Political Campaign Teacher Resources

Tom Richey's course module offers AP U.S. Government curriculum unit materias, lecture notes, video and PowerPoint presentation on Campaigns and Elections from which students learn about political beliefs and behaviors as well as...

This video discusses how candidates create a campaign strategy to convince voters that they are the best representatives of their beliefs. The various tactics in a political campaign include branding ads, political messaging, campaign...

This resource features an index of the 2004 candidates, key issues, and the results of the 2004 campaigns.

An Online News Hour which discusses "negative" political campaigning from a historical perspective.

A lesson that takes students through the process of examining the finances of political campaigns. They will review internal documents to determine if wealthy contributors buy government influence, assess the pros and cons of campaign...

A learning module on how political campaigns are financed that includes four supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Topics covered include the cost of a...

A collection of historical videos of political campaigns in Texas, which students analyze after an exploration of what qualities an effective political leader should have. They explore and discuss what Democrats and Republicans say in...

Collection of historically significant political cartoons about past presidential campaigns.

Is the internet effective as a campaign tool? Help your students explore how presidential candidates use technology and the internet in their political campaigning in the twenty first century with this lesson plan from PBS NewsHour.

Historian Walter LaFeber discusses William Jennings Bryan's 1900 campaign strategy to win the White House by criticizing the imperialism of the Republican candidate, William McKinley.

A lesson plan to accompany two interactive activities. In the first activity, learners must convert a political ad for Barack Obama into one that promotes John McCain. The second activity has them create their own campaign ad. The ads...

One of the greatest rights of the American People is the right to vote for the candidate of their choice. Take a look at how this process works at this resource. Information is provided on Election Day, Voting, Election of the President,...

This site from Pennsylvania State University is a well-developed simulation of a political campaign, containing political information and definitions.

When JFK faced a tight race for the White House in 1960, he turned to a group of Americans who had long been overlooked by political campaigns. One way the nation's first Catholic president sought to gain an edge in the close contest was...

This video looks at the benefits and drawbacks of modern political campaigns in the United States, including consultants, campaign costs, and social media. [5:50]

This McMaster University site from features photos of the philosopher Betrand Russell (1872-1970), a poster from one of his failed political campaigns, a political cartoon drawn at the time of his imprisonment, and a delightful...

This primary source set highlights prominent Populists, propaganda from political campaigns, and political arguments of the movement.

Online exhibition of presidential campaign ads, 1952-2008, organized by election year, theme, and political issue. Audio/video presentations of ads can be viewed alongside written transcripts, making Living Room Candidate particularly...

Great PBS site for the Democracy Project. This site is all about televisions role in political advertising. There is a timeline, step-by-step process of commercials, and a look at tricks of the trade.

This is actually the third installment in a five-part series of articles that looks at the question - "Where Have All the Voters Gone?." This particular article takes a look at the negativity in the news, but you may want to take a look...

This is a great resource for teaching about this key Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of executive privilege, and became known as the Watergate Scandal. Included is the complete text of the opinion.

This project-based learning project extends classroom learning with a variety of multimedia tools to conduct an engaging election campaign for the Presidency. Students form political parties, write a platform, and conduct a campaign for...

Are you interested in exploring the world of campaign advertising? In this interactive site, you will become the campaign manager to learn the ropes of advertising in an election.

This technology-based lesson encourages active engagement in the state elections process as part of a unit to prepare for debates to be held in the Fall of 2010. The lesson may also be adapted for use as a stand alone lesson. Student...