Website
Other

Northeastern University: u.s. Political Conventions and Campaigns

For Students 9th - 10th
A multimedia resource will aide classroom discussion or groups as they explore the campaigns and conventions of American politics throughout history. Investigate personal finances, platforms and policies, media and debates, and nominations.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Now With Bill Moyers: Campaign Finance (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson that takes young scholars 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...
Primary
PBS

Pbs News Hour: Historical Negativity

For Students 9th - 10th
An Online News Hour which discusses "negative" political campaigning from a historical perspective.
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Gilded Age 1870 1900: Political Corruption in Postbellum America

For Students 11th - 12th
Read about federal politics during the Gilded Age and why not much was accomplished during this time.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Personality or Politics Activity | 60 Second Presidents

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students learn the important role that both personality and political platform have in shaping presidential elections by watching videos in groups comparing presidents who won on personality and those who won on...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Covering the Campaign Trail: Progress or Chaos? (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Examine the methods used today for covering political campaigns. Includes comparing and contrasting the technologies used today with those of the past and evaluating the effectiveness of current methods of coverage.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Our Place in the Politics of the Country

For Students 9th - 10th
Although the 15th amendment gave the freedom to vote to African Americans, little was done to enforce it. 90% of African-Americans living in the South were not able to vote, and in the North where voting was easier, the African American...
Website
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Campaign Diaries

For Students 9th - 10th
NPR's site has a series called Campaign Diaries, which has accounts from passionate volunteers, from professional campaign workers, typical voters and election bystanders, people who organize campaign events and drive voters to the polls.
Website
Other

History News Network: Why Is News So Negative These Days?

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: So You Want to Be President?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Andrew Jackson: Campaigns and Electiions

For Students 9th - 10th
Scroll through this article to the Campaign and Election of 1832. Find out who ran against Andrew Jackson and what political parties were involved.
Website
Vassar College

Vassar College: 1896: The Democratic Party

For Students 9th - 10th
From the very extensive website that covers the presidential campaign of 1896 through political cartoons and contemporary commentary is this discussion about the Democratic Party and its candidates and platform in the election of 1896....
Lesson Plan
PBS

The History of Using Sampling Methods

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson plan will allow learners to understand how the sampling methods used in political polls developed throughout the twentieth century. Approximately five hours in length with materials free and downloadable.
Website
University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska Lincoln: Railroads and the Making of Modern America

For Students 9th - 10th
Corruptions, malfeasance, bribery and fraud - all these terms can describe the construction process of the American railroad system. Search primary source documents to uncover the shenanigans that took place in the late 19th century....
Handout
Other

Complaints About Wealthy Donors' Influence on Candidates

For Students 9th - 10th
An article that discusses the Pendleton Act of 1883, both historically and in the context of modern politics.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: What Is Social Media's Role in Election 2016?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson, students examine the different ways candidates use social media, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter in their presidential campaigns. They will watch videos, read articles, and examine candidates' social media pages.
Handout
Ohio History Central

Ohio History Central: Populist Party

For Students 9th - 10th
The Populist Party was one of the more successful third parties, at least in state politics. Read about its platform on the national and state levels in the 1890s.
Handout
Curated OER

National Park Service: Biographical Sketches: Warren Harding

For Students 9th - 10th
This concise article about Warren G. Harding gives information about his early life, how he got into politics, and his election as 29th president. There is brief mention of his domestic and foreign policies.
Handout
Vassar College

Vassar College: 1896: The Populist Party

For Students 9th - 10th
This great resource from 1896, A Website of Political Cartoons from Vassar College discusses "The Rise of Populism" to "The End of Populism--or Not?"
Primary
New York Times

New York Times: On This Day: Electoral College Controversy 1876

For Students 9th - 10th
Thomas Nast's political cartoon from a Harper's Weekly 1877 edition plus a description of the dispute over the election of 1876.
Website
Social Studies for Kids

Social Studies for Kids: How the President Is Elected

For Students 6th - 8th
Learn how the President of the United States is elected. Read how we choose candidates, how they campaign, how they are nominated, and what role the Electoral College plays in our elections.
Article
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Week of 8 8 16: Donald Trump Might Be in Real Trouble This Time

For Students 9th - 10th
Let's take a step back from the news of the past few days and ask a fundamental question: Why does everything suddenly seem different? Donald Trump, the unsinkable candidate who seemed immune to political consequences while winning...
Article
A&E Television

History.com: 8 Memorable Protests by American Athletes

For Students 9th - 10th
Stars Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali and Billie Jean King have used their platforms to seek change. Before a preseason game on September 1, 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem to call...
Website
PBS

Pbs Online News Hour: Vote 2004: Issues

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive source for information on the stances on issues taken by the candidates in the 2004 Presidential election.