WHAT'S IN A CAMPAIGN?

IN HISTORY: Political Parties—Not Part of the Plan
Review the history of political parties in America, and learn how attitudes toward them have evolved. Examine the platforms of third parties, both historic and modern, and consider their unique function in U.S. politics.

TODAY: Why Political Parties and Party Platforms
Learn about the role of the political parties today. Review the current major party platforms and follow guidelines to compare and contrast. Complete suggested small group activities to explore personal opinions on party platforms.

FUND-RAISING

IN HISTORY: The Role of Campaign Fund-raising Since 1980
Using tables providing past voting and contribution information, analyze and draw conclusions about the effect of fund-raising on election outcomes.

TODAY: Campaign Finance
Get an overview of current sources and facts and figures about past funding. Learn about the current regulations and how politicians work around them. Consider recent efforts to reform campaign financing and envision further improvements.

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

IN HISTORY: The Influence of Interest Groups on Campaigns
Find out about four special interest groups and their influence on a presidential election. Use provided questions to analyze how these groups make an impact.

TODAY: How Interest Groups Work
Read an overview of how interest groups are formed, work, and are regulated. Report on a contemporary special interest group using provided guidelines and resources.

DEBATES

IN HISTORY: The Kennedy-Nixon Debate, 1960
Learn about the influence campaign debates have had on presidential politics. Watch an excerpt and read the transcript of the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon Debate to evaluate the specific effects of one of the most famous presidential debates.

TODAY: Evaluating a Presidential Debate
Use a short overview for background on the role of debates in the election. Have students watch a current debate and use the provided grid to analyze it and report on the outcome.

IN HISTORY: Election Political Cartoons
Use the suggested process to analyze political cartoons from six historical elections. Outline similarities and differences. Extend by reporting on the ‘history’ surrounding one of the cartoons.

TODAY: The Role of Media in Politics
Study provided reference articles, political cartoons, and statistics to learn more about the role and effect of media in presidential elections. Engage students with five individual and small group activities.

TODAY: The Internet's Role in 2008 Election
Read about how the Internet has revolutionized U.S. politics, including the 2008 Election. Then consider the evolution of information outlets since the first presidential election and whether they have produced well-informed voters.

MORE.........

Election and Campaign Reform
Get the background and primary sources about changes in the election process since 1787. Explore controversies around today’s election process, including the primaries and the electoral college.

How to Read an Opinion Poll
Review a chart to gain understanding of criteria for evaluating the accuracy of opinion polls. Use provided guidelines to report on a current poll and design an original poll.

USING ABC-CLIO'S ONLINE DATABASES
Find out more abut the reference value of ABC-CLIO’s Online Databases. Reference the handy Match to Curriculum guide and learn how to quickly locate resources for common curriculum topics, standards, and textbook chapters. Read the Search guide for tips on taking full advantage of multiple
search options.

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