Name  of  Vampy  Class:  Presidential  Politics    

Instructor:  Dennis  Jenkins  AP  U.S.  History  Teacher  at  South  Warren  High  School  in  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky  (2017-­‐Present)  

Teacher  at  Warren  Central  High  School  (B.G.,  Kentucky)  (1994-­‐2017)  &  Social  Studies  Dept.  Head  at  WCHS  (1998-­‐2017)…APUSH  teacher  since  2001  AP  Certified  Teacher  of  U.S.  History  (AP  Certification  through  the  Center  for  Gifted  Studies  at  WKU)  &  National  Board  Certification  (2006)  

Former  Director  of  Residential  Living  WKU  VAMPY  (1999-­‐2001)  &  Residential  Counselor  at  WKU  VAMPY  (1991-­‐1995,  1997)  Instructor  @  VAMPY  (Civil  War  2006  &  Presidential  Politics  2004,  2010,  2011,  2012,  2013,  2014,  2015,  2016,  2017,  2018)  

 Presidential  Politics  Class  Overview  for  2019:  

This  class  will  explore  a  variety  of  issues  and  decisions  that  American  presidents  have  faced  since  1960.    An  emphasis  will  be  given  to  some  of  the  more  pivotal  decisions,  events  &  elections  that  have  impacted  our  nation’s  history  during  the  last  60  years  beginning  with  the  presidency  of  John  Kennedy  through  Donald  Trump.    The  class  will  debate  issues  that  modern  presidents  have  dealt  with.    Students  will  participate  in  debates,  discussions,  and  projects  that  will  enhance  their  knowledge  of  presidential  politics  with  the  goal  of  improving  student’s  analytical  &  critical  thinking  skills.  We  will  examine  political  campaign  strategies,  platforms,  commercials,  debates,  court  cases  &  satire  in  presidential  elections.  

(This  year’s  class  will  include  a  field  trip  to  Washington  D.C.)    

   

Course  Syllabus    

(Week  One)  June  24   Introductions  and  Pre-­‐Assessment  over  Presidential  Politics     Examine  Presidential  Decisions  that  changed  our  country’s  history  from  1789  to  1960  &  the  historical  impact  each  had  on  our  country     Analyze  Criteria  Used  to  Evaluate  Presidential  Leadership  &  Discussion  over  What  Makes  an  Effective  President     Role-­‐Play  the  first  debates  between  presidential  candidates:  John  Kennedy  vs.  Richard  Nixon  &  watch  part  of  the  1st  presidential  debate  in  history     Evaluate  some  of  the  biggest  decisions  that  John  Kennedy  made  as  president    June  25   Examine  the  legacy  of  President  Lyndon  Johnson     Contrast  campaign  commercials  used  during  the  1964  presidential  election     Research  the  1964  presidential  election  between  Lyndon  Johnson  &  Barry  Goldwater     Analyze  some  of  the  biggest  court  cases  that  impacted  politics  during  the  1960s    June  26   Evaluate  the  1968  presidential  election  between  Richard  Nixon,  Hubert  Humphrey  &  George  Wallace  &  watch  campaign  commercials     Analyze  the  legacy  of  Richard  Nixon’s  presidency     Examine  the  1972  presidential  election  with  Richard  Nixon  &  George  McGovern     Role-­‐Play  the  Supreme  Court  case  ‘United  States  vs.  Nixon’      June  27   Discuss  President  Ford’s  Decision  to  Pardon  Richard  Nixon  &  Examine  the  brief  presidency  of  Gerald  Ford     Role-­‐Play  Debate  the  1976  Election  between  Jimmy  Carter  &  President  Gerald  Ford  after  watching  part  of  the  Ford-­‐Carter  debate  

Analyze  President  Carter's  Foreign  Policy  during  the  Cold  War  &  Carter’s  Domestic  Policies  during  the  late  1970s  Research  some  of  the  biggest  court  cases  during  the  1970s  Evaluate  historians’  rankings  of  the  presidents  during  the  1960s  &  1970s  

 June  28   Role-­‐Play  Debate  the  1980  Presidential  Election  between  President  Carter  &  Ronald  Reagan  after  watching  part  of  the  1980  Carter-­‐Reagan  debate     Analyze  the  Rise  of  Conservatism  &  Discuss  the  impact  of  Reaganomics  during  the  First  Term  of  President  Reagan     Watch  political  satire  over  the  Reagan  years  after  watching  campaign  commercials       Take  Survey  of  Political  Parties:  ‘Which  political  philosophy  fits  your  views’  

(Week  Two)  July  1   Role-­‐Play  Debate  the  1984  Election  between  President  Reagan  &  Walter  Mondale  after  watching  highlights  of  the  1984  debate  

Contrast  campaign  commercials  of  President  Reagan  &  Walter  Mondale  Examine  Foreign  Policy  during  the  Reagan  Years,  Reagan's  Leadership  during  the  Cold  War  &  the  Legacy  of  Ronald  Reagan  Role-­‐Play  a  Supreme  Court  Case  involving  High  School  Students  during  the  1980s  Research  places  we  will  visit  in  Washington  D.C.    

