Assignment Part 1: Completing a Graphic Organizer
Research each aspect of imperialism during the two time periods. Then, in the two columns to the right, indicate whether there were continuities, changes, or both between these two eras.

The goal of the assignment is not to have an equal amount of information in each box, but to be as specific as possible with the information you include in your chart.
Complete each cell in the organizer.

Old Imperialism
(ca. 1450–1750) New Imperialism
(ca. 1870–1914) Continuities Changes
Imperializing Powers
Colonized Areas
Economic Causes
Political Causes
Religious/
Social Causes
Methods of Building Empires
Technology Used
System of Government Formed
Resistance
Political Effects
Economic Effects
Religious/
Social Effects
Environmental
Effects
Reasons Imperialism Ended

Part 2: Creating a Thesis Statement
Write a thesis statement that responds to the following prompt.
Prompt:
Develop an argument that evaluates the extent to which aspects of imperialism changed from the era of old imperialism (ca. 1450–1750) to the era of new imperialism (ca. 1870–1914).
As you write your thesis statement, be sure to take the following steps.
Determine the degree of the change. Was it a big change or a small change?
Determine what stayed the same. How can you incorporate both continuities and changes into your thesis?
Use your graphic organizer to determine which topics best support your claim.
Address the continuities and changes you observed.