SOL USII.5a, 5b
Turmoil and Change
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World War I.
Imperialism
1890s
is about
the causes and results of the Spanish-American War
I. Reasons for the Spanish
American War (USII.5a)
II. Results of the Spanish American
War (USII.5a)
III. The Roosevelt Corollary to the
Monroe Doctrine (USII.5b)
 Protection of American business
interests in Cuba
 American support of Cuban rebels
to gain independence from Spain
 Rising tensions between Spain and
the United States as a result of the
sinking of the USS Maine in
Havana Harbor
 Exaggerated news reports of events
(yellow journalism)
 The United States emerged as a
world power
 Cuba gained independence from
Spain
 The United States gained
possession of the Philippines,
Guam and Puerto Rico
 Asserted the United States’ right to
interfere in the economic matters of
other nations in the Americas
 Claimed the United States’ right to
exercise international police power
 Advocated Big Stick Diplomacy
(building the Panama Canal)
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
VOCABULARY:
1. What were the reasons for the Spanish-American War?
yellow journalism
imperialism
Spanish-American War
Panama Canal
2. What were the results of the Spanish-American War?
3. What were Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policies?
4. What was Theodore Roosevelt’s impact on the foreign policy of the
United States?
Adapted from The Unit Organizer Routine. Copyright Lenz, 1994. www.contentenhancement.org
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USS Maine
Roosevelt Corollary
Rough Riders
“Big Stick” Diplomacy
How Does Imperialism Work?
Draw a picture of each of the following five steps of imperialism. Label
them A-E. Include a caption that describes what is occurring in the set of
pictures.
a. An imperial power takes over a colony gets
stronger.
b. Raw materials go from the colony to the one that
owns it.
c. Finished products go from the imperial power to
their colony.
d. Finished products are sold in the colony.
e. The colony that provided the raw materials
serves as a market for the finished products.
CAPTION:______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________.
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3
Imperialism Four Square: The Spanish American War
Using pictures or words, show what occurred in the beginning, middle and end of the
Spanish American War.
Beginning
Middle
Middle
End
4
The Spanish-American War U.S. II 5a
Before the United States declared war on Spain, journalists wrote exaggerated news stories to try to attract readers.
Emotionally charged writings such as these were called “yellow journalism.” These stories helped to turn public opinion in favor of
the war.
Directions: Using 3-7 of the facts below, write an article in the yellow journalism style concerning the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine.

The U.S.S. Maine arrived in Havana Harbor, Cuba
on January 25, 1898.
 The ship’s forward gunpowder magazines exploded.
 350 officers and men on board that night
 As a result of the explosion, 260 men died
immediately. (Naval Historical Center)
 An additional six men died later from injuries.
 The ship exploded on February 15, 1898, at 9:40 p.m.
 When the explosion took place, most of the crew
were either resting or sleeping in their quarters.
 President McKinley was awakened by the news
around 2 a.m.
5
www.pbs.org/crucible/ photos/headline6.gif
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
You are a yellow journalist for a major United States newspaper. You will write an
article, draw a picture and create headline about the U.S. decision to enter the Spanish
America War.
1) The newspaper article must have an EXCITING HEADLINE.
Write it here.
2) The article must have a front-page image with a caption describing the scene.
Image Caption: _____________________________________________
3) The news article must tell WHO, WHERE, WHAT, WHEN, WHY and HOW. Be
sure to use paragraph form, complete sentences and correct spelling and punctuation.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
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7
Causes and Results of the Spanish-American War
Main Idea
Main Idea
Causes
Results
Essential Details
Essential Details
Protection of American
__________________________ in Cuba
___________ independence from
__________
American support of Cuban_________
to gain independence from Spain.
United States gained ________overseas
___________ sunk in Havana Harbor
________, Philippines, and __________
became United States territories
____________journalism
United States emerged as a
__________power
So what? What is important to understand about this?
The United States_________ its interest in __________ and acquired new __________.
8
American Imperialism: Panama
How did we get Panama?
What was the
significance of
the Panama
Canal? Think of 2
positive and 2
negative things.
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
9
America Becomes a World Power
Label and color the territories
and countries involved in the
Spanish American War:
1. United States
2. Spain
3. Cuba
4. the Philippines
5. Guam
6. Puerto Rico
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