 July  2   Role-­‐Play  Debate  the  1988  Election  between  George  H.W.  Bush  &  Michael  Dukakis  after  watching  highlights  from  the  real  debate  in  1988     Watch  political  satire  over  presidential  politics  from  1989  to  1992  after  contrasting  campaign  commercials  from  the  1988  election     Evaluate  the  legacy  of  President  George  H.W.  Bush     Assessment  over  Presidential  Politics  (1960  to  1992-­‐The  administrations  &  court  cases  of  JFK,  LBJ,  Nixon,  Ford,  Carter,  Reagan,  &  George  H.W.  Bush)    July  3   Contrast  political  platforms  of  the  presidential  candidates  in  1992  &  campaign  commercials  used  during  the  election     Role-­‐Play  Debate  the  1992  Election  between  President  George  H.W.  Bush,  Bill  Clinton  &  Ross  Perot  after  watching  highlights  of  the  actual  debates     Watch  political  satire  over  the  1992  election  &  analyze  the  major  issues  &  events  of  Clinton’s  first  term      July  4   Role-­‐Play  Debate  the  1996  Election  between  Bill  Clinton,  Bob  Dole,  &  Ross  Perot  after  watching  highlights  from  the  real  debates  &  commercials     Examine  the  major  issues  &  events  of  Clinton’s  Second  Term       Watch  part  of  John  Adams  Movie  regarding  our  country  declaring  our  independence  from  Britain  as  we  celebrate  our  nation’s  birthday     Beyond  Balderdash  Game  with  Historical  events     Leave  for  Field  Trip  to  Washington  D.C.  (Students  will  need  money  for  meals  &  souvenirs)      July  5   Washington  D.C.  Trip:  (Arrive  AM  -­‐  See  outside  of  White  House,  American  History  Museum,  Supreme  Court  Tour,  U.S.  Capitol  Tour,  Monument  Tour)    

(Week  Three)  July  8   Role-­‐Play  Debate  the  2000  Presidential  Election  between  Al  Gore  &  George  W.  Bush     Watch  campaign  commercials  &  highlights  from  the  actual  debates  between  Gore  &  Bush     Role-­‐Play  the  Supreme  Court  Case  ‘Bush  v.  Gore’     Watch  Political  Satire  over  the  2000  Presidential  Election     Examine  the  major  events  &  issues  during  the  first  term  of  the  George  W.  Bush  Presidency     Presidential  Face-­‐Off  Competition  (1st  Round)    July  9   Role-­‐Play  Debate  the  2004  Presidential  Election  between  President  George  W.  Bush  &  John  Kerry       Watch  highlights  from  the  actual  debates,  commercials  &  political  satire  from  the  2004  presidential  election     Analyze  the  Second  Term  of  the  George  W.  Bush  presidency  by  discussing  domestic  &  foreign  policy  decisions  during  the  Bush  presidency     Presidential  Face-­‐Off  Competition  (1st  Round)       Mount  Rushmore  Project  Due    July  10   Role-­‐Play  Debate  the  2008  Presidential  Election  between  Barack  Obama  &  John  McCain     Contrast  campaign  commercials  from  the  2008  election  &  strategies  each  candidate  used  in  the  actual  debates     Research  &  debate  court  cases  during  Obama  years     Watch  Political  Satire  over  the  2008  Presidential  Election  &  Analyze  the  first  term  of  Barack  Obama’s  Presidency     Presidential  Face-­‐Off  Competition  (Quarterfinals)    July  11   Role-­‐Play  Debate  the  2012  Election  between  President  Obama  &  Mitt  Romney  &  watch  part  of  debate  between  Obama  &  Romney     Contrast  strategies  used  by  each  candidate  during  the  2012  election  &  watch  political  satire  that  was  used  during  the  election     Research  &  debate  court  cases  during  Obama’s  2nd  term     Discuss  major  issues  &  events  of  Obama's  second  term  as  President     Presidential  Face-­‐Off  Competition  (Semifinals)      July  12   Contrast  campaign  commercials  &  highlights  of  debates  between  Donald  Trump  &  Hillary  Clinton  &  watch  political  satire  over  the  2016  election     Role-­‐Play  the  2016  &  2020  Presidential  Elections  with  campaign  posters       Examine  major  issues,  decisions,  &  court  cases  during  the  Trump  Years     Second  Assessment  over  Presidential  Politics:  1992  to  Present  (The  administrations  &  courts  cases  during  the  Clinton,  Bush,  Obama  &  Trump  Years)     Presidential  Face-­‐Off  Competition  (Championship)     Wearing  of  Presidential  Masks  &  Traveling  to  VAMPY  classes  introducing  various  Presidents      

(Rubric  for  Evaluation  at  the  End  of  the  Class  that  will  be  mailed  home  to  parents  within  a  few  weeks  at  the  conclusion  of  VAMPY)  Class  Participation:  Debates,  Discussions,  Court  Cases,  Role-­‐Plays,  Posters,  Research  and  Work  Ethic  during  Study  Hall  

Critical  &  Analytical  Thinking  skills  during  debates,  discussions,  research  concerning  Presidential  Politics  First  Summative  Assessment  over  Presidential  Politics  form  1960  to  1992  &  Essay  Portion  on  First  Assessment  

Study  Hall  Mount  Rushmore  Project  Debate  as  a  Presidential  Candidate  or  Campaign  Manager  (1976,  1980,  1984,  1988,  1992,  1996,  2000,  2004,  2008,  2012,  2016,  2020)  

Presidential  Hall  of  Fame  Face-­‐Off  Tournament  Second  Assessment  over  Presidential  Politics  from  1992  to  Present  &  Creative  Writing  Essay