Six presidential elections from 1900 to 1952 changed world history as they shaped the role of the United States as a world power. Republican victories in 1900 and 1920 reflected the national struggle over world leadership versus isolation. Democratic victories in 1932 and 1940 established leadership favoring international involvement, even when fighting a depression and when public opinion opposed international involvement. The Democratic victory in 1948 and the Republican victory of 1952 confirmed the role of Leader of the Free World that prevailed from World War II until the election of 2016. 

Important themes emerging from these elections include: (1) how lessons of World War I and the Great Depression shaped rebuilding after World War II, (2) the importance of international alliances and international agencies for American leadership, and (3) the emergence of human rights as part of American leadership.

A slide presentation will give information on the elections individually and as groups to help students understand (1) how they were important at that time in history, (2) how they were important since then, and (3) how they are important for understanding the election in 2020.

Students will receive handouts that can be read before class to become familiar with content. One handout will explain important terms and events that will be mentioned during class. The handouts will also be useful for those who want to take notes. During class, students are encouraged to speak at any time, but presentation of information will be emphasized rather than group discussion.

Resources: Links to the following sites are on slides in the class to encourage further study: (1) https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/george-washington-s-farewell-address/; (2) https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_49284.htm; (3) https://www.270towin.com/1896_Election/index.html; (3) https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1906/roosevelt/facts/; (4) https://history.state.gov/milestones/1899-1913/roosevelt-and-monroe-doctrine#:~:text=The%20Roosevelt%20Corollary%20of%20December,to%20the%20detriment%20of%20the; (5) https://www.fpri.org/article/2016/05/woodrow-wilsons-diplomacy-first-world-war-quest-post-war-peace/; (6) https://www.coolidgefoundation.org/blog/coolidges-moral-view-of-economy/; (7) https://hoover.archives.gov/hoovers/president-herbert-hoover; (8) http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/archives/collections/franklin/index.php?p=digitallibrary/digitalcontent&id=2042; (9) https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/harry-s-truman/; and (10) https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1964871