Election Speeches: Hoover v.
Roosevelt
Intro Hoover vs. Roosevelt
In 1932, Hoover and Roosevelt campaigned against each other in the
presidential election. The result would be a second term for Hoover or a
first term for Roosevelt. The country was in the middle of an economic
recession. The Stock Market crash of 1929 had set off the domino effect
of economic deterioration. The Midwest struggled with the dust bowl.
Unemployment was at 24%. It was the era of the Great Depression.
For this assignment, you will become a part of either the Hoover or
Roosevelt campaign. You will complete a platform assignment. For the
platform assignment you will create a timeline, map, platform statement,
campaign literature and paraphernalia (election campaign materials), and
presentations. The crowning assignment will be to participate in a debate
with other students representing each candidate and have a class
election.
Lesson Steps
Steps
Possible
Resources
Products
Notes
1. Background
research as a
class on the
time period
Teacher
provides
websites and
primary
source
documents
X
Create as a
class a
summary of
the time
period.
Class needs to understand the
issues of the time period.
This may be though a
presentation or class
research.
X
X
Platform
assignments
X
Break up class and give each
group a Platform assignments
paper. Discuss together the
ideas for
paraphernalia(election
campaign materials) and show
examples.
Primary
resource
documents –
election
List on
Platform
Assignment
s paper
Teams work together to
complete the list of items on
the Platform Assignments
paper and prepare to debate
2. Divide
class in half
and assign
each a party/
candidate
3. Break up
each party
into teams of
3-4 students
and assign
each team a
platform of
their
candidate
4. Teams
research their
platform and
fill out
graphic
organizer.
speeches,
primary
source
document
graphic
organizer.
5. Create
Websites
campaign
provided by
literature and teacher
paraphernalia.
6. Set the
Paraphernali
stage for
a
debate by
hanging up
paraphernalia
7. Each team
presents their
platform,
map, timeline
and
paraphernalia
and tries to
convince the
audience to
vote for their
candidate.
8. Question/
Answer
debate where
the teacher is
the
moderator
with one
their platform.
X
Platform
Presentation
Statement
X
Notes from
their
platform and
expert team
Debate
about
topic by
answering
questions
Decorate classroom with all
items for one candidate on
one side of the room and all
items for the other candidate
on the other side of the room.
If they made extra buttons,
flyer, pamphlets, etc., they
could pass them out.
Each team comes up front
and each person presents one
of the following:
1- Platform Presentation
Statement
2- Map
3- Timeline
4- Paraphernalia
One student from each group
will be chosen to represent
their platform. Seat all
students for one candidate on
the side of the room that is
decorated for their
candidate. 3-4 students per
representativ
e for each
platform
9. Vote
Election
Ballot/
Response
paper
Ballot
candidate should be up front
seated in the form of a panel.
Have each student present
his/her platform again then
begin question/answer session.
Ask a general question which
every person on the panel has
to answer. After that, ask
questions that anyone on the
panel can answer. If one
person is taking control, start
asking questions to specific
people. After each question,
take time to have the other
side present their rebuttal or
opinion.
Students will each have one
vote to choose the candidate
that they feel would be the
best president. Students will
fill out the election ballot and
insert it into a voters’ box.
While the teacher is counting
the votes, the students will fill
out the response paper of
who they voted for and why.
The teacher will then
announce the winner.
Platform Assignments
Group members’ names:
Each group needs to complete the following:
_________1. Map of the Union at the time of the election. Color
in red for states that voted for Hoover, and blue for the states
that voted for Roosevelt.
_________2. Timeline of the candidate’s life until the election
(include 4-8 events)
3. Create 2 or more of the following paraphernalia based on your
platform:
_______Poster/Banner (use famous quotes from the candidate)
_______Button/pin
_______Brochure/Flyer/Pamphlet
_______Postcard
_______Songs
_______Newspaper ad
_______Press release
_______Radio Spot
_______Endorsement
__________4. Platform presentation statement (40-50 word
statement about your platform)
Rubric
4
3
2
1
Include all
states in the
union at the
time, 5 major
landforms,
legend, title,
compass rose,
colored red
and blue
showing
election
results and
legible.
Timeline
4-8 events
from
candidates’
life, 2
pictures, on
one 9x12
paper. Writing
is legible and
neat.
Paraphernalia Item
item 1:
completed
with quality
work
representing
platform.
Includes most
of states in
the union, 3-5
major
landforms..
Coloring and
writing are
quality work.
Includes some
of the
required
information.
Quality of
work could be
better.
Very little of
the required
information is
complete.
Lacks in
quality.
3 or less
events or
more than 8
events, 1
picture,
writing is neat
and legible.
1-2 events, no
pictures,
writing is not
neat or legible.
Timeline is not
complete
according to
directions.
Item
completed
with quality
work. mostly
represents
platform.
Item lacks in
quality and/or
represents
some of the
platform.
Item is not
quality work
and does not
represent
platform.
Paraphernalia Item
item 2:
completed
with quality
work
representing
platform.
Item
completed
with quality
work. mostly
represents
platform.
Item lacks in
quality and/or
represents
some of the
platform.
Item is not
quality work
and does not
represent
platform.
Map
Platform
presentation
40-50 word
summary of
platform.
30-40 word
summary of
platform.
Less than 30
word summary
or summary is
not related to
platform.
Summary is
incomplete or
off topic.
