Explain the motives of the United States acquisition of the territories.
Remarks
Examples may include, but are not limited to, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Guam, Samoa, Marshall Islands, Midway Island, Virgin Islands.
This benchmark is annually evaluated on the United States History End-of-Course Assessment. For more information on how this benchmark is evaluated view the United States History End-of-Course Assessment Test Item Specifications pages
27-28. Additional resources may be found on the
FLDOE End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments webpage and the
FLDOE Social Studies webpage.
Subject Area: Social Studies
Grade: 912
Date Adopted or Revised: 02/14
Status: State Board Approved
Related Courses
| Course Number1111 |
Course Title222 |
| 2100320: | United States History Honors (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current)) |
| 2100380: | Visions and Their Pursuits:An American Tradition-U.S.History to 1920 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current)) |
| 2100390: | Visions and Countervisions: Europe, the U.S. and the World from 1848 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018 (course terminated)) |
| 2100470: | Visions & Their Pursuits:An AmerTrad-U.S. Hist to 1920 Honors (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current)) |
| 2100480: | Visions and Countervisions: Europe, U.S. and the World from 1848 Honors (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current)) |
| 2100310: | United States History (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current)) |
| 7921025: | Access United States History (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current)) |
| 2100315: | United States History for Credit Recovery (Specifically in versions: 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current)) |
Related Access Points
| Access Point Number |
Access Point Title |
| SS.912.A.4.AP.2 | Identify the purpose of the United States expanding into other territories. |
Related Resources
Assessment
| Name |
Description |
| Quiz: Imperialism | Test your knowledge of American imperialism and the Age of Empire with this 9-question multiple choice quiz! |
Lesson Plans
| Name |
Description |
| Reading Like a Historian: Philippine War Political Cartoons | In this lesson, students analyze political cartoons in an effort to answer the central historical question: Why did the United States annex the Philippines after the Spanish-American War? The teacher first uses a timeline to review basic information about the war, then distributes Rudyard Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden," which students analyze in pairs. Then, students are split into 6 groups and receive 2 different cartoons each: 1 from a pro-imperial magazine like Judge or Puck, and 1 from an anti-imperial magazine like Life or The World. Using a graphic organizer, students examine the cartoons and then present 1 of them to the class, explaining how the cartoonist makes his point. A final class discussion contextualizes the cartoons and the events of the late 1890s. |
| Reading Like a Historian: Soldiers in the Philippines | In this lesson, students analyze primary sources in an effort to answer the central historical question: What accounted for American atrocities during the Philippine War? The teacher first uses a timeline to review basic information about the Philippine occupation and the 1902 Senate hearings regarding atrocities. Students then read numerous source documents from witness and participants in the war: the testimony of U.S. soldiers to the Senate, letters from soldiers to home, and a report from a Filipino soldier. Students use the sources and a graphic organizer to test 3 different hypotheses as to why soldiers were brutal. In a 1-page final response, students write about the hypothesis they find most convincing, using textual evidence. A final class discussion follows. |
| Reading Like a Historian: Spanish American War | In this lesson, students analyze primary sources in an effort to answer the central historical question: Why did the U.S invade Cuba? The teacher streams a short film (link included) while students take notes as to possible reasons for the invasion. Students then read the following: 1) song lyrics of an anti-Spanish propaganda a song written after the Maine sinking, 2) a telegram sent by Fitzhugh Lee, U.S. Consul-General in Cuba, and 3) a Senate campaign speech from Albert Beveridge. For each, students complete a graphic organizer and guiding questions. A final class discussion goes back to the original class hypotheses and determines which ones are most supported by the evidence. |
Original Student Tutorials
| Name |
Description |
| Imperialism and the Spanish-American War | In this interactive tutorial, learn about imperialism and understand the four major factors that drove America's imperial mindset in the late 1800s. Then learn about the causes and consequences of the Spanish-American War and how the U.S.A. gained new territories as a result. |
| Territorial Behaviors | In this interactive tutorial, learn the history behind the different territories that belong to the United States, including those that have become states, like Alaska and Hawaii, and those that haven't, like Puerto Rico and American Samoa. You'll also learn about America's role in the construction of the Panama Canal and the Panama Canal Zone the U.S. controlled. |
Text Resource
| Name |
Description |
| American Exceptionalism, American Freedom | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the Social Studies content area. It is most appropriate for 11th-12th grade students enrolled in a U.S. History class.
This article explores the origins - both in language and ideology - of the complicated concept "American Exceptionalism." The author explains the positive and negative implications of the idea and the impact American Exceptionalism has on our culture and politics today. |
Tutorials
| Name |
Description |
| The Age of Empire | Learn about the factors that drove United States imperialism and the acquisition of territories in this short video provided by Khan Academy. Helpful graphics illustrate the content. |
| Theodore Roosevelt: Speak Softly & Carry a Big Stick | Learn about American imperialism and expansion in this short video that details the attitudes and philosophies of America's 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt. |
| 60-Second Presidents: William McKinley | View a brief, funny video about our 25th president, William McKinley, commander-in-chief during the Spanish-American War! |
| American Empire | In this tutorial, you'll view a short video that will teach you about all the different U.S. territories and the legal status of each. It's a fast-paced, entertaining look at some of the least understood parts of the United States! |
Student Resources
Original Student Tutorials
| Name |
Description |
| Imperialism and the Spanish-American War: | In this interactive tutorial, learn about imperialism and understand the four major factors that drove America's imperial mindset in the late 1800s. Then learn about the causes and consequences of the Spanish-American War and how the U.S.A. gained new territories as a result. |
| Territorial Behaviors: | In this interactive tutorial, learn the history behind the different territories that belong to the United States, including those that have become states, like Alaska and Hawaii, and those that haven't, like Puerto Rico and American Samoa. You'll also learn about America's role in the construction of the Panama Canal and the Panama Canal Zone the U.S. controlled. |
Assessment
| Name |
Description |
| Quiz: Imperialism : | Test your knowledge of American imperialism and the Age of Empire with this 9-question multiple choice quiz! |
Tutorials
| Name |
Description |
| The Age of Empire: | Learn about the factors that drove United States imperialism and the acquisition of territories in this short video provided by Khan Academy. Helpful graphics illustrate the content. |
| Theodore Roosevelt: Speak Softly & Carry a Big Stick: | Learn about American imperialism and expansion in this short video that details the attitudes and philosophies of America's 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt. |
| 60-Second Presidents: William McKinley: | View a brief, funny video about our 25th president, William McKinley, commander-in-chief during the Spanish-American War! |
| American Empire: | In this tutorial, you'll view a short video that will teach you about all the different U.S. territories and the legal status of each. It's a fast-paced, entertaining look at some of the least understood parts of the United States! |
