Can a negative perception of a president's foreign policy harm his or her historical legacy? A project that winds the clock back to the date of Theodore Roosevelt's death puts young scholars at the editorial desk of a fictional...

The 18th and 19th centuries saw so many political revolutions around the world that it's difficult to consider the importance and influence of the revolutions that affected each country differently: the agricultural and industrial...

Consider the results of imperialism by taking a critical look at the Dutch, French, and Italian empires. An outline of geography and a timeline of major events are presented for each of the countries. Pros and cons lists relating the...

If ever a person wanted to know about the start, spread, and effects of the Industrial Revolution now would be the time to ask. Answer questions regarding facets of the Industrial revolution in slide show format. Each slide contains...

A cross-curricular lesson combines poetry and history for your middle and high schoolers. The class critically examines Kipling's poem, "White Man's Burden" as historical evidence of the Imperialist ideology popular during his time. The...

If your really want your history class to know everything about old and new imperialism, look no further. This 58-slide presentation depicts, describes, and explains everything from 19th Century expansion and the Congress of Berlin to...

A great presentation awaits young historians as they delve into the causes, types, and motives for British Imperialism. Each slide provides clear information regarding new imperialism occurring from 1875-1948. Justifications for...

This presentation is a gem. It begins with 20 questions aimed at guiding note taking and focusing student attention. Each slide or topic covered ties to one of the 20 questions. The class will learn about European conquest and need to...

Once an independent nation, Hawaii became part of the United States only after a business-sponsored coup of its queen. After examining newspapers from the 1890s, learners consider whether native Hawaiians wished to become Americans at...

When Commodore Matthew Perry sailed to Japan and demonstrated American naval strength, he forced the empire to engage in trade with the United States. How did this new, strong-armed relationship influence both parties? Pupils consider...

What does it matter if Moctezuma had a zoo? Learners consider the question to decide whether the Aztecs were an advanced civilization or if European colonialism brought civilization to them. Using images of primary sources, including...

Life is full of ups and downs. Scholars read George Orwell's essay "Shooting an Elephant," which describes a meaningful event from the author's own life. Then, after answering text questions and participating in a Socratic discussion,...

How does a nation turn into a global superpower? The 16th installment of the 22-part series on American history investigates the rise of the United States to global importance in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Groups...

Sometimes the New Order becomes synonymous with its implications for European countries, but what about its consequences for East Asia? The final instructional activity in a four-part series teaches scholars about World War II. High...

Is violence inevitable, or can peace overcome war? A Crash Course World History discusses how Leo Tolstoy influenced Mohandas Gandhi to use nonviolent resistance against British Imperialism, and how Gandhi's example became a model for...

World history is full of the glorious fanfare of the expansion of Western civilization, but was it perceived that way by the Eastern hemisphere? High schoolers watch a video from Crash Course World History to learn more about how Western...

Can war be an indication of a growing civilization? Crash Course World History explores the ways that wealth and power work together to form and defend empires throughout the history of mankind.

Can you ever understand someone's experience without having lived it yourself? Gayatri Spivak's Can the Subaltern Speak? explores the dilemma of simplifying the experiences of those in oppressed or victimized situations by speaking for...

How affected is Thinks Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe's personal biography? Using a four corners strategy, and evidence from their readings, class members debate the degree of biographical influence in Achebe's novel.

Why did Chinua Achebe write "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness" in response to Conrad's novel? As part of a study of Things Fall Apart, class members conduct a socratic seminar focused on Achebe's purpose and...

To gain an understanding of Imperialism, class members read Rudyard Kipling's poem, "The White Man's Burden" and Mark Twain's essay, "To the Person Sitting in Darkness." Groups compare these perceptions of non-white cultures with the...

As part of their study of Things Fall Apart, class groups develop a multimedia presentation in response to the question, "In what ways does Achebe use literature as a means to express and comment on culture and history?"

To launch a unit study of the concept of diversity in World Literature, class members compare Chinua Achebe's essay, "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness" and Richard Rodriguez's essay, "The Chinese in All of Us: A...

How does prejudice emerge? To open a discussion about race and prejudice, class members read "The Black Man's Burden," H.T. Johnson's response to Rudyard Kipling's famous ode to imperialism.