Beyond 1898: Empire, Resistance and the Legacies of U.S. Expansion

What changes when we teach 1898 not as the end of a story, but as the beginning of relationships that continue into the present? At a moment when questions about American power and expansion have returned to public debate, this program revisits the Spanish-American War and the growth of U.S. power overseas, asking how the relationships created during this period extended far beyond 1898. Following these histories beyond the moment of expansion, we will look at the changing nature of U.S. rule and influence, as well as the responses and resistance of people and communities affected by it. In conversation with scholars and through primary sources, artistic expression, and contemporary perspectives, we will trace the enduring political and cultural consequences of these histories, including ongoing questions of sovereignty, citizenship, identity, and belonging. This program will be especially relevant for teachers of U.S. and world history and Spanish language and culture.