16. American expansionism in the 19th century
Concentrating on the settling of the continent and the growth of American society is very important throughout education. American international expansion began in the decades prior to and following the Civil War, reaching a peak in the first two decades of the 20th century. American expansion should be presented as well. It includes the Spanish-American War, the often forgotten Philippine-American Wars, interventions in Mexico and Latin America, the building of the Panama Canal, and the Great White Fleet. The United States solidified its position as a world power following World War I. Teaching America’s rise in international status raises issues beyond the intellectual capacity of younger children.
Using issues which exist today as well as in the past are tools which help generate curiosity and maintain interest. America once used tariffs as its main source of federal income. Tariffs were and are divisive issues regarding their effect on the price of goods and international trade. Older students, at the high school level, should learn of the impact of tariffs in American history, including the Nullification Crisis of 1832. During the crisis, South Carolina declared a federal law null and void within the state, an early threat to the sovereignty of the federal government. Similar arguments, over healthcare, highway funding, and several other issues exist in the present, another example of history repeating itself.