This unit covers the global effects of the Industrial Revolution and the development of different economic systems. It also covers modern imperialism and colonization, including a case study based on Japanese imperialism.
Industrialization and Imperialism unit contains 7 learning experiences.
Learning Experiences (Lessons) in Industrialization and Imperialism Each learning experience takes about 45 minutes to teach in the device-enabled classroom.
Global Effects of the Industrial Revolution
Students first watch a video about the invention of the steam engine and brainstorm a modern technology that has had a major impact on society. Then they are introduced to economic concepts such as Commercial Revolution, money economy, and economic specialization. Next they summarize technological and social changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution. They evaluate whether the term Industrial Revolution is an appropriate name for the era. Finally they choose a writing task to analyze changes in the city of London during the nineteenth century as a result of industrialization.
The Development of Free Enterprise
Students post inferences and questions about a free market economy. Then they examine key concepts related to this economic system. Next they analyze how the Industrial Revolution gave rise to capitalism and they discuss Adam Smith’s ideas of laissez-faire economics. Finally they read an excerpt from Smith’s The Wealth of Nations and prepare a brief presentation on the reading.
Alternative Economic Systems
Students brainstorm associations with the word “communism.” Then they create concept maps for key ideas of socialism. Next they create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting communism and democratic socialism. Finally they compare the economies of Japan (market economy) and North Korea (command economy).
Modern Imperialism and Colonization
Students brainstorm names of ancient empires. Then they create a chart comparing colonialism and imperialism. Next they explain the relationship between the Industrial Revolution and modern imperialism. Finally they research and write a short report about the European colonization of Africa following the Berlin Conference.
Colonization: Oppression and Resistance
Students predict how the people of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands responded to foreign colonization. Then they learn about movements of resistance, collaboration, and accommodation. Next they divide into groups, and split among the members a video about Asian or about African responses to imperialism and colonialism. They create a brief slideshow about the video that they watched. Finally they write a diary entry of a teenager living in a colonized region to describe how colonization has affected their lives.
Case Study: Japanese Imperialism
Students create a case study of an example of Japanese imperialism. First they predict on a map which countries Japan controlled. Then they read some background material about Japanese imperialism. Next they develop inquiry questions and conduct research to answer them. Then they follow the writing process to create a written case study. Finally, they evaluate their presentation using a rubric.
Mass Migrations in the Nineteenth Century
Students post observations on a 1903 political cartoon about immigration to the United States. Then they define four categories of push-pull factors of migration: economic, political, cultural, and environmental. Next they analyze a map of global migrations between 1500 and 1914 and the role of industrialization in mass migrations. Finally they write an informational text about a sub-topic related to nineteenth-century migrations.
