US History · 11th Grade

Active learning ideas

Spanish-American War & Imperialism

Active learning helps students grasp the complexities of the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations by putting them in the roles of decision-makers. Debates and simulations make abstract concepts like self-determination and collective security concrete.

• Common Core State Standards
• C3: D2.His.1.9-12
• C3: D2.Geo.9.9-12

• 30–90 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Simulation Game
• 90 min · Whole Class

Simulation Game: The Paris Peace Conference

Students represent the 'Big Four' (U.S., Britain, France, Italy) and Germany. They must negotiate the terms of the treaty, realizing the conflict between Wilson's 'peace without victory' and the European desire for revenge and reparations.

Analyze the role of 'Yellow Journalism' and public opinion in sparking the Spanish-American War.

Facilitation Tip

For the Think-Pair-Share on the Legacy of Versailles, give students 2 minutes to reflect quietly before pairing to encourage thoughtful discussion.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'Was the Spanish-American War a necessary step in America's rise to global power, or a betrayal of its founding ideals?' Have students take sides and use specific historical evidence from the period to support their arguments.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 02

• Formal Debate
• 50 min · Whole Class

Formal Debate: To Join the League?

Divide the class into 'Internationalists' (Wilson), 'Reservationists' (Lodge), and 'Irreconcilables.' They debate whether joining the League of Nations would protect peace or drag the U.S. into unnecessary foreign wars.

Explain the motivations behind American expansion into the Pacific and Caribbean.

What to look for

Ask students to write a short paragraph explaining one cause of the Spanish-American War and one consequence of American imperialism, citing at least one key vocabulary term in their response.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 30 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The Legacy of Versailles

Students read about the harsh terms imposed on Germany. They work in pairs to discuss how these terms might lead to future conflict, connecting the end of WWI to the rise of WWII.

Evaluate whether the United States betrayed its founding principles by acquiring overseas territories.

What to look for

Present students with three short primary source excerpts: one from a Yellow Journalist, one from an imperialist proponent, and one from an anti-imperialist. Ask students to identify which perspective each excerpt represents and explain their reasoning.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Experienced teachers approach this topic by emphasizing the constitutional conflicts between Wilson and the Senate, as research shows this legal and sovereignty debate is often overlooked. Avoid framing the Senate’s rejection as simple opposition to peace, and instead focus on the balance of power between branches.

Students will articulate the political tensions of the era, identify key arguments for and against U.S. involvement in the League, and evaluate Wilson’s successes and failures with historical evidence.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Paris Peace Conference simulation, watch for students assuming the Senate’s opposition was simply ‘anti-peace.’

  Use the simulation’s role sheets to highlight Article X’s requirement for collective security, prompting students to discuss how this could limit Congress’s war-declaring power.

• During the ‘To Join the League?’ debate, watch for students believing Wilson’s 14 Points were fully adopted in the final treaty.

  Have students refer to the peer-led comparison worksheet to identify which points were ignored or altered, using primary source excerpts from the treaty to ground their analysis.

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Methods used in this brief

• Simulation Game
• Formal Debate
• Think-Pair-Share