American Imperialism and World War I
Late 1800's to Early 1900's
This unit traces the United States foreign policy from the late 1800’s to 1920. The focus is the United
States imperialistic actions during that time period.
Please refer to classroom webpage (verria.wiki.spaces.com) daily for assignments.
SECTION 1 EARLY STAGES
Essential Question: Why might some question that the United States annexation of Hawaii in 1898?
Guiding Question(s):
1. Explain how Alfred Mahan and Josiah
Strong formed a perfect duo argument for
imperialists.
2. How did President Grover Cleveland’s and
President William McKinley’s handling of
the situation in Hawaii differ? Which
handling do your prefer? Why?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Key Terms
7. Grover Cleveland
8. William McKinley (1898)
Alfred Mahan
Josiah Strong
John Fiske
Commodore Matthew
Perry
5. McKinley Tariff of 1890
6. Queen Liliuokalani
Supplementary Materials
Alfred Mahan: The Influence of Sea Power (excerpt)
Josiah Strong: (excerpt)
Albert Beveridge / William Jennings Bryan speeches
SECTION 2 SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
Essential Question: Was the United States role in the Spanish American War justified?
Guiding Question(s):
Key Terms
1. Discuss the United States negotiations with
Spain over the Cuba. Why did those
negotiations not avert war?
2. While the United States won the Spanish
American War in four months, what
difficulties did the American soldiers face?
3. What are the major argument points in favor
and against the annexation of the Philippines
after the Spanish American War? (See Albert J.
Beveridge and William Jennings Bryan)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Jose Marti
Yellow Journalism
General Weyler the butcher
Jingoism
Teller Resolution
Commodore George Dewey
Emilio Aguinaldo
Rough Riders / Theodore
Roosevelt
9. John Hay / Splendid Little
War
10. Platt Amendment
11. Foraker Act
Supplementary Materials
Document: Yellow Journalism
Map Exercise / Imperialism
Document: Teller Resolution
Political Cartoon Analysis: Spanish American War
Document: Reporting of the Maine’s sinking
SECTION 3 IMPERIALISM IN ASIA AND CENTRAL AMERICA
Essential Question: Do the United States actions in Asia and Central America qualify as imperialism?
Guiding Question(s):
Key Terms
1. How is the United States action in China
during the early 1900’s different than their
actions with Spain during late 1800’s?
2. Was the United States justified in its
handling of the crisis in Panama?
3. What did Woodrow Wilson mean by
“moral diplomacy?” Access how that
approach worked in Mexico.
1. spheres of influence
2. John Hay / / Open Door
Policy
3. Boxers / Boxer Rebellion
4. 1903 Panama Canal Treaty
5. 1921 Columbian
“compensation”
6. Roosevelt Corollary
7. dollar diplomacy
8. Porfirio Diaz / Francisco
Madero / Victoriano Huerta /
Supplementary Materials
Political Cartoon Analysis; Panama Canal
9. ‘watchful waiting’
10. Tampico / Veracruz / ABC
mediation
11. Venustiano Carranza
12. Francisco Villa
John J. Pershing
SECTION 4: WORLD WAR I
Essential Question: Are the United States the “good guys” in World War I?
Guiding Question(s):
Key Terms
1. Despite United States President
Woodrow Wilson’s advice to “stay neutral
in word and deed,” why did he change his
position?
2. President Wilson said we entered WWI
to make the world safe for democracy.
With attention to his role at the Treaty of
Versailles, do you think he was true to his
word?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Nationalism
Imperialism
military build up
military alliances (Triple
Alliance / Triple Entente)
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
assassination (spark, not a
cause) (6/28/1914)
trenches
monsters
dog fights (Manfred von
Richthofen (Red Baron) and
Eddie Rickenbacker)
U-boat warfare
Lusitania
Sussex Pledge broken
Zimmerman Note
Czar Nicholas II
April 6, 1917 / the war to
end all wars
15. Eddie Rickenbacker /
Manfred von Richthofen/
dog fights
16. American Expeditionary
Force / John J. Pershing
17. Yanks / Doughboys
18. Shell shock
19. Sergeant York
20. Eleventh hour, on the
eleventh day, in the eleventh
month
21. Treaty of Versailles
22. The Big Four
23. 14 Points
24. League Nations
25. Henry Cabot Lodge
Supplementary Materials
The Zimmerman Note
Jeanette Rankin reading
President Wilson’s Declaration of War
Analyzing Political Cartoon: Treaty of Versailles /
League of Nations
Formative and Summative Assessments
Quizzes at the end of most sections:
 Multiple choice content
 DBQ questions
. Test
 Multiple choice content
 DBQ questions