Creator: University of Richmond | visit site
Grade Range: 6 - 11
Find interactive maps examining the results of elections from 1840 through 2008. With US politics increasingly dominated by election year strategizing, a historical look at how Americans have voted in both Presidential and Congressional elections can provide useful context. In a democracy, the power of popular elections to affect the lives of all citizens cannot be understated. In order to understand how changes in population--demography and distribution--have affected popular elections, it’s important to see those changes in perspective. On this site, you can look at Presidential elections or Congressional elections, as well as population maps focused on African American and White population changes over the time period. Most of the maps are based on an advancing time line that maps data over time. For Presidential elections, there are also more detailed maps for each separate election.
In the Classroom
These maps, powerful when projected on an interactive whiteboard (or projector), make the impact of changes in population demographics and distribution visual. The maps might also provide a good resource for students studying a particular President or time period. Challenge students to create a newspaper about what they have learned (about the President or time period). Use a tool such as Zinepal (<a href="/single.cfm?id=12556">reviewed here</a>). Click to "Start with a blank e-Book."
At Home
As children grow up, it’s important for them to understand their responsibilities as future voting citizens. These maps can enhance a discussion with your teen of how important individual involvement in the democratic process can be.
Tags
electoral college, elections, presidents, congress, maps, timelines,
Subjects
American History, Current Events, Geography (US/World), Government/Civics: U.S, Social Studies, Social Studies,