SOCIAL STUDIES LESSON PLAN RESOURCES
SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS
TOPIC
LESSON 10
Economics
Economic Drivers of Exploration and
Colonization
Economic Motives For American
Imperialism
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:
 Describe the foreign policy known as imperialism, and explain why the United States became an
imperialist power in the nineteenth century.
 Identify the various areas that the United States took control of, or gained influence in during the 19th
and 20th centuries.
 Explain how those areas benefited the United States.
CLASSROOM SUPPLIES NEEDED
Depending on what content and which activities are provided, some to all of the items below will be needed.
 Whiteboard and dry erase markers or flipchart paper and markers
LESSON RESOURCES
Depending on what content and which activities are provided, some to all of the items below will be needed.
Pre-Work for Students to Read Before Class
 Handout 1 – Reasons for Imperialism in the Spanish-American War.
Pre-Work for Students to Read Before Class
n/a
Handout to Provide Students In Class
 Handout 2 - Review of American Imperialism: Somebody-Wanted-But-So
Online Video Students Will Watch In Class
n/a
Access to the Internet for Research
Economics > Economic Drivers of Exploration and Colonization > Economic Motives for American Imperialism
Page 1
SOCIAL STUDIES LESSON PLAN RESOURCES
SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS
TOPIC
LESSON 10
Economics
Economic Drivers of Exploration and
Colonization
Economic Motives For American
Imperialism
KEY VOCABULARY AND IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
 Imperialism
 Concession
 Most Favored Nation
 Sphere of Influence
 Protectorate
 Free Trade
 Annex
 Treaty of Paris
 Open Door Policy
 Monroe Doctrine
 Yellow Journalism
 Roosevelt Corollary
STUDENT PRE-WORK FOR THIS LESSON
Directions
1. Students are to read the one handout.
2. Students are to prepare for a class discussion based on the handout.
Resources To Provide Students
 Handout 1 – Reasons for Imperialism in the Spanish-American War.
Class Preparation
During class discussion, students will be asked to share information covered in the handout.
ANTICIPATORY SET FOR THE LESSON (2 MINUTES)
Mode
Topic
Teacher Question
War and annexation were strategies used by the United States in the 1800s
Class Discussion
to acquire territory. Give an example of each strategy.
The United States fought in the Spanish American War. As a result they gained
The Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
The United States annexed Hawaii and set up a republic in 1894. Hawaii
became a state in 1959.
LESSON CONTENT AND ACTIVITIES: AMERICAN IMPERIALISM IN THE PACIFIC (20 MINUTES)
Mode
Topic
Teacher Lecture
Define Imperialism
Class Discussion
Teacher defines Imperialism.
Teacher tells students that the lesson examines specific examples of American
Imperialism.
Economics > Economic Drivers of Exploration and Colonization > Economic Motives for American Imperialism
Page 2
SOCIAL STUDIES LESSON PLAN RESOURCES
SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS
TOPIC
LESSON 10
Economics
Economic Drivers of Exploration and
Colonization
Economic Motives For American
Imperialism
LESSON CONTENT AND ACTIVITIES: AMERICAN IMPERIALISM IN THE PACIFIC (20 MINUTES)
Mode
Topic
Teacher Lecture
Types of Imperialism
Teacher describes three types of imperialism. They include a protectorate, a
concession, and a sphere of influence.
Teacher Lecture
Class Discussion
American Imperialism
Teacher and students explain how the Industrial Revolution led to American
imperialism.
Student Activity
American Imperialism-Presentation
Each group will research information, and use the following slides in the
Power-Point to present information on America’s imperialist’s aims in the
Pacific and in Latin America. Students will present information to the class.
Students will use a whiteboard and dry erase markers to make presentations.
Each Group’s presentation will include the following:
 Reasons for interest in the region
 Obstacles to acquiring region
 Steps taken to acquire region
NOTE ***See answers on Handout 2 – Review of American Imperialism:
Somebody-Wanted-But-So.
Student Activity
American Imperialism: Japan
Two Power-Point Slides provide information that students need.
Student Activity
American Imperialism: Hawaii
Two Power-Point Slides provide information that students need.
Student Activity
American Imperialism: The Philippines
Economics > Economic Drivers of Exploration and Colonization > Economic Motives for American Imperialism
Page 3
SOCIAL STUDIES LESSON PLAN RESOURCES
SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS
TOPIC
LESSON 10
Economics
Economic Drivers of Exploration and
Colonization
Economic Motives For American
Imperialism
LESSON CONTENT AND ACTIVITIES: AMERICAN IMPERIALISM IN THE PACIFIC (20 MINUTES)
Mode
Topic
Two Power-Point Slides provide information that students need.
Student Activity
American Imperialism: China
One Power-Point Slide provides information that students need.
LESSON CONTENT AND ACTIVITIES: AMERICAN IMPERIALISM IN LATIN AMERICA (15 MINUTES)
Mode
Topic
Teacher Lecture
American Imperialism: Latin America
The United States issued the Monroe Doctrine to warn European nations to
stay out of the western hemisphere.
NOTE *** Mercantilism was a policy that said nations should export more than
they imported to maintain a favorable balance of trade. When nations
colonized other areas, they gained access to resources without having to trade
for those resources. They also gained markets to sell products.
Student Activity
American Imperialism: Spanish American War
One Power-Point Slide provides information that students need.
Students can also use information presented in Handout 1-Reasons for
Imperialism in the Spanish American War.
Student Activity
American Imperialism: Panama
One Power-Point Slide provides information that students need.
Teacher Lecture
Class Discussion
American Imperialism: Roosevelt Corollary
Teacher and students will explain how the United States used the Roosevelt
Corollary to maintain American interest in Latin America.
LESSON ASSESSMENT AND STUDENT LEARNING EVALUATION (15 MINUTES)
Mode
Topic
Economics > Economic Drivers of Exploration and Colonization > Economic Motives for American Imperialism
Page 4
SOCIAL STUDIES LESSON PLAN RESOURCES
SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS
TOPIC
LESSON 10
Economics
Economic Drivers of Exploration and
Colonization
Economic Motives For American
Imperialism
Student
Activity
Chart
Work
Review of American Imperialism: Somebody-Wanted-But-So
LESSON 10: Handout 2
Review the causes and results of American Imperialism by completing the following chart
Country/War
Japan
Hawaii
Philippines
China
Spanish
American War
Panama
Somebody
Wanted
But
So
http://wvde.state.wv.us/strategybank/Somebody-Wanted-But-So.html
NOTE***Answers are provided on separate handout.
Economics > Economic Drivers of Exploration and Colonization > Economic Motives for American Imperialism
Page 5