Conflict and Conquest: A Historical Perspective on America’s Global Engagements

Description

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of American foreign policy, delving into the motivations, interests, and justifications behind its actions on the global stage. Through detailed analysis, we will examine specific regions including Hawai’i, Cuba, the Philippines, Nicaragua, and various Latin American countries. Special attention will be given to America’s historical participation in conflicts and wars within these regions, encompassing pivotal events such as the Spanish-American War, the Mexican-American War, as well as its roles in World War I and World War II. Students will gain a nuanced understanding of how these engagements have shaped America’s international relations and its broader impact on global affairs.

State Standards

HSS.USI.T7.05
Analyze the causes and course of the growing role of the United States in world affairs from the Civil War to World War I, researching and reporting on one of the following ideas, policies, or events, and, where appropriate, including maps, timelines, and other visual resources to clarify connections among nations and events.
The influence of the United States in Hawaii (1898)
The Spanish-American War (1898) and resulting changes in sovereignty for Cuba, the Philippines

HSS.USI.T7.06
Explain the rationale and events leading to the entry of the U.S. into World War I

HSS.USI.T7.07
Analyze the role played by the U.S. in support of the Allies and in the conduct of the war

Supports Available to Students

Tier 1 (Supports provided to ALL students)

• Facing History and Ourselves
• Stanford History Education Project (SHEG) Reading Like a Historian

Tier 3 (Intensive supports provided to SMALL groups or INDIVIDUAL students)

• Weekly academic check-ins

Skills-learned

• Critical Thinking Skills, particularly around argumentation
• Assessment strategy and planning
• Notetaking