Chapter 26.2
The American Empire: How the US Built an Overseas Imperial Power
Discover how the United States transformed its foreign policy in the late 1800s, acquiring Pacific and Caribbean territories and becoming a major imperial power on the world stage.
What You'll Learn
The US shifted from continental to overseas imperial expansion after 1898.
Economic interests and naval strategy drove American territorial acquisition policies.
Key strategies included Big Stick, Dollar, and Gunboat Diplomacy approaches.
Acquired territories faced cultural assimilation policies and indigenous resistance movements.
What You'll Practice
1
Students analyze economic and military motivations behind imperial territorial expansion.
2
Learners identify key foreign policy terms like imperialism and spheres of influence.
3
Questions assess understanding of naval strategy and colonial administrative control.
Why This Matters
Understanding the American Empire equips students to analyze how economic interests, military power, and foreign policy decisions shape a nation's global influence and its relationships with other peoples.
This Unit Includes
Practice exercises
Learning resources
Skills
Imperialism
Foreign Policy
Naval Strategy
Territorial Expansion
Dollar Diplomacy
OH Curriculum Aligned
