Constitutional Rights Foundation
The Troubled Elections of 1796 and 1800
Congress does more than create new laws. Political scientists delve into the elections of 1796 and 1800 to understand how political parties, the Electoral College, and personal agendas affected the election process. The resource also...
Center for History Education
Lincoln and the Republicans: The Cause of the War?
In today's political rhetoric, many forget the pivotal role the Republican Party played in the causes of the Civil War. The party's formation was the final straw for Southerners who saw the enslavement of people of African descent a...
Curated OER
Third Parties and the American Party System
Twelfth graders examine the role of third parties in American politics. Individually, they use primary source documents to write an essay on how third parties emergered and why. They also discuss the influence third parties have on...
Curated OER
Donkeys and Elephants and Voters, Oh My!
Young scholars celebrate party politics. In this American politics lesson, students discover what the 2 main political parties in the country are and discuss their functions. Young scholars then participate in a classroom simulation that...
Curated OER
Online Lesson Political Parties, Platforms, and Planks
Students explore historical political parties and their platforms. After studying the origins and functions of political parties, students create their own platform to address current issues. In groups, students design an ad campaign...
National First Ladies' Library
So! You Want to Start Your Own Political Party?
Learners examine the emergence of third parties in American politics during the first half of the 19th century. Working in groups, they research a Third Party and determine why the party was founded as well as who were instrumental in...
Curated OER
Progression of Political Movements
High schoolers examine the various political parties throughout history. In groups, they are given documents identifying the platforms of the parties in the 1868 election. To end the lesson, they share their information with the class...
PBS
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History—Snapshot Lessons
The Roosevelt family was one of the most influential and prominent political forces in the 20th century, leaving behind a wide-ranging legacy of conservation, progressivism, and economic growth. Learn more about President Theodore...
Curated OER
McCarthyism: 60 Years Later
Explore legendary cartoonist Herb Block's bold challenge of McCarthy-era politics through this analysis activity. Two cartoons are included, along with talking points to prompt analysis and background information to help pupils "read...
National Woman's History Museum
Tea with Penelope: A 2-Point Perspective of the Edenton Tea Party
A brief introduction to Penelope Barker sets the stage for a discussion about political cartoons and the persuasive technique used to create them. A graphic organizer aids scholars in the analysis of a piece of work using a 2-point...
National First Ladies' Library
Politics! Politics! The Emergence of Political Parties in the U.S.
High schoolers are split into six small groups which focus on one of six websites, that tell the story of the emergence of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties at the end of the 18th century. They compile a chronological list...
Stanford University
Political Bosses Lesson Plan
Students research the political bosses and the political machine in New York City. In this politics lesson, students review the term progressives, political bosses, and political machine. Students study a Tammany cartoon and read...
Curated OER
Analyzing Political Party Platforms, 1840-1860
Students deduce from reading political party platforms from the 1840s-1860s which party and what year the platform is from. They analyze the foundations and political philosophies underlying the platforms and the parties.
C-SPAN
Debates
How do the presidential debates of 2016 compare to the debates from the 1980's? What about the 1960's? Evaluate a chosen candidate or issue from the 20th and 21st centuries with a lesson plan focused on political debates. Middle and high...
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
1912: The Election that Changed the Century
The presidential election of 1912 was a turning point in American politics. Whoever won would reshape the political spectrum. Learn about the key issues, each party's politics, and the four men who wanted to become president: William...
Curated OER
The Two-Party System: Chapter 5
Guide your students' reading with this worksheet. Included are five matching and five multiple choice questions focused on aspects of the two-party system employed in the United States. Use as a quiz, guided reading questions, or homework.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: 2012 Mid-Term Elections
Use a political cartoon to help scholars grasp the significant turnover in Congress following the 2012 mid-term election. A Mike Keefe cartoon uses symbols and current political lingo to convey perspective on the issue, and background...
Curated OER
Cartoons in the Classroom: Economic Blame Game
Two political cartoons grace this critical analysis worksheet. Several very good discussion questions and points to consider, could make this an interesting start to any US Government class. Prepare upper graders for identifying...
Curated OER
Political Spectrum
In this government worksheet, high schoolers identify and describe the differences between each part of the political spectrum by listing some points under each title in the chart. Then they choose any of the 9 issues listed, discuss and...
Curated OER
Political Ideological Spectrum
Students explore the ideologies of the American political spectrum. In this American politics lesson, students examine the characteristics and platforms of liberals, conservatives, libertarians, and moderates. Students complete the...
The New York Times
A Guide to Political Donations
Voters determine the outcome of elections, but campaign donors can influence the attitudes of those voters. Explore nine examples of donors and the amounts of money they want to contribute, and the legal ways the groups can or cannot...
City University of New York
Urban Politics: Machines and Reformers
What were political machines and whom did they serve? As part of a study of US immigration patterns and how these patterns influenced politics, groups investigate how Tammany Hall and other political machines gained support from voters.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Bipartisan Reconciliation
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about bipartisan reconciliation in America and respond to 3 talking point questions.