The Function of Parties in America
A political party is a group of people who try to influence policy agendas and whose ultimate goal is to run the government by getting their favorite candidates elected. Two political parties, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, have long dominated American government and politics. These and other parties are typically differentiated by their beliefs, principles, and policy agenda. In other words, they can be distinguished by their political ideologies. (Video is narrated with slides
Where Have We Been? Tracing Family through a Timeline of National History
This lesson plan introduces students to examples of how wars and technological developments have impacted the movement of people throughout United States and world history. Students will learn about the effects of political, technological, and geographical issues on the population of one North Carolina community. Listening to oral histories by North Carolinians, students will hear first hand accounts about the impact of wars and road building on Madison County. Using a timeline depicting events
Changing Communities: Past vs. Future
This lesson plan introduces students to changes that have occurred in western North Carolina, through two hundred years of national and regional development. Students will learn about the geographical, political, and technological issues that have influenced change in mountain communities using oral histories by Madison County residents. They will learn about the history of road building in the North Carolina mountains, and the relatively recent decision to connect two halves of interstate highw
World War I and the changing face of gender roles
In this lesson students will assess the political, economic, social, and cultural effects of the war on the women's movement.
Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey
Social studies teachers will find that the film presents an informative, complex and issue-oriented story that raises controversial questions and provides an exciting way to introduce a number of important concepts in 20th century United States and world history. It offers an opportunity to explore the historical background of current events and issues in the news today; the Middle East crisis, the struggle of developing nations to create stable economies and democratic governments, the legacy o
149 GG Top Five Pet Peeves of 2008
Stop the madness. The Grammar Girl print book is now available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/2pkej7
Fossil Fuels: Oil
This lesson provides an introduction to the world oil market and the United States' dependence on it. Topics include our current usage, sources, and the political implications of acquiring oil from an international market.
Social Ethics, Fall 2007
The course examines the sources for values that underly our personal ethics. It will also introduce you to some of the significant ethical theories in Western tradition, theories that we will apply to social and political issues in current society.
Quantitative Data Analysis
Students will analyze quantitative data and interpret the results, learning about the relevance of education and family type to earnings, how it has changed over time and the relevance of race in understanding these relationships.
Social Inequality: Computer Exercise
Current and projected data will be used to examine cohort differences among members of various race/ethnic groups as they grow older in order to identify possible political and policy implications for the future. Data from various states and metropolitan cities will be compared.
Social Inequality: Research Paper
Current and projected data will be used to examine cohort differences among members of various race/ethnic groups as they grow older in order to identify possible political and policy implications for the future. Data from various states and metropolitan cities will be compared.
Social Stratification (Part I & II)
The population of the United States is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. This increasing diversity is an important issue because it is changing the cultural, political, and economic landscape of American life.
Abolitionism in the 1800s
This video is accompanied by text. "The crusade against slavery was the most significant of the reform era movements. Slavery existed in all of the original 13 American colonies, but by the middle of the eighteenth century some Americans began to speak out against human bondage. The Society of Friends--the Quakers--became the first group to take a public stand in support of the abolition of slavery. The devotion of the Quakers was paralleled, in varying degrees, by other religions. As the Revolu
World War II Through Cartoons
Political cartoons provide a fascinating glimpse into the people,
events and issues of the past. Cartoonists use a variety of devices to
make a point in an arresting way that will stimulate the viewer to think
critically about the events of the day. The Second World War is one
such event. The focus of the video is on Canada. (Professional video with narration and explanation of the events when the cartoons are shown.)
The Aztecs 1/3
The video shows what the Aztec Empire was like by the time Columbus arrived in America. The capital city, Tenochtitlan, is described. There is an account of their social and political organization. There is also a description of their warfare and of religious ceremonies.
Lecture 27 - 11/24/2010
Lecture 27
Party Realignment and Dealignment
For the past several decades, the United States has been in a period of party realignment and dealignment. Party realignment occurs when the minority party becomes stronger than the majority party, usually as the result of a minority party candidate winning a critical election. Party dealignment occurs when no single political party is dominant. This situation might exist, for example, when neither Democrats nor Republicans hold a majority of the seats in Congress or the Supreme Court. (Video is
Factors That Lead to Party Identification
A person’s loyalty to or preference for one political party is called party identification. When people identify with a party, they usually agree with the party’s stance on a few major issues and give little weight to its stance on issues they consider minor or secondary. An individual’s party identification tends to be life long unless there is a major shift in a party’s agenda or problems with its leadership.
(Video is narrated with slides and speeches.)
Political Parties and Their Functions
Great teachers from outstanding universities give instruction on federalism in this video from Thinkwell's online American Government series. This video will discuss: Political Parties and Their Functions. The video uses lecture format and pictures to aid in the explanations. Run time 10:17.
Entrepreneurship, Government, and Development in Africa
After centuries of insufferable oppression by colonial powers, bloody independence struggles, and corrupt home-grown regimes, “Africa today is quickly awakening, and determined to mainstream itself in the phenomenon of the globalization process,” says John Kufuor, who served as Ghana’s president for two terms starting
