In 1774, Englishman Thomas Paine arrived in America as the conflict between the colonies and Great Britain was reaching its peak. Up to that point, the colonies were said to have been considering negotiation rather than a separation from Britain. Moved in part by the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, Paine, a journalist, wrote a 47-page pamphlet, titled “Common Sense,” in which he made a passionate argument against the British monarchy and for full American independence. “Common Sense” was published in early 1776, sold several hundred thousand copies, and highly influenced the colonies in their decision to declare independence from Britain on July 4, 1776. In this lesson, students begin by responding to a reflective question that asks them to share their knowledge of the American Revolution and early colonies. From there, they will review what was occurring in the colonies in 1776, and learn about the drafting, contents, and publication of the pamphlet. Next, students will hear about the legacy of Thomas Paine and why he should be studied today. Finally, students will respond to a prompt that asks them to explain their position on if “Common Sense” shaped America.
Lesson Plan: Book That Shaped America – “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass”
Born into slavery in Maryland, Frederick Douglass went on to become a writer, orator, statesman and key leader in the abolitionist movement. After his escape to freedom as an adult, Douglass in 1845 wrote the first of his three autobiographies, titled “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.” The book was a bestseller, and greatly influential in promoting the cause of abolition. In this lesson, students begin by responding to reflective questions that ask them to share their knowledge of the abolitionist movement. From there, they will review the status of the United States in 1845. Next, students will learn more about the subsequent publishing of Douglass’ book, the immediate and lasting impact on the country, and details about his life. Finally, students will respond to a prompt that asks them to explain if and how “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” shaped America.
Bell Ringer: Events Leading into the 1968 Democratic National Convention
Author and history professor Luke Nichter discussed what was occurring in the United States and around the globe leading into the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and compares it to today.
Lesson Plan: Analyzing the 2024 Presidential Debates
This lesson has students view and analyze clips from each of the 2024 presidential debates. Students will view video clips of specific questions discussed during the debate and evaluate the effectiveness of each candidate’s response. This lesson will be updated to include clips from each of the presidential and vice-presidential debates as they air on C-SPAN.
Lesson Plan: Recognizing Propaganda in Political Speeches & Advertisements
In this lesson, students will learn about different types of propaganda by examining examples presented in the media. Students will then apply that knowledge to past and current presidential campaign speeches and advertisements. The lesson is divided into three sections. Section one introduces students to ten types of propaganda; section two asks students to watch C-SPAN video clips of past speeches and identify the types of propaganda utilized, and section three has students apply their new knowledge to the current election cycle using candidates’ speeches on C-SPAN. The lesson offers flexibility so any section can be revised to meet specific classroom needs and address teacher concerns.
Bell Ringer: Why Do We Vote on the First Tuesday in November?
A look at state and federal elections and the historical reasons for why we vote on the first Tuesday in November.
Lesson Plan: Historic Presidential Elections – 1800 – John Adams vs. Thomas Jefferson
In the election of 1800, Vice President Thomas Jefferson of the Democratic-Republican Party defeated Federalist Party candidate and incumbent President John Adams in a contest that had to be decided by the U.S. House of Representatives. It was the first U.S. presidential election to be a rematch. In this lesson, students will view background videos to learn about what was occurring in the country leading into the 1800 election as well as the candidates who were running for the office of the presidency and their political parties. Students will explore the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams as well as their philosophies, and hear how campaigns were managed, how the voting process was conducted and how this election was determined after resulting in a tie. In conclusion, students will consider the legacies of this election and generate parallels to today.
How Did the Cold War Stay Cold?
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union amassed tens of thousands of nuclear weapons—enough firepower to annihilate each other many times over. In this video, learn how rivalries between the world’s superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, avoided turning into nuclear war.
How Did the United States Become a Global Power?
With the world’s largest economy, hundreds of overseas military bases, and leadership positions in various international institutions, the United States is an undeniable global power. But this was not always the case. In this multimedia resource, learn how domestic expansion and three wars—the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II—transformed the United States’ standing in the world.
What Is Government?
Governments have been around for almost four thousand years. Throughout that time, they have shared the same central function: to lead and protect their people. Despite that similarity, governments do not all look or act the same way. This video explores what government is and to what extent your voice is heard by those in power.