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Media Constructions of Presidential Campaigns

High School through College - this kit helps to teach about the role of media in 28 U.S. elections ranging from 1800-2008. Over 160 media documents are included for decoding, including slides of posters, handbills and political cartoons; audio clips of songs and radio programs; and video clips of speeches, debates, comedy TV and political commercials. Students will learn how to analyze historical documents, the history of presidential campaigns, the crafting and marketing of campaign messages, and the impact of new technologies and new media on presidential campaigns.
All materials are free and classroom-ready, including: overviews, teacher guides, handouts, assessments, and all digital media.
  • To download all materials, use the Action navigation button below. To download particular lessons only, navigate to and select the particular lesson to display the individual elements.
  • To purchase a flash drive with all print material and digital files, please contact 607-274-3471.
Be sure to read the kit introductory material located in the top left column.
1828 Jackson on His Way to Washington


1828 "The Hunters of Kentucky" Song


1828 Coffin Handbill


1828 "Little Wat Ye Wha's A-Comin" Song


1832 Aristocrat/Workingman Cartoon


1832 King Andrew Handbill


1840 Quote from Baltimore Republican


1840 The Log Cabin Newspaper Banner


1840 Whig Party Parade


1840 Tippecanoe and Tyler Too Song


1840 Democratic-Republican Party Newspaper Ad


1840 "Rock-A-Bye Baby Daddy's a Whig" Song


1860 Lincoln Douglas Debates Image


1860 Lincoln Douglas Debate Headline


1860 Lincoln/Hamlin Campaign Poster


1860 Douglas "Taking the Stump" Cartoon


1864 Gettysburg Address


1864 Four Newspaper Reports on the Gettysburg Address


1864 "Lincoln-Ruin/McClelland- Peace" Poster


1868 Harper's Weekly Cover, "The First Vote"


1868 "White Man's Government" Nast Cartoon


1868 Democratic Parade Image


1868 Grant "Let Us Have Peace" Emblem


1872 "Greeley and Tweed" Nast Cartoon


1872 Grant "The Working-Man's Banner"


1896 Bryan "Cross of Gold" Poster


1896 McKinley Front Porch Visitors Photograph


1896 McKinley "The Real Issue" Poster


1900 Bryan "The Issue-1900" Poster


1900 McKinley/Roosevelt "Promises" Poster


1900 McKinley and Millionaire Advisor Cartoon


1904 Parker "Jeffersonian Principles" Poster


1904 Debs "Socialist Party" Poster


1904 Photo of Roosevelt Stumping and "Teddy's Teeth" Ad


1904 Teddy Roosevelt "New Diplomacy" Cartoon


1908 "Taft-evelt" Poster and Photo of Taft & Roosevelt


1908 Commoner vs Plutocrat Postcard


1908 Taft Haying Photograph


1932 "Happy Days Are Here Again" Song


1932 "The Girl I Love is a Democrat" Sheet Music


1932 "Don't Change Now" Poster


1936 "Fireside Chat" Radio Clip


1936 "Makers of History" Cartoon


1936 "An Attack on the New Deal" Cartoon


1940 FDR Poster and Willkie Sticker


1940 Willkie-Roosevelt Button Collage


1944 "Our Friend" Poster


1944 FDR "Fala Speech"


1952 Nixon Checkers Speech


1952 Nixon Postcard


1952 "Eisenhower Answers America" TV Commercial


1952 "Vote Stevenson" TV Commercial


1952 Stevenson Photo and Buttons from '56


1956 Republican Comic Book


1956 Democratic Convention Program Cover


1960 Nixon-Kennedy Debate


1960 Kennedy's Address to Ministerial Conference


1960 Race Against Communism Broadside


1964 Goldwater "We Will Bury You" TV Commercial


1964 Johnson "Daisy Girl" TV Commercial


1964 Campaign Button Collage


1964 Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Testimony


1968 LBJ and Vietnam Poster


1968 Robert Kennedy with Cesar Chavez Article


1968 "Nixon's the One" Poster


1968 Humphrey "Some Talk Change" Poster


1968 Humphrey "Man on the Street" Commercial


1968 Nixon "Law and Order" Commercial


1968 Wallace "Law and Order" Commercial


1972 "Together with McGovern" Poster


1972 McGovern & Nixon Commercials


1972 Photo of Campaign Workers with Brochures


1972 "Landslide" Cartoon


1984 Time Covers Reagan "Man of the Year"


1984 Reagan "Morning in America" TV Commercial


1984 Mondale "Trade Deficit" Commercial


1984 Time Ferraro Interview


1984 Reagan a Bear in the Woodside Commercial


1988 Newsweek Cover, Jesse Jackson, and Poll Results


1988 Bush Revolving Door Commercial


1988 Dukakis Packaging Commercial


1988 Dukakis Tank Ride Photo & Bush Dukakis Tank Ride Commercial


1992 Clinton Journey Commercial


1992 Bush What am I Fighting For Commercial


1992 Bush & Clinton's Arkansas Commercials


1992 Time Cover, Clinton


1992 Campaigns & Elections Magazine Cover


2000 Music Performances at Conventions


2000 Biographical Films


2000 Election Campaign Commercials


2000 Newsmagazine Photos and Articles


2000 Gore-Bush 1st Debate


2000 Saturday Night Live Debate Skit


2000 Gore and Bush Intro to Saturday Night Live


2000 Newsweek Cover, "The Winner Is..."


2000 Convention Entrances


2000 Election Campaign Websites


2000 Comic Strips


2000 Where is the Salsa? Article


2000 Newsweek Sidebar "Faith is Busting Out All Over"


2000 News Photo of Handmade Signs


2004 Spin/Counter-Spin: Speeches, Articles, Ads & Websites


2004 Howard Dean Iowa Speech


2004 MoveOn.org "Child's Pay" Commercial


2004 Swift Boat Veterans for Truth Commercial


2004 Photo Ops and Counter Ops


2004 Doonesbury & Boondocks Comic Strips


2004 Targeting Latinos Commercials


2004 Election Campaign Websites


2008 Biographical Films


2008 Economy Ads


2008 Fear in TV Commercials


2008 Hillary Clinton & Sarah Palin in Cartoons & Posters


2008 Historical Election Magazine Covers


2008 Targeting Youth with New Media


2008 Is Obama a Muslim? Sources & Credibility


2008 Political Satire or Libel?


NOTE:  Activities are available related to the 2016 Presidential Campaign & The Trump Presidency by selecting the link below.

 https://www.projectlooksharp.org/front_end.php?playlist_id=3

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