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Former President Bill Clinton speaking at a podium with Al Gore standing behind him during a public event.
Map of the United States showing electoral votes by state for a specific election year.
Black and white photo of women at a suffrage parade, standing behind a banner for the National Woman's March.
A red-handled tool inserted into a mechanical voting machine with labeled slots.

Peaceful Transitions

13 items

Former President Bill Clinton speaking at a podium with Al Gore standing behind him during a public event.
Civic Friendship: “I am rooting hard for you”
E Lesson

E Lesson

20 Min

"You will be our President when you read this note. I wish you well. I wish your family well. Your success now is our country's success. I am rooting hard for you."
Map of the United States showing electoral votes by state for a specific election year.
Electoral College
Resource

Resource

The Electoral College is the system used by the United States to elect its lead executive. The College is outlined in Article II, Section 1 and in the Twelfth and Twenty-Third Amendments to the United States Constitution.
Black and white photo of women at a suffrage parade, standing behind a banner for the National Woman's March.
Elections
Lesson - 11 Activities

Lesson

11 Activities

140 Min

Elections have consequences. They decide who holds power and therefore the laws that we live under. But they also reflect principles of federalism and consent of the governed, as well as the complexity of the American system.
140 Min
A red-handled tool inserted into a mechanical voting machine with labeled slots.
Contentious Elections and the Peaceful Transition of Power
E Lesson

E Lesson

20 Min

Contentious elections are nothing new in U.S. history. This eLesson explores some of our most bitter presidential elections, and challenges students to analyze the value of a peaceful transfer of power within our governing system.
Portrait of George Washington in formal attire, gesturing with his hand, set against a classical background.
Establishing a Government of Laws, Not Men: George Washington’s Retirement and Responsibility
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

45 Min

How did George Washington act responsibility as Commander-in-Chief following the Revolutionary War?
45 Min
Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with wavy hair, wearing a floral dress and necklace.
The True Meaning of Democracy: Eleanor Roosevelt, Marian Anderson, and Respect
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

45 Min

In this lesson, students will learn about the respectful action of Eleanor Roosevelt towards Marian Anderson. They will explore how this demonstration of respect helped shape Mrs. Roosevelt’s purpose and identity and learn how similar displays in their own lives can help them in like manner.
45 Min
Seal of the President of the United States featuring an eagle, arrows, and olive branch.
The Twenty-Fifth Amendment
E Lesson

E Lesson

20 Min

At the White House ceremony that certified the ratification of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, President Lyndon Johnson noted that “It was 180 years ago, in the closing days of the Constitutional Convention, that the Founding Fathers debated the question of Presidential disability. John Dickinson of Delaware asked this question: "What is the extent of the term 'disability' and who is to be the judge of it?" No one replied."
American flag in the foreground with a city skyline and water in the background.
Essay: Civic Virtue and Our Constitutional Republic
Essay - 1072 Words

Essay

1072 Words

The United States Founders believed that certain civic virtues were required of citizens in order for the Constitution to work. Numerous primary sources—notably the Federalist Papers and the Autobiography of Ben Franklin—point us to the “Founders’ Virtues.” You will explore some of the following civic virtues as an integral part of Documents of Freedom.
A close-up of an "I Voted" sticker featuring a small American flag.
The Electoral College and Popular Vote for the President
E Lesson

E Lesson

20 Min

With the outcome of last week’s election, many Americans are questioning the history and validity of the electoral college. This lesson will help you think through the critical issues surrounding the structure and foundational philosophy of the Electoral college with your students.
The Constitution primary source
The Constitution
Primary Source - 8564 Words

Primary Source

8564 Words

The Constitution was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by delegates from 12 states, in order to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new form of government. It created a federal system with a national government composed of 3 separated powers, and included both reserved and concurrent powers of states.
The Electoral College video thumbnail from BRI's Homework Help Series featuring historical figures.
The Electoral College | Homework Help from the Bill of Rights Institute
Video

Video

7 Min

In this Homework Help narrative, learn about the origins and functions of the Electoral College. This constitutional institution has long been the subject of intense debate and scrutiny, and this video challenges students to think about it for themselves.
7 Min
Political cartoon depicting violence, oppression, and racial themes, featuring a shield and symbolic figures.
The Ku Klux Klan and Violence at the Polls
Essay - 2499 Words

Essay

2499 Words

How did the KKK suppress black rights in the 1860s and 1870s?
Graphic with orange background, featuring a bridge logo and the text "BRIdge To The Past: Art Across U.S. History."
Continuity or Change? Presidential Elections | BRIdge from the Past: Art Across U.S. History
Video

Video

15 Min

In this episode, Mary and Josh analyze a political cartoon depicting the controversial 1824 presidential election in a unique way. “A foot-race” (1824) shows a crowd cheering on candidates John Quincy Adams, William Crawford, Andrew Jackson, and Henry Clay as they race toward a finish line. Which details stand out to you as meaningful, and what do they convey about popular opinions on the election?
15 Min