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Grab your top hat, your notepad, and your moral compass, because the year is 1900 and America is deciding what kind of power it wants to be. In this AI-powered historical simulation, students step into the shoes of a U.S. Senator facing a divided nation after the Spanish-American War. Should the United States embrace its new empire, or should it pull back and practice what it preaches about freedom and democracy?
Through a series of dynamic, conversational exchanges, students must justify their stance on imperialism, the Philippines conflict, and America’s expanding global role. Every response demands historical evidence and critical thinking, keeping students engaged and accountable for their reasoning.
After completing the simulation, students transition into the extension activity “Extra! Extra! The American Empire Edition,” where they transform their newfound historical insights into a turn-of-the-century newspaper editorial. They’ll craft persuasive front-page features from the perspective of a pro-expansion journalist, an anti-imperialist critic, or a foreign correspondent reporting from the front lines.
The result? A clever blend of inquiry-based learning, creative writing, and historical empathy that makes the debate over American imperialism feel alive again.
From Maine to Manila: Historical Context – This student-facing resource provides essential background on the Spanish-American War, the conflict in the Philippines, and the rise of the imperialism debate. It is designed to prepare students for the simulation while grounding their understanding of expansion and empire in historical context.
From Maine to Manila Simulation Instructions - Students engage in a fully guided AI-powered historical simulation that recreates the fierce debate over American imperialism after the Spanish-American War.
Extension Activity – Extra! Extra! The American Empire Edition - A creative project where students channel early 20th-century journalism to report and editorialize on America’s new global role. Includes differentiated perspective options and classroom-ready structure.
Extension Activity Rubric - Detailed, standards-aligned rubric assessing historical accuracy, perspective, argumentation, creativity, and professionalism.
Grab your top hat, your notepad, and your moral compass, because the year is 1900 and America is deciding what kind of power it wants to be. In this AI-powered historical simulation, students step into the shoes of a U.S. Senator facing a divided nation after the Spanish-American War. Should the United States embrace its new empire, or should it pull back and practice what it preaches about freedom and democracy?
Through a series of dynamic, conversational exchanges, students must justify their stance on imperialism, the Philippines conflict, and America’s expanding global role. Every response demands historical evidence and critical thinking, keeping students engaged and accountable for their reasoning.
After completing the simulation, students transition into the extension activity “Extra! Extra! The American Empire Edition,” where they transform their newfound historical insights into a turn-of-the-century newspaper editorial. They’ll craft persuasive front-page features from the perspective of a pro-expansion journalist, an anti-imperialist critic, or a foreign correspondent reporting from the front lines.
The result? A clever blend of inquiry-based learning, creative writing, and historical empathy that makes the debate over American imperialism feel alive again.
From Maine to Manila: Historical Context – This student-facing resource provides essential background on the Spanish-American War, the conflict in the Philippines, and the rise of the imperialism debate. It is designed to prepare students for the simulation while grounding their understanding of expansion and empire in historical context.
From Maine to Manila Simulation Instructions - Students engage in a fully guided AI-powered historical simulation that recreates the fierce debate over American imperialism after the Spanish-American War.
Extension Activity – Extra! Extra! The American Empire Edition - A creative project where students channel early 20th-century journalism to report and editorialize on America’s new global role. Includes differentiated perspective options and classroom-ready structure.
Extension Activity Rubric - Detailed, standards-aligned rubric assessing historical accuracy, perspective, argumentation, creativity, and professionalism.