Skip to content

Skinny — US.6_12.4 Change Over Time · Unit 2 Imperialism & WWI

Standard: US.6_12.4 — Compare how historical elements change over time. Unit: 2 — Imperialism & WWI (1890s–1918) NDSBL Era: Era 3: 1877-1941 Grade: 10 · US History

Official proficiency scale — the source of truth for scoring

Scoring follows the official NDSBL US History Proficiency Scales — not the examples on this page. Proficient (3.0) for Era 3: 1877-1941 means:

  • Explain the causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution on American society.
  • Explain the social, cultural, and economic impact of local, state, and federal government policy on American people.
  • Explain the impact of the United States’ transformation into an imperialist power.
  • Explain the causes and effects of the United States’ entrance into World War I.
  • Explain the political, social, and economic changes of the 1920s.
  • Explain the political, social, and economic events of the 1930s.

What This Standard Asks

How did key elements — institutions, rights, technology, power — change across this era, and what stayed the same? — applied to Imperialism & WWI (1890s–1918).

Key Content — Unit 2: Imperialism & WWI

America stepped onto the world stage. The Spanish-American War (1898) brought the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam — and a fierce debate between imperialists and anti-imperialists. Then World War I: neutrality gave way to entry in 1917 (the Zimmermann Telegram, U-boat attacks). Wilson's Fourteen Points and League of Nations were rejected by the Senate (Henry Cabot Lodge). At home: propaganda and the Espionage/Sedition Acts. The turning point — the U.S. becomes a world power, then retreats into isolation.

The Skill in This Unit

Compare the start and end of this era on one thread — America's role in the world. Name what changed, what held steady, and what drove the shift.

What You Need to Know (Score 2.0 — Approaching)

Vocabulary such as: Cause and effect, Causes and consequences, Industrial Revolution, Social, cultural, and economic impacts, Federal government policy, Imperialism, World War I, Political, social, and economic changes.

Basic processes such as: - Identify the causes and effects of events as they relate to Era 3. - Identify social, political, and cultural developments of Era 3. - Describe the causes and/or consequences of the Industrial Revolution - Identify the impacts of government policy on American people - Recognize the impact of the United States’ transformation into an imperialist power - List the causes and effects of the the United States’ entrance into World War I - Recall the political, social, and economic events of the 1920s - Recall the political, social, and economic events of the 1920s

Meeting the Standard (Score 3.0 — Proficiency)

Proficiency on US.6_12.4 means applying Change Over Time to this unit with no major errors — see the era targets in the callout above. Aim your Demo of Learning at that language, not at simply retelling the events.

Going Beyond (Score 4.0 — Advanced)

Advanced work extends the skill to a higher cognitive level (attainable, not perfection): - Develop an argument about Era 3: 1877-1941 and how that historical interpretation has changed over time.

ELA Crosswalk

W.3 — explanatory writing · R.2 — comprehend complex texts over time

Where to Go Next

US.6_12.4 · Unit 2 Skinny — SDA Commons · South High School · aligned to the official NDSBL US History proficiency scale