Theme 5: American Expansion Essential Questions & Content Objectives:
American Expansion considers the forces, decisions and outcomes that have led to America evolving from its
initial thirteen colonies to the geographic entity, which spans from the Atlantic to the Pacific and beyond, that it is
today. This theme will trace the philosophical foundations of isolationism to the foreign policy of imperialism. An
analysis of the impact of these policies on the native populations will also be a major focus.
Essential Question 1: How has territorial expansion been justified?

Explain how resources, religion, and racial supremacy have contributed to American expansionism.
Essential Question 2: What factors promote territorial expansion?

Compare continental and overseas expansionism.
(CONTINENTAL)

Identify the national and international significance of the Louisiana Purchase

Explain the significance of the Oregon Trail.

Explain the concept of Manifest Destiny.

Summarize the events surrounding the Texas Revolution.

Evaluate the Polk administrations rationale for declaring war against Mexico. (Mexican-American War)

Consider the impact that the discovery of gold & silver had on western migration.

Identify the role that technology played in encouraging American migration west. (i.e. railroad, barbed wire, etc)
(OVERSEAS)

Define the term imperialism.

Explain the Monroe Doctrine.

Compare pro and anti-imperialistic arguments.

Identify the significance of “Seward’s Folly”.

Summarize the events that led up to the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands.

Explain the role that the yellow journalistic media played in encouraging war with Spain.

Identify the impact that the sinking of the Battleship Maine had on the U.S. declaration of war against Spain.

Summarize the significance of the Spanish American War.

Compare Teddy Roosevelt’s Corollary with the Monroe Doctrine.

Explain the American role in the development of the Panama Canal.
Essential Question 3: What responsibility does America have towards the inhabitants of a newly acquired
territory?
(CONTINENTAL)

Summarize the key components of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and evaluate the treaty’s impact on the Mexican
people.

Identify the significance of Columbus’ encounter with the indigenous people of the America’s.

Describe European and Native American colonial relations during the beginning of the English settlement of North
America.

Differentiate between the ways in which Europeans and Native Americans perceived land ownership.

Evaluate Andrew Jackson’s decision to forcibly remove the five civilized tribes of the SE U.S. under the Indian Removal
Act. (Trail of Tears)

Explain the significance of the Sand Creek Massacre

Identify the significance of Custer’s Last Stand on American and Native American relations.

Define Native American stereotypes and weigh their impact on Native American culture.

Identify the impact that the American Bison had on the culture of the Plains Indians.

Compare the Reservation System and the Dawes Act.

Explain the impact of the Ghost Dance on both Native American and Anglo American society.

Identify the historical significance of Wounded Knee.
(OVERSEAS)

Summarize Queen Liliuokalani’s Attempt to restore the Hawaiian Islands to the Hawaiian people & the events that led to
the U.S. annexation.

List the key components of the Jones Act of 1917.

Compare the U.S. treatment of the Cuban & Filipino peoples following the Spanish American War.

Identify the role that Emilio Aguinaldo played in leading Filipino resistance against both the Spanish and American armed
forces.

Explain how American Imperialism impacted the people of Cuba, Puerto Rico & the Philippines

Evaluate Teddy Roosevelt’s decision to dispatch the U.S. navy to support the Panamanian Revolution.