Virginia SOL USII.4.e
The Standard
explaining how the war was a catalyst for the United States gaining international power and expanding its sphere of international influence
Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students explain how victory in the Spanish-American War increased U.S. influence beyond North America. They connect the war to control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, plus greater influence over Cuba.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students can use a map and a cause-and-effect chain to show how the war expanded U.S. reach. They distinguish between territories the United States acquired and Cuba, where it gained political influence.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think Cuba became a U.S. territory or that Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines became states. They may also confuse gaining influence with owning or directly governing another country.
How to Assess It
- Give students a blank map and ask them to label Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, then write how each shows expanded U.S. power.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Place labeled location cards on a world map, then connect each place to the United States with yarn and consequence notes.
Write a response to this prompt: How did a short war change the United States from a regional power into a global power?
Sort cards into three groups: U.S. territory, U.S. influence, or neither, then defend each choice with a partner.
Compare the present-day political status of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines, and Cuba using a four-column fact sheet.
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Related Standards
- USII.7.a
explaining how key decisions and agreements including, but not limited to the Atlantic Charter, formation of the United Nations, and the North Atlantic Treaty O...
- USI.8.g
explaining how the expansion of U.S. territory led to increased momentum for the abolitionist and women’s suffrage movements
- USII.4
The student will apply history and social science skills to explain the changing role of the United States from the late 19th century through World War I by
- USII.6.b
explaining the causes and events that led to American involvement in the war, including the attack on Pearl Harbor
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