Lesson Two:
Objectives:
1. Students will analyze importance of the Electoral College and its relation to presidential elections through primary source documents.
2. Students will successfully articulate what an Electoral College is and how it relates to the controversy surrounding the election of 1800 with at least 85% accuracy.
Materials:
- Computers with internet access
- Congressional Record (primary source document)
Procedures:
1. Have students meet in computer lab. Each student should use his or her own computer, if possible. Otherwise assign students into pairs.
2. Have students review what an Electoral College at the following website:
Students should read the introduction at the top of the page and then review the hyper-links under the heading "Learning about the Electors".
Assess students' understanding by conducting a brief class discussion with the following questions:
3. Introduce students to the primary source document with the initial vote in the election of 1800. Students can use the primary source analysis worksheet used in lesson one, if desired.
4. Allow students to discuss with one another their findings within the congressional record. This can lead into a class discussion, if desired.
5. Assess students' understanding by having each student create a political map of the electoral vote, noting each state's position. Then, have students predict what happened following the "tie". Give students the opportunity to articulate their predictions in a one to two paragraph paper assigned as homework.
1. Students will analyze importance of the Electoral College and its relation to presidential elections through primary source documents.
2. Students will successfully articulate what an Electoral College is and how it relates to the controversy surrounding the election of 1800 with at least 85% accuracy.
Materials:
- Computers with internet access
- Congressional Record (primary source document)
Procedures:
1. Have students meet in computer lab. Each student should use his or her own computer, if possible. Otherwise assign students into pairs.
2. Have students review what an Electoral College at the following website:
Students should read the introduction at the top of the page and then review the hyper-links under the heading "Learning about the Electors".
Assess students' understanding by conducting a brief class discussion with the following questions:
- How many votes do states receive in the Electoral College? How is the number of votes determined?
- How is the electoral college differ from a "popular vote" ?
3. Introduce students to the primary source document with the initial vote in the election of 1800. Students can use the primary source analysis worksheet used in lesson one, if desired.
4. Allow students to discuss with one another their findings within the congressional record. This can lead into a class discussion, if desired.
5. Assess students' understanding by having each student create a political map of the electoral vote, noting each state's position. Then, have students predict what happened following the "tie". Give students the opportunity to articulate their predictions in a one to two paragraph paper assigned as homework.
- Teachers (Florida teachers especially) could also use the controversial 2000 election as a modern comparison for the election of 1800. Additional resources for that election can be found here.
