Unit 3: Unit 3: Imperialism and WWI

1. The Rise of American Imperialism and its Global Impact including:
Causes and Consequences of the Spanish-American War
The Debate Over American Imperialism
Key Imperialistic Actions

2. The Causes, Course, and Consequences of World War I including:
The Origins of World War
The Path to U.S. Involvement
The Nature of Warfare
The End of the War and its Aftermat

Students will understand the role of yellow journalism, economic interests, and nationalistic fervor in the outbreak of the Spanish-American War.

They will analyze the war's impact on U.S. territorial expansion and its emergence as a global power.

Students will identify and evaluate the diverse perspectives on American imperialism, including arguments for and against expansion.

They will understand the role of figures like Theodore Roosevelt and the contributions of groups such as the Buffalo Soldiers.

Students will identify and explain the complex web of factors that led to the outbreak of World War I, including militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism (MAIN).

They will understand the initial U.S. policy of isolationism and the factors that contributed to its shift.

Students will describe the characteristics of trench warfare and the impact of new technologies, such as chemical weapons, on the battlefield.

Students will analyze President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points and their influence on the Treaty of Versailles.

They will evaluate the short-term and long-term consequences of World War I, including its impact on the global political landscape.

• Construct historical narratives: They will be able to synthesize information from various sources to create coherent accounts of historical events.
  
  
• Evaluate the legacies of imperialism and World War I: They will consider the long-term consequences of these events for the United States and the world.
  
  
• Develop critical thinking skills: They will be able to analyze information, identify bias, and form reasoned judgments.
  
  
• Connect the past to the present: They will be able to draw connections between historical events and contemporary issues.
  
  

• Apply social studies skills to modern events: Students will be able to use the skills learned in this unit to analyze current events.