Territorial+Expansion+Project+Description

**Territorial Expansion Mini-Project**  For this assignment, you will be responsible for researching one of the many territorial expansions that the United States has undertaken since its inception. You will be responsible for creating a tool that will be used for teaching the other students about your research. (The tool that you create is completely up to you - it can be a website, Toondoo, iComic, iMovie, Keynote presentation, etc.) The assignment will be turned in using the appropriate link on the wiki. Please note that students who merely put information on the wiki will receive very low grades!

You will be assessed based on the depth of research that you conduct, the quality of your final project that you produce, and the utility of this project in teaching others about your topic.

Your project will then be used to teach other students about your topic. You will not be presenting your topic, rather, students will be viewing your presentation online. It should take students no more than 5 minutes to read and watch everything pertaining to your topic. Therefore, everything must be clear because you will not have the opportunity to explain the content in your project.

At a minimum, your project must explain the following items in relation to territorial expansion:

1. What were the dates of the expansion? 2. Give a brief explanation of how and why the U.S. acquired the territory. Include discussion of conflicts that arose as a result of this expansion. 3. Did the ruling governments of the territories approve of the deals? Why or why not? 4. What was the impact on the inhabitants of the territory? 5. What was the effect this expansion had on the U.S.? Consider the following topics when answering this: * economic change * population change * natural resources/environmental changes * impact on slavery or other institutions * political impact 6. Overall, was the addition of this piece of land positive or negative? Consider all parties involved when developing your answer to this question.

As always, you are welcome to include more information than is listed above.

Your project must have at least one visual aide, although, I would prefer more than that. You must also cite your sources!!! (This includes your textbook.) Full bibliographical information for each source is required. It is NOT enough to just list the websites used.

Listed below are the topics you may choose from for this assignment. All topics must be covered. This will mean that some people will get to work with a partner and some may not. (Sorry, life is not always fair!) Those who work with a partner will have to demonstrate that each person made significant contributions to the project.

Original 13 Colonies Louisiana Purchase Adams-Onis Treaty Texas Annexation Oregon Territory Mexican Cession Gadsden Purchase Alaska Purchase Hawaiian Annexation Puerto Rico, Guam, Cuba and the Philippines US Virgin Islands