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Teaching American History

Teaching American History: From Bullets to Ballots Chapter 7

For Students 9th - 10th
The Republicans did not conquer their first election in the House in the 1792 election. Foreign affairs of the United States with both France and England hindered the success of the Republicans. This is explained in Chapter 7 from...
Activity
Other

A Brief History of the Two Party System

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is a web-article on the brief history of the two party system.
Article
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: The Tech: Democratic Platform Cautiously Balances Diverse Party Opinions

For Students 9th - 10th
Article suggests the broad and seemingly contradictory statements in the 1996 Democratic Party Platform result in a "middle of the road" or "centrist" document. (August 27, 1996 - Op ed)
Article
CNN

Cnn: Goldwater Remembered 'A Great Patriot'

For Students 9th - 10th
This article remembering the political career of former Senator Barry Goldwater offers words of praise from members of both political parties.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Know Nothing

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia provides detailed information on the Know Nothing movement, a Native American political movement of the 1850s.
Handout
CNN

Cnn: Third Parties

For Students 9th - 10th
You've read about them throughout American history but never really understood what they were! Here's a good synopsis of the surviving third parties and their platform of political views.
Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: The Workingmen's Party

For Students 9th - 10th
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes the emergence of the Workingmen's Party as a political force in St. Louis, its role in the railroad strikes of 1877, and how it may have...
Handout
Other

The American Interest: China's Place in u.s. Foreign Policy

For Students 9th - 10th
China's remarkable aggregation of national power over the past 35 years has been a source of wonderment: to economists, who have been surprised by that country's consistently high rate of growth; to political scientists, who are at a...
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: The Era of Good Feelings

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides interesting facts and important information on the Era of Good Feelings, a period of political stability 1817-1825.
Handout
CommonLit

Common Lit: Text Sets: Founding the United States

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is a collection of 15 Grade-Leveled texts (5-12) on the topic The Founding of America. Once the Revolutionary War was over, America's Founding Fathers had to develop a nation. Learn about the founding of American democracy, from the...
Handout
Stephen Byrne

History for Kids: Government of North America

For Students 2nd - 6th
Reference material for elementary students who are learning about U.S. Government provides an overview of the three branches of government outlined in the U.S. Constitution and a glimpse into the political party system.
Handout
Other

Politics 1: Presidency 2004

For Students 9th - 10th
Site presents presidential candiadates for the 2004 election for the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, and each of the Third Parties.
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Whigs, Democrats and "Know Nothings"

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Jackson's political opponents, united by little more than a common opposition to him, eventually coalesced into a common party called the Whigs, a British term signifying opposition to Jackson's "monarchial rule." Although they organized...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Eugene v. Debs and American Socialism

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about the growth of the Socialist Party in America under the leadership of Eugene V. Debs. Find out about the strikes he led, his political activities, and his arrest for sedition in 1918. Read also about the radical union,...
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
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Politics in Transition: Public Conflict in the 1790s

For Students 5th - 8th
A brief overview of the struggles taking place in politics in the 1790s. Even the honorable George Washington was not sheltered from contentious criticism. Read about the foreign and domestic problems that loomed in that decade.
Activity
BBC

Bbc News: How to Elect a Us President

For Students 9th - 10th
Electing a US President can be a political marathon. The British Broadcasting Company helps make this process easier to understand by explaining it in key stages.
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: Henry Carey 1793 1879

For Students 9th - 10th
Henry Carey was the eldest son of Mathew Carey, an Irish freedom fighter who was recruited to the intelligence networks established by Benjamin Franklin, and sent to Philadelphia to run what was then the largest printing operation in...
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Puerto Rico at Dawn of the Modern Age

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a collection that portrays the early history of the commonwealth of Puerto Rico through first-person accounts, political writings, and histories drawn from the Library of Congress.
Website
Other

The Dirksen Congressional Center

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
An effective site that provides non-partisan information concerning Congress and its leaders. The website includes CongressLink, up-to-date information on the US Congress; Congress for Kids, an excellent resource for younger students on...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Jacksonian Democracy and Modern America

For Students 5th - 8th
An overview of the ideals of the new Democratic Party under Andrew Jackson, and later Martin Van Buren. Read about the new two-party system with the formation of the Whig Party. See how Jacksonian Democracy molded American political...
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.
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: "A Nation Divided: North vs. South" by Us history.org

For Students 7th - 8th
The American Civil War was fought within the United States from 1861 to 1865. The election of President Abraham Lincoln in 1860 increased tension between the North and South. Lincoln's political party was interested in stopping the...
PPT
Other

Chicago Tribune: Presidential Portraits

For Students 9th - 10th
The resource consists of a picture and synopsis of each President?s life. Topics included are highlights of presidency, political term, and political party.