US History

American political cartoons from the nineteenth century are known for their stereotypical portrayals of non-American peoples. In this inquiry, students will analyze cartoons about American imperialism in the Philippines to understand the importance of knowing where sources come from.

Political cartoons tell stories and offer specific arguments across a range of topics in a way that text cannot. In this inquiry, students will become familiar with what we can learn from political cartoons on American imperialism.

American imperialism is defined by the Spanish-American War. Expanding territory overseas, yellow journalism, and film make this era ideal for studying how war can shape American attitudes on issues. Building on prior knowledge on the start of the Spanish-American War, this inquiry takes it a step further by asking students to debate how the war…

The American annexation of Hawaii had the potential to end thousands of years of rich Hawaiian language and culture. Without efforts by native Hawaiians to save Hawaii’s identity, it could have easily been lost. In this inquiry, students will weigh which of the efforts to preserve Hawaiian identity was most impactful.

The idea of Manifest Destiny holds many meanings. For many who moved west, it symbolizes their hopes and dreams. For many of the indigenous people who already inhabited the region, Manifest Destiny brought an end to their way of life. Railroads, trade, and waves of settlers reshaped the physical and natural environment. Manifest Destiny undoubtedly…

Westward expansion in the late 1800s and early 1900s had a significant impact on the environment. As settlers moved west, they established new farms and homesteads. To do this, they cleared forests, plowed prairies, diverted water sources, and built railroads. At the time, there were different approaches to how humans should interact with the environment….

Founded in 1879, the Carlisle Indian Industrial School was the first off-reservation boarding school designed to force indigenous children to adopt the language, customs, and culture of white American society. Tens of thousands of Indian children from over 140 Native tribes who attended the Carlisle School had to cut their hair, wear European-style clothing, speak…

The first Earth Day was celebrated in April 1970. Since then, global awareness of human impact on the earth has increased, and citizens around the world are taking actions to protect the earth. In this inquiry, students will explore the compelling question, “How do we protect the earth?”