Electing America's President
"My station is new; and, if I may use the expression, I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent."
--George Washington in a letter to Catherine Macaulay Graham, January 9, 1790
As the first President of the United States, George Washington did, in fact, "walk on untrodden ground." There was neither "president" nor "precedent" for him to follow. Each of his actions as chief executive marked the first steps toward shaping the American presidency.
But the one precedent that Washington did not set was how to campaign against an opponent. He ran for office virtually unopposed. Compared to today's presidential candidates, George Washington had it easy. According to the analysis available at American Presidents, a new addition to the EDSITEment-reviewed websites, the biggest effort of the first presidential election in 1788 was to convince George Washington to serve in the new nation's highest public office. The citizens wanted no other leader than George Washington.
Today's presidential candidates battle for the presidency in a fast-paced campaign that takes them all over the United States, and they and their families must deal with intense media coverage that makes their names and faces very familiar by Election Day. American Presidents has continually updated information and activites for discussing this year's presidential campaign with middle and high school students.
Younger students can begin learning about the presidency by comparing the roles of America's original First Family, George and Martha Washington, with that of contemporary presidents and their families. Visit the new EDSITEment lesson plan, Picturing First Families, an activity specifically designed for students in kindergarten through the second grade that uses portraits to teach children about how the president and his family represent the nation. For a useful resource on the changing role of the First Lady, visit the new EDSITEment lesson plan, Women of the White House, where older students explore the impact of recent First Ladies by conducting research at the National First Ladies Library and the Presidential Libraries available through the Digital Classroom. These students supplement this research by interviewing their own family members about the contributions made by former First Ladies.
Finally, since campaigns are predominantly a battle of words, discover the words that have made previous presidents both famous and infamous at Presidential Speeches. This EDSITEment-reviewed website dedicated to all 42 American presidents, including presidential speeches, biographies, and other materials related to the presidential office.
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