of the assigned sources on time and
outlining, answering questions, and/or annotating/highlighting, as specified per assignment.
Enduring Understanding
 US territory expanded overseas for a myriad of social, political, and economic reasons.
Essential Questions:
● What were the causes and effects of US expansionism?
● When is intervention in the affairs of another nation justified?
● To what extent was expansionism justifiable?
HW Assignments
 AMSCO Chapter 20 (pg. 400-423) Outline -Topic Evidence, Significance (9/29 A Day or 10/30 B Day)
 Read Assigned Expansionism Articles & OPVL - (Due on 9/29 A Day or 10/30 B Day)
 Political Cartoon Assignment (Due 10/7 A Day or 10/8 B Day)
 DBQ Essay Outline (Due on 10/9 A Day or 10/10 B Day)
Assessment
 Monday, October 13 (A Day) Tuesday, October 14 (B Day)
Lesson 1 (9/29 A Day or 9/30 B Day)
Lesson Objectives
 Define imperialism.
 Evaluate the forces that led the US into war and expansion during the Imperialist Era.
 Analyze if US territorial expansion during the Imperialist Era was justified.
 Evaluate when US intervention in a sovereign nation’s affairs is justified.
 Practice analyzing primary source documents in preparation for document based questions.
Lesson Sequence
 Introduction to the Unit
 Discussion of US Intervention – Connecting to Prior Knowledge
o When is US intervention in another nation’s foreign affairs justified?
 Teacher PowerPoint – Imperialist Era Introduction
 Imperialism Primary Source Jigsaw Analysis
o Number Group OPVL Collaborative Analysis
o Letter Group Collaborative Analysis – Imperialist Era Graphic Organizer
 Homework
o Prepare for Reading Quiz on
Lesson 2 (10/1 A Day or 10/2 B Day)
Lesson Objectives:
 Evaluate the forces that led the US into war and expansion during the Imperialist Era..
 Analyze if US territorial expansion during the Imperialist Era was justified
 Evaluate when US intervention in a foreign nation’s affairs is justified.
 Practice analyzing primary source documents in preparation for document based questions.
Lesson Sequence:
 In letter groups, complete primary source analysis and Imperialist Era Graphic Organizer
 Submit objectives page of graphic organizer for assessment (10 points)
 Extension: Work on political cartoon assignment.
 Homework - Primary Source Political Cartoon PowerPoint Assignment
1
Lesson 3 (10/1 A Day or 10/2 B Day)
 Lesson Objectives
o Analyze if US expansionism in the late 19th and early 20th Century violate the founding principles of the
United States. (
o Evaluate the forces that led the United States into war and expansion.
 Compare and contrast the following policies:
o Open Door Policy In China
o Intervention in Spanish Colonies
o Roosevelt’s Big Stick Policy
o Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy
o Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy
 Lesson Sequence
o Students will present political cartoon analysis PowerPoint Projects
o Students will take notes on the provided political cartoon graphic organizer
o Homework – Imperialism DBQ Outline
Lesson 4 (10/7 A Day or 10/8 B Day)
 Lesson Objectives
o Analyze the history of US expansionism.
o Analyze and assess DBQ writing
 Lesson Sequence
o Imperialism Map Activity – Graphic Organizer Completion
o DBQ Outline Peer Editing
o AP Sample DBQ Essay Grading and Discussion
Lesson 5 (10/9 A Day or 10/10 B Day)
 Lesson Objectives
o Assess student knowledge of US expansionism during the Imperialist Era.
 Assessment Format
 Stimulus Based Multiple Choice and DBQ Essay
Key Terms – It is in your best interest to make flashcard of the following terms prior to the unit assessment and AP
Exam. Quizlet is also an excellent resource.
Vocabulary
ABC Powers
Big Stick Policy
Cuba
Dollar Diplomacy
Expeditionary Force
Gentleman’s Agreement
Great White Fleet
Guam
Haiti
Imperialism
Jingoism
Lodge Corollary
Open Door Policy
Monroe Doctrine
Moral Diplomacy
People
Captain Alfred T. Mahan: The
Influence of Sea Power Upon History
Emilio Aguinaldo
George Dewey
Henry Cabot Lodge
John J. Perishing
Jose Marti
Joseph Pulitzer
Josiah Strong
Pancho Villa
Queen Liliuokalani
Rough Riders
Theodore Roosevelt
Victoriano Huerta
William Jennings Bryan
Organizations
Anti-Imperialist League
2
New Freedom
New Imperialism
Nicaragua
Panama Canal
Pan-American Conference
Phillipines
Protectorate
Puerto Rico
Roosevelt Corollary
Rough Riders
Social Darwinism
Sphere of Influence
Spheres of Influence
Yellow Journalism
Xenophobia
Acts
Foraker Act
Jones Act – 1916
Platt Amendment
Teller Amendment
William Randolph Hearst
William Taft
Woodrow Wilson
Events
USS Maine
DeLome Letter
Spanish-American War
Russo-Japanese War
Boxer Rebellion
Tampico Incident
Venezuela Boundary Dispute
Insular Cases
Russo Japanese War
Mexican Civil War
Treaties
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty
Treaty of Portsmouth
Root-Takahira Agreement
3