The American Vote
2024 result
Modern PolarizationAll 5 grade bands · K-2 through APFree download

2008

Lesson plan.
Barack Obama vs John McCain — Barack Obama won amid financial crisis and high turnout, expanding the Democratic map in several fast-changing states.
What is in each packet
Contents of each grade band’s packet
BandReadingVocabularyQuestionsDiscussionAlso
K-2287 words4 terms31 promptimage, answer key
3-5485 words5 terms41 promptanswer key
6-8736 words6 terms62 promptsprimary source, answer key
9-12146 words6 terms73 promptsprimary source, answer key
AP979 words9 terms81 promptprimary source, second source, long essay, answer key
Primary sources quoted
  • Election Night Victory Speech
    Barack Obama, November 4, 2008 · 6-8, AP
    Obama, "Election Night Victory Speech" (Chicago, IL, November 4, 2008). Public domain.
  • Inaugural Address (excerpt)
    Barack Obama, January 20, 2009 · 9-12
    Obama, "Inaugural Address" (Washington, DC, January 20, 2009). Public domain.
  • A More Perfect Union (Philadelphia speech on race)
    Barack Obama, March 18, 2008 · AP
    Obama, "A More Perfect Union" (Philadelphia, PA, March 18, 2008). Public domain.
Quick quiz

Five questions on 2008

Every answer here is read off the 2008 returns — the same rows the packets below are built from.

  1. Who won the 2008 presidential election?

    • AJohn McCain
    • BJohn Kerry
    • CGeorge W. Bush
    • DBarack Obama

  2. Which party did the winner of the 2008 election represent?

    • AProgressive
    • BRepublican
    • CLiberal Republican
    • DDemocratic

  3. How many electoral votes did Barack Obama win in 2008?

    • A270
    • B365
    • C173
    • D286

  4. Which of these states did Barack Obama carry in 2008?

    • AKentucky
    • BSouth Dakota
    • CWest Virginia
    • DNew Jersey

  5. Which era of American politics does the 2008 election belong to?

    • AProgressive Era
    • BRoaring Twenties
    • CModern Polarization
    • DNew Deal Coalition

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.

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