Background & context The Electoral College – What Is It and How Does It Function? In Custodia Legis November 6, 2012 Electoral College Fast Facts US House of Representatives History, Art & Archives The Electoral College National Archives The Electoral College National Conference of State Legislators Research Guide: The Law of the Electoral College Contemporary articles Congress and the Case of the Faithless Elector History November 17, 2020, US House of … [Read more...]
Primary Source Spotlight: 1876 Contested Presidential Election
November 8, 2020 by Leave a Comment
From America's Library On the night of the 1876 presidential election, Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes went to bed early. He assumed that he had lost the election to his opponent, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden. Tilden did win the popular vote that night, but the Republicans challenged the validity of the electoral votes from three states. (Under the Electoral College, each state chooses electors to vote for the president.) A candidate must win the electoral vote to become … [Read more...]
Guided Primary Source Analysis: Does Your Vote for President Count?
October 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Work in a group to discuss what you can learn from this historical newspaper article (download .pdf) just by examining the headline, illustrations, the introduction (the first three paragraphs), and the section headers. What questions do you still have? Divide the reading of the article among your group members so that each reads 2 or 3 of the 9 sections, then discuss what you've read to answer the questions below. What was the main point of each section? How does each section relate … [Read more...]
Primary Source Learning: Presidential Elections
October 4, 2016 by 3 Comments
Guided primary source analysis activities Does Your Vote for President Count? electoral college to 1912 Footrace, Pennsylvania Avenue 1844 Great presidential puzzle 1880 & 2016 The whole story (election 1888) in a nutshell! Taft About to Eclipse Bryan 1908 Goal! 1908 & 1912 Biggest Business in the World 1920 Massachusetts Did It 1920 Election Day contemporary More teaching resources American Memory Timeline: The Presidential Election of 1960 … [Read more...]
Today in History: Thomas Jefferson
April 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–April 13–the Library of Congress features Thomas Jefferson, born on this day in 1743. (Actually, he was born on April 2 under the Julian calendar but when Great Britain and its colonies switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1752 his birthday, along with everyone else’s, was shifted 11 days forward.) Find out more about this multitalented man by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the links below to access teaching resources, primary sources and secondary sources … [Read more...]
Today in History: Thomas Jefferson Elected
February 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–February 17–the Library of Congress features Thomas Jefferson, who was elected by the House of Representatives on this day in 1801. The House voted to break a tie in the Electoral College. Find out more about this acrimonious third presidential election by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the links below to access more primary sources and resources about this election and the 3rd president of the United States. Individual primary sources Thoughts, on … [Read more...]
Today in History: Uniform Presidential Election Day
November 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–November 4–the Library of Congress features the passage of legislation on this day in 1845 requiring a uniform election day for President of the United States on the: "Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November of the year in which they are to be appointed." The 1848 election was the first presidential election in which Americans in every state voted on the same day. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section then click the links below for more … [Read more...]
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