Category: Student Resources

The presidential election of 1960 brought with it a pair of “firsts” for American politics. It was the first presidential election with the new states of Alaska and Hawaii, and the first where both candidates were born in the 20th century. John F. Kennedy - a Navy veteran and Democratic Senator from Massachusetts - faced … Continue reading American Elections and Campaigns – The 1960s: “Firsts for the New Decade”

While the television had been used previously in politics, the 1952 presidential election was the first that saw both mainline parties using the medium prominently. After declining the offer in the previous election, Dwight D. Eisenhower agreed to run for president in 1952 on the Republican ticket. Adlai Stevenson II - the grandson of William … Continue reading American Elections and Campaigns – The 1950s: “Selling the Presidency like cereal…”

After the radio’s ascent to global prominence in the early 20th century, the television was the next major step in telecommunications technology. Much like the radio, the earliest television prototypes emerged among different inventors and scientists across the world in the 19th century. While their methods differed, the common idea was to transmit moving images … Continue reading American Elections and Campaigns – 1945 to 1948: The Onset of Television and the Cold War

Left: Advertisement for the Hearst Newspaper chain, c. 1920. (Public Domain) Advertisement promoting music concerts broadcasted over the radio, c. 1920. (Public Domain) The evolution of technology has historically progressed alongside changes in mass media and politics. American elections and campaigns are no exceptions to this trend, as the newspaper reigned supreme in mass media … Continue reading American Elections and Campaigns – 1900 to 1945: Campaigning Over the Air Waves

Portrait photograph of James A. Garfield, c. 1870. (Library of Congress) Portrait of Winfield S. Hancock, c. 1870. (Library of Congress) The four decades after the Civil War’s end saw a major increase in newspaper circulation. Due to the partisan divide between the Union and the Confederacy in the war, newspapers that already had political … Continue reading American Elections and Campaigns – 1865 to 1900: Postbellum Partisanship, Campaigning, and Infighting

Through the constant changes in American party politics, newspapers remained the preeminent medium of communicating complex thoughts in the 19th century. At the time, the majority of newspapers were either run by private businesses or political organizations. One of the earlier newspapers that was designed to support one specific president was the National Intelligencer. Established … Continue reading American Elections and Campaigns – 1800 to 1865: Politics in the Antebellum Press

The United States in the 19th century saw major changes take hold on the political, social, industrial, and electoral level. In 1804, the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution made a series of revisions to the Electoral College, including the individual elections of both a presidential candidate and a vice presidential candidate. For changes in political … Continue reading American Elections and Campaigns – 1828: “A Sign of Things to Come.”