United States History 2R Mr. Williams Class Activity/Assignment: Election of 1912 Campaign Ad (Minor Assessment, 100 points) Due Date: Monday, September 19 around 8:45/8:50 Introduction: On the local, state, and federal level, Progressivism made significant impacts. The spirit of this historical period had its historic showdown in the election of 1912. Four potential candidates entered into the 1912 presidential race: Woodrow Wilson (Democrat), Teddy Roosevelt (Progressive Party), William H. Taft (Republican), and Eugene V. Debs (Socialist) and the months leading up to the campaign were evidence of how the reform impulse of Progressivism had really entered into the national consciousness. So, how did each candidate try to “sell” their respective agendas? How did they attempt to discredit the other candidates? Assignment/Activity: In groups of 2­3, students will research one of the candidates from above in the 1912 election and will create a television commercial hyping up that candidate. ​If you have ever watched television around election times, you will sometimes notice commercials for hopeful government office seekers. They usually try to make themselves sound really wonderful, sometimes using bright, cheerful colors and “happy” music to get their point across. Expectations/Requirements: ✓ Review the relevant material in the handout given to you on the candidates and what they stood for. You should also consider using the following website developed by Ohio State University for the Election of 1912 (​http://ehistory.osu.edu/osu/mmh/1912/​). You have permission to use your phones.​ You will be given class time today and part of Monday to help you in creating the campaign ad.. ✓ Using that information, create your campaign ad. Remember: These ads are meant to praise your candidate’s positive qualities. Your material must be historically accurate and relevant to the election. ​You may choose to create your ad campaign using all of the issues of the Election of 1912 or one particular area (women’s suffrage, conservation, the labor question, direct democracy, the race question, the tariff, business regulation). ✓ Basically, your campaign ad in its written form will be like writing up a script for how this would play out on television. Plan on writing around 1 page of lined paper. ✓ The active and informed contributions of all group members in the creation of your campaign ad. ✓ Demonstration of your preparedness by completing your campaign ad on the assigned date. Do not give lame excuses of “I/we cannot turn in the assignment because so­and­so had the work.” Remember my policy on late work and be sure to turn the assignment in on time. ✓ I will ask for volunteers to present/read their ad campaigns on Monday, September 19 at the time listed above. Grading Rubric: “Election of 1912 Ad Campaign” (1=poor; 3=below average; 5=average; 7=above average; 10=excellent) Historical Accuracy 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Historical Relevance 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Originality and Creativity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Active/Informed Contributions of all Group Members 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Format/Layout & Structure 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 _____/100