Annexation of Hawaii: America’s Step Toward Global Dominance - History Reading Comprehension Worksheet

Engage your students with an insightful exploration of one of the most pivotal moments in U.S. imperial history—the annexation of Hawaii in 1898. This comprehensive reading comprehension worksheet dives deep into the complexities of American expansionism, focusing on the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, the exploitation of native resources, and the lasting cultural impact on Hawaii.

This resource is packed with:

• Multiple-choice questions: Reinforce factual understanding of U.S. actions and Hawaiian resistance.
• Matching activities: Review key figures and events to enhance retention.
• Fill-in-the-blank exercises: Test your students' grasp of essential concepts.
• Short answer prompts: Foster critical thinking by encouraging deeper analysis of U.S. imperialism and its consequences for the native Hawaiian population.
• Primary source analysis: Examine Queen Liliʻuokalani's poignant letter of protest and challenge your students to critically evaluate her perspective.

Designed to promote critical thinking and historical analysis, this worksheet encourages students to assess the motivations behind the U.S. annexation of Hawaii and its effects on the native population. This makes it a perfect addition to your U.S. history curriculum, with a special focus on imperialism, cultural suppression, and the strategic importance of Hawaii in America’s military expansion.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the political, economic, and cultural factors leading to the annexation of Hawaii.
• Assess the impact of U.S. imperialism on native Hawaiian culture, governance, and resources.
• Critically evaluate primary sources to understand different perspectives on the annexation.
• Draw connections between historical events and broader themes of U.S. global expansion.

Common Core Standards:

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2: Determine the central ideas of a source; provide an accurate summary.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.9: Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Courses this Resource is Perfect For:

• U.S. History (High School)
• Social Studies (Grades 9-12)
• AP U.S. History
• World History (with a focus on imperialism)

This reading comprehension worksheet is more than just an assessment tool; it's a great resource for sub plans, individual work, or even as part of a broader unit on U.S. expansionism. The structured questions and thoughtful primary source analysis make it an excellent way to deepen student learning in a variety of classroom settings.

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