American Expansion

AMERICAN EXPANSION

Generalization: The growth of the United States during its history has been phenomenal. In some ways, this is good. Expansion and growth are signs of a healthy, confident society. But the tendency of the U.S. to expand its geographical boundaries has from time to time had its negative aspects as well. Both positive and negative aspects of the U.S. tendency to expansion are evident in the 1865-1900 period. Comment.

ID’S: LARAMIE TREATY, PAHA SAPA, CRAZY HORSE, WOUNDED KNEE, TIMBER AND STONE ACT, THE MAINE, SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, HEARST, PLATT AMENDMENT

I.   Westward Expansion to 1850

II.   Removal of Native Americans from East (Trail of Tears)

III.   Expansion into Plains

IV.   Attempts to take over Black Hills and Powder River

V.   Mining

VI.   Ranching

VII.   Farming

VIII.   American Becomes an Empire
A.   American as an anti-imperialist power
B.   U.S. Restraint 1865-1890’s
C.   Spanish American War
1.   Causes of war
2.   Results of war
D.   The U.S as an imperial power, positives and negatives

There was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and to uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God’s grace do the very best we could be them as our fellow men for whom Christ died. – William McKinley

     BRYAN, BRYAN, BRYAN, BRYAN
     The Campaign of Eighteen Ninety-Six, as Viewed at
     The Time by a Sixteen-Year-Old, etc.

     In a nation of one hundred fine, mob-hearted, lynching, relenting, repenting millions,
     There are plenty of sweeping, swinging, stinging, gorgeous things to shout about,
     And knock your old blue devils out.
     I brag and chant of Bryan, Bryan, Bryan,
     Candidate for president who sketched a silver Zion,
     The one American Poet who could sing outdoors,
     He brought in tides of wonder, of unprecedented splendor
     Wild roses from the plains, that made hearts tender – Vachel Lindsay