+
PPT
Curated OER

Development of American Political Parties: The Two-Party System

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Was American politics always bound to the two-party system? Learn how the two-party system developed, why third parties tend not to do so well, and all the various political parties that have emerged throughout US history. Each party is...
+
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Election of 1912

For Students 9th - 10th
American Experience's website on Woodrow Wilson gives a good summary of the election of 1912, an election based on philosophy rather than the personalities of the candidates. This was an election in which four parties ran credible...
+
Website
Other

Earliest Voices William Taft

For Students 9th - 10th
Hear historic voice recordings of Supreme Court Justice and President William Howard Taft on such issues as the gold standard, the right of labor, and the rise and progress of the American Negro. A biography and downloadable images...
+
Website
Other

Tsu: The Progressive Era and World War I

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive outline covering the major ideas, leaders, and actions of the Progressive Era and the transformation of the United States as a result of World War I.
+
Interactive
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of Us: Truman vs. Dewey

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about one of the most surprising political defeats in American history. The election of 1948 between President Harry Truman and Thomas Dewey was supposed to be a landslide. Find out about Truman's stand on policies, and read about...
+
Website
Harp Week

Presidential Electons: 1912 Wilson v. Roosevelt v. Taft: Overview

For Students 9th - 10th
The presidential elections in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were filled with drama from third parties, to a once defeated president running again and being elected, to a former president changing parties and running again. The...
+
Activity
Other

Theodore Roosevelt: Almanac of Theodore Roosevelt

For Students 1st - 9th
This site has everything about Theodore Roosevelt. Find his speeches, his family life, videos, his time in the military, as well as his presidency. The site is well laid out and easy to navigate.
+
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Today in History: June 22: Houdini & Bull Moose Born

For Students 9th - 10th
Read here to learn about the 1912 break in the Republican party that led Teddy Roosevelt to establish the Progressive, or Bull Moose, party and learn about Houdini and the historical events of June 22.
+
eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Progressive Movement 1890 1920: Progressivism in the White House

For Students 11th - 12th
Looks at the Square Deal of Theodore Roosevelt, the Progressive goals of William Taft, and at legislation enacted under the New Freedom agenda of Woodrow Wilson.
+
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: American Memory: American Women: Marching for the Vote

For Students 9th - 10th
The day before the inauguration of Woodrow Wilson, 5,000 marchers along with floats, bands, and mounted groups paraded down Pennslvania Avenue in support of women's suffrage. Read about the parade, the actions of those watching the...
+
Graphic
Digital Public Library of America

Dpla: Battle on the Ballot: Political Outsiders in Us Presidential Elections

For Students 9th - 10th
This exhibition explores the rich history of select individuals, parties, events, and movements that have influenced US presidential elections from the outside-outside Washington politics, outside the two-party system, and outside the...
+
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Third Party (United States)

For Students 9th - 10th
An explanation of the role of third parties, their history, and some notable third party candidates can be found in this Wikipedia article.
+
Website
Other

Theodore Roosevelt Association: Bull Moose Years of Theodore Roosevelt

For Students 9th - 10th
A very interesting look at the rift in the Republican Party in the campaign of 1912 and the resultant third-party candidacy of Theodore Roosevelt. Read about what the Bull Moose Party stood for and the states that supported it in the...
+
Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: William Howard Taft

For Students 9th - 10th
A great in-depth biography of William Howard Taft. Topics include: his life before the presidency, campaigns and elections, domestic affairs, foreign affairs, and life after the presidency. Links to the first lady, his Cabinet members,...
+
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Progressivsim Sweeps the Nation

For Students 5th - 8th
The government that supported laissez-faire policies and Social Darwinism was finally considered corrupt and immoral. Read about the ideas of the Progressive Era and see how these ideas were put into activist government policy.
+
Website
Shmoop University

Shmoop: Progressive Era Politics Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
A timeline of Progressive Era legislation with brief descriptions of the laws.
+
Website
Shmoop University

Shmoop: Progressive Era Politics

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this overview of the Progressive Era to find out about the economic, political, and philosophical conditions of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that led to changes in working conditions, reforms in...