The American Vote
2024 result
New Deal CoalitionAll 5 grade bands · K-2 through APFree download

1956

Lesson plan.
Dwight D. Eisenhower vs Adlai Stevenson II — Eisenhower won re-election in an even larger landslide over a second Stevenson challenge, despite concerns about Ike's health after a heart attack in 1955. The Suez Crisis erupted days before the election, which paradoxically helped Eisenhower by reinforcing his image as the steady hand America needed in a dangerous world. Democrats retained control of Congress, making Eisenhower the first president since Zachary Taylor to win while his party lost both houses. A faithless elector in Alabama voted for Walter Jones.
What is in each packet
Contents of each grade band’s packet
BandReadingVocabularyQuestionsDiscussionAlso
K-2355 words4 terms31 promptimage, answer key
3-51131 words5 terms41 promptanswer key
6-8720 words7 terms62 promptsprimary source, answer key
9-12498 words7 terms72 promptsprimary source, answer key
AP681 words9 terms81 promptprimary source, second source, long essay, answer key
Primary sources quoted
  • Address Regarding the Suez Crisis
    Dwight D. Eisenhower, October 31, 1956 · 6-8, 9-12, AP
    Eisenhower, "Address Regarding the Suez Crisis" (Washington, DC, October 31, 1956). Public domain.
  • Speech to the Senate on the H-Bomb Test Ban
    Adlai E. Stevenson II, October 15, 1956 · AP
    Stevenson, "Speech to the American Association of School Administrators" (Cincinnati, October 15, 1956). Public domain.
Quick quiz

Five questions on 1956

Every answer here is read off the 1956 returns — the same rows the packets below are built from.

  1. Who won the 1956 presidential election?

    • ARichard Nixon
    • BAdlai Stevenson II
    • CDwight D. Eisenhower
    • DJohn F. Kennedy

  2. Which party did the winner of the 1956 election represent?

    • ARepublican
    • BProgressive
    • CLiberal Republican
    • DDemocratic

  3. How many electoral votes did Dwight D. Eisenhower win in 1956?

    • A266
    • B73
    • C442
    • D457

  4. Which of these states did Dwight D. Eisenhower carry in 1956?

    • ANorth Carolina
    • BGeorgia
    • CArkansas
    • DMaryland

  5. Which era of American politics does the 1956 election belong to?

    • ANew Deal Coalition
    • BRoaring Twenties
    • CAntebellum Crisis
    • DCold War Realignment

Not yet fact-checked. This packet was drafted with AI tools and has not been checked claim by claim. Please verify its facts before teaching from it. Tell us about an error.

Download by grade band