WHY IS THE PRESIDENT IMPORTANT?
nation’s inception to today. How much impact can a president have? In what ways does this influence what one looks for in a presidential candidate?
Use these complimentary resources from ABC-CLIO to make the elections more meaningful to your students!
Explore key topics in the history and meaning of our nation’s presidential elections to help your students become active observers and analysts of elections past and present.
What’s in a Campaign?
Who Votes and How?
Why is the President Important?
General Resources
This symbol beside a topic lets you know that the resources are available in the award-winning ABC-CLIO’s Online Databases. Be sure to sign up for your FREE Preview to access any of the resources that have this symbol.
IN HISTORY: The Vision of the Founding Fathers
Retrace the historical roots of presidential power. Review primary sources written by the nation’s founders and compare contrasting views on the role of the presidency.
TODAY: The Complex Modern Presidency
Understand the expansion of the early presidency into the modern executive branch. Compare this to the vision of the presidency described in excerpts from The Federalist Papers.
THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENCY
IN HISTORY: Washington and the Birth of the Presidency
Examine George Washington’s actions as the first president and read the annual messages that he delivered to Congress. Using this information, consider how Washington might describe the role of president.
TODAY: The Presidency, 2008
Read an overview of modern presidential powers. Visit the White House web site and review President George W. Bush’s current agenda, discussing which activities can be reconciled with presidential powers and which, if any, cannot.
LIMITING THE PRESIDENCY
IN HISTORY: Checks and Balances
Discover the American and European roots of power sharing established in the Constitution. Consider some of the conflicts that have arisen over separation of powers and decide whether they tipped or only balanced the scales.
TODAY: Imperial Presidency?
Review selected reference and primary source documents to evaluate the potential advantages and disadvantages of a powerful executive, particularly in times of war.
Whether completing a traditional research report or starting a National History Day project, each set of resources below will get students started with the most relevant and reliable reference resources.
Use this Impact of a President Report — Student Guidelines to help students ask good research questions.
Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase
Wilson and the League of Nations
Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal
Lyndon B. Johnson and Civil Rights
Ronald Reagan and the Cold War
USING ABC-CLIO'S ONLINE DATABASES
Use our simple Search how-to guide to find more relevant, authoritative resources quickly. Make your own Research List for any student project or assignment.
Sign Up for Your FREE Preview!You’ll get the most out of this free collection when
you register for a FREE 60-DAY SCHOOL-WIDE PREVIEW of ABC-CLIO’s Online History Databases. Your preview includes rights for at-home use for students and educators alike.
Enter to Win FREE Database Subscriptions!
Every librarian and teacher who registers for the free database preview will be entered to win one of five FREE one-year database subscriptions to two of our award-winning online databases — a prize worth over $1,000 for your school! Sign up today. Entries close 9/30/08.
Learn More
Find out more about the educational value of ABC-CLIO's Online Databases. Request your copy of the latest
ABC-CLIO History Reference Catalog and sign up for our regular email announcements, including History and
the Headlines, an email that connects significant events and people in history with today’s breaking news.
