C-SPAN
Virtual Presidents Exhibit
Scholars get a glimpse into the lives of all 46 Unites States presidents. An engaging timeline details each president's background and time in office. LInks send pupils to a website with more in-depth information.
Curated OER
Populism and the People’s Party
Students examine the history of the Populist Party as it relates to its reforms and economic plight. In this Populism and the People's Party lesson plan, students explore why farmers experienced financial difficulty at the end of the...
Curated OER
Party Like It's 1992 or '84 or '76 or '68!
Students explore, analyze and study how political party platforms have changed over time. They create a party platform time line by researching Republican and Democratic Party stances on various issues during the last few decades.
Curated OER
Lose a Vote, Gain a Vote
Students explore the issues behind close Senatorial races. They investigate the qualities of political leaders, the 2002 senatorial elections and the differences and similarities between the Republican and Democratic parties.
Curated OER
Power, Persuasion & Propaganda: Exploring Multiple Motives
Students recognize different motives even in non-commercial media. They analyze the role of media in a democratic society and wrestle with ethical issues concerning media and the public good. They create a media message with one or more...
Curated OER
Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate Curriculum
How do you affirm and negate a statement of value? What is refutation? Interested in debate? Introduce your class to the format of the Lincoln Douglas debate with 14 lessons, designed to be used in order, so that debaters learn the logic...
Ashbrook Center at Ashland University
Federalist - Antifederalist Debates
Who should have the power—individual states or the federal government? Scholars research the arguments of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists during the formation of the United States Constitution. Online resources, including a vast...
iCivics
Voting in Congress
In a role-play activity acting as members of either the Senate or House of Representatives, class members will vote on bills to halt mail delivery on Saturdays in the United States and to raise the minimum wage. Through an included...
Curated OER
Elections - Mobilization Versus Suppression
Students analyze voter suppression. In this voting practices lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture comparing voter suppression and voter mobilization. Students respond to the provided discussion questions.
Curated OER
Secession Crisis: In Two Virginia Communities
Students are divided into groups and are assigned newspaper articles from the year 1861. The articles are from either Republican or Democratic parties discussing the Virginia secession. They complete worksheets and have a whole class...
Curated OER
Election Day Make-A-Word
In this election day make-a-word learning exercise, students color the pictures of the donkey and the elephant, then make words from the letters of Democrat and Republican.
Curated OER
Political Parties
Twelfth graders give their current events presentations to the class today. After completing the "T" exercise on classifying certain individuals as Democrats or Republicans, they pair up to figure out where the political parties fit into...
Curated OER
Consequences of the Sedition Act
High schoolers research and discuss the consequences of the Sedition Act. They illustrate the difficulty of balancing security needs and personal freedom using an example from John Adams's presidency.
Curated OER
US Constitution
Think about the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence with your budding historians. They analyze the importance of historical documents by examining several famous documents, and then they complete activities that check...
Humanities Texas
Primary Source Worksheet: “Report on Manufacturers,” Annals of Congress
Invite your learners to take a look at life during the term of United States president George Washington through analysis of an interesting primary source. The document summarizes American manufacturing capacities, as detailed...
Curated OER
1850s: Road to Secession
Detailing the political and social events leading up to the Civil War, this presentation provides students with maps, political cartoons, and photographs to put this time period into historical context. The Presidential Elections of...
Curated OER
American Heritage Themes
Pupils define freedom, unity, progress, and responsibility in relation to American Heritage. They explore the origin of how American Heritage was developed and ways in which they can continue it today. They also determine ways they...
Curated OER
Jeffersonianism at the Bar
Eleventh graders participate in a political roundtable discussion. In this Jeffersonianism lesson, 11th graders role play individuals from the 19th century and discuss issues of the Federalist period.
Curated OER
Comics for the Classroom: Addicted to Spending
Political comics can be a great way to get kids thinking critically about current political topics. They assess this cartoon and analyze how the cartoonist feels about US spending policy. There are three solid critical analysis...
ThoughtCo
Thomas Jefferson Matching Activity
What are some notable happenings that occurred during Thomas Jefferson's life and presidency? Give young historians a worksheet about the life and accomplishments of Thomas Jefferson.
ThoughtCo
Thomas Jefferson Word Search
Look for 11 words associated with Thomas Jefferson and his life in a simple Jefferson-themed word search. It includes words like Monticello, Louisiana Purchase, George Clinton, and Thomas Jefferson.
Curated OER
History of Political Parties in the U. S.
Twelfth graders name some of the parties in the political system of the United States. They identify the two main parties along with key information, issues, events, elections and/or people for each system. They then break into groups...
James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
A Deliberate, Palpable and Dangerous Exercise of Other Powers: James Madison & Homeland Security
This resource uses primary source documents to explore the First Amendment. After reviewing key events of the 1790s, government or US history classes explore Madison's letter to Jefferson regarding the Alien and Sedition Acts. They then...
Curated OER
The Election Is in the House: Was There a Corrupt Bargain?
High schoolers take a stand, supported by evidence, on whether there was a "corrupt bargain" between Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams.