The Election of 1968

US History (11th) Early Cold War Through Vietnam The Election of 1968
Students view primary source video of the protests at the 1968 Democratic Convention. Then, they study the convention and its political context in more detail. Next, they learn about Richard Nixon’s election as president in 1968. Finally, they use the candidacy of George Wallace as an entry point for learning about and evaluating the role of third-party political candidates in the United States.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

1:1 Devices
Teacher Pack

The Pack contains associated resources for the learning experience, typically in the form of articles and videos. There is a teacher Pack (with only teacher information) and a student Pack (which contains only student information). As a teacher, you can toggle between both to see everything.

Here are the teacher pack items for The Election of 1968:

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Overview

In this experience, students view primary source video of the protests at the 1968 Democratic Convention. Then, they study the convention and its political context in more detail. Next, they learn about Richard Nixon’s election as president in 1968. Finally, they use the candidacy of George Wallace as an entry point for learning about and evaluating the role of third-party political candidates in the United States.

Objectives

  • Describe the major issues of the presidential election of 1968.
  •  Explain the impact of the Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy assassinations on the election.


The year 1968 was one of political turmoil in the United States and throughout the world. Often, conflicts occurred between college students and the police or armed forces. In the United States, protests mounted largely by students even affected the outcome of the presidential election. You’ll learn about that memorable year in this experience.

Objectives

  • Describe the major issues of the presidential election of 1968.
  •  Explain the impact of the Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy assassinations on the election.


a crowd

Protesters in Lincoln Park, Chicago, during 1968 Democratic National Convention


In August, 1968, the Democratic Party held its national convention in Chicago to choose a presidential candidate. Watch Protests Turn Violent at the 1968 Democratic National Convention for eyewitness views of what happened.


Based on the video, what can you infer about the United States in 1968?

Post your answer

Ask for a few volunteers to explain their inferences to the class.


When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.

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The Complete List of Learning Experiences in Vietnam and the 1960s Unit.
US History (11th) Early Cold War Through Vietnam Early Cold War Through Vietnam: STAAR Review
Vietnam and the 1960s: Review
US History (11th) Early Cold War Through Vietnam The End of the Vietnam War
The End of the Vietnam War
US History (11th) Early Cold War Through Vietnam Origins of the Vietnam War
Origins of the Vietnam War
US History (11th) Early Cold War Through Vietnam The Election of 1968
The Election of 1968

Vietnam and the 1960s: Unit Review
US History (11th) Early Cold War Through Vietnam The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War
US History (11th) Early Cold War Through Vietnam The Anti-War Movement
The Anti-War Movement
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