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History, Civics & Social Studies · Grade 8

The United States and Global Conflicts

From the Spanish–American War of 1898 to the end of the Cold War, the United States became a world power. Learners examine debates over overseas empire, why the US entered two world wars, life and injustice on the home front, the decision to use atomic bombs from several perspectives, and the strategy of containment that shaped the Cold War.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 120 minutes
  • Global conflicts check: 9 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, highlight a text, match pairs, type a number and put in order
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What learners will discover

  • Explain how and why the United States acquired overseas territories around 1898 and the debate over empire.
  • Explain why the US entered World War I and World War II and how the wars changed the home front, including the incarceration of Japanese Americans.
  • Evaluate the decision to use atomic bombs on Japan using multiple perspectives and evidence.
  • Explain containment and sequence major Cold War events from 1947 to 1991.

Lessons

  1. 1898: an overseas empire? 5 steps3 practiceabout 28 min
  2. Two world wars and the home front 6 steps4 practiceabout 32 min
  3. The atomic bomb decision 5 steps3 practiceabout 30 min
  4. Containment and the Cold War 5 steps4 practiceabout 30 min
  5. Global conflicts check 9 questions at the end

Keep exploring

More 8th grade social studies

Guide for grown-ups