HomeDepartmentsSocial StudiesTeachersMr. D. RiderAP US HistoryUnit 5
Unit 5 – Transition to Modernity – Imperialism and Progressivism
In both foreign and domestic affairs, America made a transition to what we might consider modern ways of thinking and acting in the early 20th century. The lessons in unit 5 focus on major United States' concerns at the time: imperialism, isolationism, and progressivism. America's emergence as a dominant world power shaped national responses to foreign affairs. On the domestic scene, urbanization, industrialization, and immigration intensified numerous social problems, making the need for reform vital.
At the conclusion of this unit, you should be able to answer the following basic questions:
- What caused the United States to become involved in the Spanish-American War?
- What arguments did both imperialists and anti-imperialists present in the debate over U.S. ventures into colonialism?
- How did President Roosevelt influence the new imperialism?
- How did Taft's dollar diplomacy differ from Wilson's moral diplomacy?
- How did the prospect of becoming a colonial empire change U.S. foreign policy?
- To what extent did the background of Progressive leaders contribute to their successes and failures in the movement?
- In what way did the work of muckrakers help create consensus on the need for change?
- To what extent did the Progressive movement succeed in making government more democratic, business more competitive, and society more moral and just?
- Compare Roosevelt's Square Deal with Wilson's New Freedom program
AMSCO chapters 20 – 21
Norton chapters 21 – 22
Documents TBA
Collapse All
Expand All