Grade 8 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 18, Lesson 1

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
A More Perfect Union

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 18, Lesson 1: International Expansion (pp. 528-532)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Power In the decades after the Civil War, Americans began to expand internationally, especially in the Pacific and in Asia.

Describe the concept of Social Darwinism and the ways in which it was used to justify American international expansion. Then discuss with students how this concept compares with the economic reasons for expansion.

Describe the establishment of trade with China, Japan, and Korea. Point out how this trade led to U.S. claims in the Pacific and the annexation of Hawaii.

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Have each student write two letters to the editor, one criticizing and one justifying U.S. expansion in Asia. Those justifying should refer to the ideas of Social Darwinism and the economic reasons for expansion. Those criticizing may want to discuss the effects of expansion on the people of the Asian and Pacific nations.
Have students draw a political cartoon showing the conflict between American planters in Hawaii and the Hawaiian Queen, from either the American or Hawaiian point of view. Encourage them to use symbols and to make their point of view about the "revolution" clear.

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