US Imperialism

This video explores the dynamic period between 1880 and 1914, often called the Progressive Era or the Belle Époque, examining the explosion of scientific and technological innovation that defined the age. It details how industrial powers like Britain, the United States, and Germany funded research and public health initiatives, highlighting key figures like Josephine Cochrane, George Soper, and Madame C.J. Walker. The narrative explains the shift from a survival-based economy to a consumer culture driven by mass media, advertising, and the rise of the middle class. The video delves into the complex relationship between capitalism, industrialization, and popular culture, illustrating how wealthy industrialists influenced scientific progress and how businesses shaped consumer desires. Crucially, it also addresses the darker side of this era, discussing the rise of pseudosciences like phrenology and eugenics. It explains how scientific language was misused to justify racism, oppression, and unethical experimentation, grounding these concepts in the historical context of Social Darwinism. For educators, this resource serves as an excellent synthesis of early modern history, connecting technological advancements with social and ethical questions. It challenges students to consider the moral implications of progress, asking the big-picture question: "Just because we can, does it mean we should?" It is particularly useful for World History and U.S. History units on the Industrial Revolution, providing diverse examples of inventors and prompting critical thinking about the double-edged sword of scientific discovery.

This educational video provides a comprehensive overview of United States foreign policy, tracing its evolution from the nation's founding to the modern era. It begins by establishing the Constitutional roles of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches in crafting foreign policy, clarifying the balance of power between the President and Congress. The narrative then moves chronologically, highlighting George Washington's initial advice of isolationism and the shift toward interventionism through the Monroe Doctrine, territorial expansion, and the World Wars. The video explores the US's transition into a global superpower during the 20th century, covering the Cold War, the containment of communism, and post-9/11 military engagements. It also addresses contemporary issues such as foreign aid, trade deficits with nations like China, the rise of new economic powers like India, and global challenges like climate change and nuclear proliferation. The content emphasizes how historical events have shaped current diplomatic relationships and military presence worldwide. Designed for civics and history classrooms, this resource helps students connect historical precedents to current events. It concludes with a strong message about civic engagement, encouraging students to understand these complex issues so they can participate effectively in the democratic process through voting and debate. The video is an excellent tool for teaching the practical application of checks and balances and the history of America's role on the world stage.

This educational video provides a comprehensive overview of United States imperialism in Latin America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It explores the transition of the U.S. from a developing nation to a global imperial power, using the Spanish-American War of 1898 as a central turning point. The narrator connects everyday items like bananas and sugar to complex historical events, making the geopolitical motivations of the era accessible to students. Key themes include the economic and security motivations behind imperialism, the Monroe Doctrine, the concept of "Big Stick Diplomacy," and the Roosevelt Corollary. The video details specific historical events such as the explosion of the USS Maine, the acquisition of territories like Puerto Rico and the Philippines, and the political maneuvering behind the construction of the Panama Canal. It also addresses the influence of European expansion (the Scramble for Africa) on American foreign policy decisions. For educators, this video serves as an excellent anchor for units on US History or World History. It effectively breaks down the "why" behind historical events—linking business interests and national security to foreign intervention. The inclusion of guiding questions and clear definitions of terms like "Imperialism" and "Big Stick Diplomacy" makes it a ready-made resource for structuring classroom discussions and reinforcing vocabulary.

This educational video provides a comprehensive overview of United States territories, clarifying the legal and political distinctions between states and territories. Hosted by a presenter interacting with an animated character named Mia, the video explores the geography, history of acquisition, and cultural makeup of five major U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. It specifically addresses the complex issue of citizenship, explaining why people born in these territories are generally U.S. citizens but lack full voting rights in federal elections. A significant portion of the video is dedicated to the unique case of American Samoa, where residents are U.S. nationals rather than citizens. The video presents a balanced examination of the arguments for and against granting birthright citizenship to American Samoans, weighing civil rights principles against concerns over preserving traditional cultural land ownership and customs (Fa'a Samoa). This deep dive helps students understand that citizenship laws are nuanced and deeply intertwined with history and culture. This resource is highly valuable for Civics, U.S. Government, and U.S. History classrooms. It helps students dismantle the misconception that the U.S. ends at the borders of the 50 states and introduces critical concepts such as sovereignty, federal representation, and the rights of citizens versus nationals. The content is structured with clear pause points and guiding questions, making it an excellent tool for prompting classroom debates about democracy, equality, and cultural preservation.

This educational video explores the evolution of United States foreign policy throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, using an engaging analogy of a teenager going through different life phases. The narrator breaks down complex political concepts into three main categories: Isolationism, Interventionism, and Imperialism. By comparing a nation's growth to human development, the video makes abstract historical strategies accessible and relatable for students.

This educational video explores the profound environmental consequences of United States westward expansion and industrial development from the 19th century through the 1930s. Using the dramatic backdrop of the Dust Bowl as a hook, the narrator guides viewers through a historical journey that examines how human settlement, farming practices, and resource extraction altered the physical landscape. The video connects historical events like the decimation of the bison population and the clearing of forests in the Pacific Northwest to ecological principles, illustrating the direct link between human activity and environmental health. Key themes include the interaction between humans and their environment, the unintended consequences of technological and agricultural progress, and the rise of the conservation movement. The video specifically highlights the causes of the Dust Bowl, the ecological role of keystone species like bison and bees, and the political response to environmental degradation led by figures like Theodore Roosevelt. It contrasts the destructive practices of the era with the establishment of the National Park system, fostering a discussion on stewardship and sustainability. For educators, this resource serves as an excellent bridge between Social Studies and Science curriculums. It effectively visualizes abstract historical concepts through primary source photography and engaging reenactments, making the environmental costs of expansion tangible for students. The built-in pause points and guiding questions provide ready-made opportunities for classroom discussion, checking for understanding, and critical thinking about how past environmental decisions continue to shape our world today.

