After the Midterm elections in November, the 118th Congress has been sitting since 3 January. The Midterms were expected to result in a defeat for the Democrats and a lame-duck presidency for the next two years. But the Democrats have kept hold of the Senate and although the Republicans have a small majority in the … Continue reading “What’s Going On in the U.S. Congress?”
Maxwell Alejandro Frost is 25, the minimum age to be a candidate for the House of Representatives. And he just won a seat in Florida: he’ll be the first member of Gen Z to sit in the U.S. Congress. Frost was standing for Florida District 10, a safe Democrat seat in his native Orlando. He … Continue reading “At 25, He’s Heading to Congress”
The midterm elections will take place in the U.S. on 8 November. What are these elections held half-way through a presidential term, and what is at stake this year? The midterms are held two years into the 4-year presidential term. They can, and in fact often do, change the course of the Presidency. There are … Continue reading “What’s at Stake in the U.S. Midterm Elections?”
The midterm elections will take place in the U.S.A. on 8 November. Among thousands of candidates, Maxwell Alejandro Frost stands out as a lively and enthusiastic young activist, who’s been involved in politics and has organised political events since he was 15. Now 25, Frost is aiming to be the first member of Generation Z … Continue reading “A Youth Voice for Congress”
A hundred years after finally gaining the right to vote in the U.S.A., women today systematically both register and vote more than men. These two resources, one with a more complex article than the other, encourage pupils to discover the long campaign for suffrage, and some of the activists who worked for the 19th Amendment … Continue reading “Celebrating Votes for Women”
In commemoration of the hundredth anniversary of women obtaining the right to vote in the U.S.A. in 1920, these videos and mini-site provide thought-provoking teaching tools. The Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality Monument is based in the house in Washington, DC, which has housed the National Women’s Party since 1929. It is now run but the National … Continue reading “Teaching about U.S. Women’s Fight for the Vote”
In 1920, almost 150 years after the United States declared that “all men are created equal,” American women got the right to vote… 27 years after women in New Zealand did. American suffragists worked for almost 80 years to obtain that right. And there’s still work to do today. As is often the case in … Continue reading “Centennial of Suffrage”
For several months, the news in the U.S.A. has been dominated by the midterm elections. Depending on which survey you look at, these could mean a major revival for the Democratic Party, or a small bump on President Trump’s path to re-election. What are the midterms, and how important are they? The midterms are an … Continue reading “American Midterm Elections”
If you’d like to discuss the American midterm elections with your classes, we have selected some great teaching resources. This 1’30” video from Voice of America News is short and to the point. It’s usable for written comprehension (there’s no voiceover or dialogue). Usable from A2. This BBC video is 2’25” and is a simple-ish … Continue reading “Talking About the U.S. Midterms”
The film Suffragette is an excellent occasion to talk about the movement for votes for women in the UK in the 19th and 20th centuries. As well as the trailer, below, the site for the Suffragette film has a clip called “We will win”, which would work well in class. There is also a gallery … Continue reading “Suffragette Webpicks”