In groups, compile a list of all countries that were colonies or territories of other nations (such as Great Britain, Portugal, France, and the United States) in the years 1900, 1939, and today. Note the date each country gained independence. Identify which territories or colonies have not yet achieved full independence or have only partial independence. Each group member should research the independence movement of one of these countries and present their findings to the class.

The primary overseas territories of the United States include Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands. After investigating the history of U.S. control over these territories, formulate an argument either supporting or opposing their right to independence.

Imagine that Fidel Castro's government has been overthrown and you have been appointed to a committee tasked with drafting a new constitution for the government. What declarations or articles would you advocate to be included in this new constitution? As part of your research, read the constitutions of other countries, including that of the United States.

Some Postcolonialism theorists are known for their complex and often difficult-to-read writing. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak is one such theorist. In groups, read her essay “Can the Subaltern Speak?” from Cary Nelson and Lawrence Grossberg’s Marxism and the Interpretation of Culture (1988). Summarize the essay and present its main points to the class. Compare the main points your group presented with those of other groups.

The clash of cultures is a central theme in much postcolonial literature. Reflect on a time when you encountered a culture you were unfamiliar with, and write a short essay about that experience.