In this installment of Crash Course US History, John Green explores the complex era of American Imperialism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The video challenges the notion that American expansion was purely accidental or solely benevolent, arguing instead that it was driven primarily by economic necessities—specifically the need for new markets to sell surplus American goods following the Panic of 1893. Green connects domestic economic crises to foreign policy decisions, illustrating how the search for consumers led the U.S. to acquire territories like Hawaii, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. The video covers key historical events including the Spanish-American War, the annexation of Hawaii, and the brutal Philippine-American War. It introduces critical figures like Alfred Thayer Mahan, whose theories on naval power influenced strategy, and President William McKinley. The narrative also delves into the social and political debates of the time, highlighting the Anti-Imperialist League and the racial and democratic arguments against empire-building, while contrasting them with the pro-imperialist rhetoric of leaders like Senator Albert Beveridge. For educators, this resource serves as a powerful tool to teach the complexities of foreign policy and the disconnect that can occur between democratic ideals and international actions. It provides opportunities to discuss the role of economics in history, the power of the press (Yellow Journalism), and the constitutional questions surrounding citizenship in acquired territories—questions that remain relevant regarding places like Puerto Rico and Guam today.

This educational video provides a comprehensive overview of 19th-century Mexican history, focusing specifically on the causes and consequences of the Mexican-American War. It explores how Mexico, initially a new nation struggling for stability after independence from Spain, faced external pressures from American expansionism known as Manifest Destiny. The narrative guides viewers through the loss of Texas, the subsequent border disputes, and the war that resulted in Mexico losing half its territory. The video delves deep into the post-war era, examining the internal and external crises Mexico faced, including crushing foreign debt, the War of Reforms, and the French intervention. It highlights key historical figures like Benito Juárez and Porfirio Díaz, analyzing how the latter's policies opened the door to American economic imperialism. Key themes include national sovereignty, the economic impact of foreign investment, and the complex relationship between the United States and Mexico. For educators, this video serves as an excellent resource for teaching multiple perspectives in history. It explicitly challenges students to "walk in Mexico's shoes," fostering historical empathy and critical thinking. It connects political events to economic realities—showing how war debt leads to loss of sovereignty—making it a valuable tool for social studies, geography, and economics lessons about imperialism and nation-building.

This educational video explores the rise of American imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, investigating why the United States chose to expand its influence beyond its continental borders. Through clear analogies and historical examples, the narrator defines imperialism and examines the complex motivations behind it, including economic business interests, national pride (jingoism), and controversial ideologies like Social Darwinism. The video specifically uses Hawaii as a primary case study to illustrate these concepts in action. The content dives deep into the ideological landscape of the era, contrasting the concept of Manifest Destiny with the emerging drive for overseas expansion. It highlights the fierce debate between expansionists, who argued for economic growth and military strength, and anti-expansionists, who raised ethical concerns about freedom, sovereignty, and the rights of native populations. The video takes a firm stance on historical ethics, explicitly identifying Social Darwinism as a racist and harmful ideology similar to the justifications used for slavery. For educators, this video serves as an excellent primer for units on U.S. foreign policy, the Spanish-American War, or the turn of the 20th century. It breaks down high-level vocabulary into accessible terms—like comparing imperialism to a game of chess—making abstract political concepts concrete for students. The built-in pause points and reflection questions allow teachers to facilitate immediate classroom discussions about power dynamics, ethics in international relations, and the legacy of historical decisions in the modern world.

This educational video explores the expansion of Western colonial powers into the Pacific Rim during the age of imperialism. It specifically examines three distinct case studies: the Dutch in the East Indies (modern-day Indonesia), the French in Indochina (specifically Vietnam), and the United States in Hawaii. The narrator guides students through the historical context of each region before colonization, the methods used by foreign powers to gain control, and the resulting economic and social shifts that occurred.

This video provides a comprehensive overview of the political history of Latin America, tracing its development from the colonial era through the Age of Revolutions to modern geopolitical challenges. It begins by establishing the four major causes of Latin American independence movements: social prejudice against Criollos, restrictive trade policies, inspiration from the American Revolution, and the distraction of European powers during the Napoleonic Wars. The narrative profiles key liberators like Toussaint L'Ouverture, Simón Bolívar, José de San Martin, and Miguel Hidalgo, explaining their specific roles in freeing nations across the Caribbean, South America, and Mexico. The video then critically examines the post-revolutionary reality, highlighting how independence often failed to bring social equity, as power merely shifted from Spanish-born Peninsulares to the wealthy Criollo elite. It explores the recurring theme of military dictatorships throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, discussing specific regimes in Nicaragua, Chile, Panama, and Haiti. A significant portion is dedicated to United States interventionism, detailing how policies like the Monroe Doctrine and Truman Doctrine influenced the region, often leading to U.S. support for authoritarian leaders in the name of anti-communism. Ideal for middle and high school social studies classrooms, this resource connects historical events to contemporary issues. It addresses complex topics such as the Cuban Revolution, the War on Drugs, and the history of U.S.-Mexico border policies (including the Bracero Program and DACA). By linking past colonial structures to current challenges like drug cartels and migration, the video helps students understand the deep historical roots of modern Latin American politics and international relations.

This educational video provides a comprehensive overview of American imperialism in Latin America at the turn of the 20th century. It begins by examining the role of "Yellow Journalism" in manipulating public opinion and catalyzing the Spanish-American War. The narrative follows the transition of the United States from a nation fighting for Cuban independence to an imperial power that annexed territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and established significant control over Cuba's political and economic systems.