Primary Resource Document Analysis
Name________________________________________
Candidate_____________________________________
Platform______________________________________
Audience
(who was the intended
audience?)
How is this connected to
your candidate and their
platform?
When and Where was it
published?
How is this different than
the opposing candidate’s
platform?
Questions I have
What is the main idea of the
text/source?
How can I use this during
the election?
My reaction
Platform Assignments
Add names under each platform for assignments.
Hoover
Sharp cutbacks in federal expenditures
Continued support for high protective tariffs (imported goods)
Adherence to the gold standard
Further curbs on immigration
Payment of pensions to war veterans
US participation in scheduled international monetary conference
Platform Assignments
Add names under each platform for assignments.
Roosevelt
Unemployment assistance
Old age insurance under state laws
Legislation to protect labor
Assistance to farmers
Development of power plants
Repeal of Prohibition
Balanced Budget
Official Election Ballot
Please choose one of the following candidates for
President of the United States of America. Fill in the
circle next to the candidate name. Deposit ballot in
voter’s box when completed.
Herbert Hoover
Franklin Delano
Roosevelt
Official Election Ballot
Please choose one of the following candidates for
President of the United States of America. Fill in the
circle next to the candidate name. Deposit ballot in
voter’s box when completed.
Herbert Hoover
Franklin Delano
Roosevelt
Official Election Ballot
Please choose one of the following candidates for
President of the United States of America. Fill in the
circle next to the candidate name. Deposit ballot in
voter’s box when completed.
Herbert Hoover
Franklin Delano
Roosevelt
Name__________________________
Date __________________________
Self-Assessment/Partner Assessment
4- Awesome
3- Good
Self
2- Okay
Partner
________
1- Not so good
Partner
________
Partner
________
On Task
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
Quality
Work
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
Respectful
and Equal
Participatio
n
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
Total
/12
/12
/12
/12
Comments
Individual Presentation
Individual Presentation
Student Name
____________________________
Grader ____________________________
Student Name
____________________________
Grader ____________________________
Posture (Stand up)
1 2 3 4
Posture (Stand up)
1 2 3 4
Volume (Speak up)
1 2 3 4
Volume (Speak up)
1 2 3 4
Look at audience
1 2 3 4
Look at audience
1 2 3 4
Description
1 2 3 4
Description
1 2 3 4
Total
/16
Comments:
Total
/16
Comments:
Individual Presentation
Individual Presentation
Student Name
____________________________
Grader ____________________________
Student Name
____________________________
Grader ____________________________
Posture (Stand up)
1 2 3 4
Posture (Stand up)
1 2 3 4
Volume (Speak up)
1 2 3 4
Volume (Speak up)
1 2 3 4
Look at audience
1 2 3 4
Look at audience
1 2 3 4
Description
1 2 3 4
Description
1 2 3 4
Total
Comments:
Group Names:
/16
Total
Comments:
/16
Platform______________________________________Candidat
e_____________________________________
What is the platform all
about?
How would it improve
things?
Why is this issue important?
Who would this affect?
Side 1
Group Names:
Platform______________________________________Candidat
e_____________________________________
Where would this happen?
Other important
information:
Tell how this is similar or different the other candidate’s
platform.
Side 2
Response Paper
Name_____________________________________
Please fill out response sheet with who you voted for and why. Write in paragraph
form with complete sentences.
I Voted for_________________________________
Why I voted for him because...
Website Resources:
Historical Information on the Time
http://theomahaproject.org/module_display.php?mod_id=12&review=yes
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/historic_sites/ccc/new_deal_texas_html/
1.phtml
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/bonusarmy.htm
General Election Information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1932
http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010041621/roosevelt-or-hoover-most-importantspeech-president-has-ever-given
http://shs.westport.k12.ct.us/jwb/ap/dbqdocs/hhfdrdbq.htm
http://flattopshistorywarpolitics.yuku.com/topic/360#.TnuSaE_d6t9
http://livefromthetrail.com/about-the-book/speeches/chapter-4
http://www.kennesaw.edu/pols/3380/pres/1932.html
http://int.danville.k12.pa.us/teacherweb/aberkey/US_History/Responding_to_the_Depr
ession.html
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/newsletter/archive/090218.html
http://us-presidents.findthedata.org/compare/17-25/Herbert-Clark-Hoover-vs-FranklinD-Roosevelt
http://www.studyworld.com/newsite/reportessay/history/american%5Choover_vs__roos
evelt_-32240.htm
http://millercenter.org/president/speeches
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h894.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_slogans
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/newsletter/archive/090218.html
Hoover
http://millercenter.org/president/hoover/essays/biography/3
http://conservapedia.com/Herbert_Hoover
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1580.html
http://www.hooverassociation.org/hoover/biography.php
http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst?docId=5001348651
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/presidents-day/herberthoover/timeline.html
Hoover Election Speeches
http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/1482/1518562/primarysources1_26_1.html
http://classprojects.cornellcollege.edu/HIS240_2009/Hoover2/Compare%20&%20Contra
st.html
http://staff.imsa.edu/socsci/jvictory/help_07/exexmplary_10/miller_sec1_sem2_sum1/hoo
ver.htm
http://www.hooverassociation.org/hoover/speeches/challenge_to_liberty.php
http://www.stevesachs.com/papers/paper_hoover.html
Roosevelt
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USARnewdeal.htm
http://depts.washington.edu/depress/fdr_election_support_seattle.shtml
http://www.capital-flow-analysis.com/investment-essays/fdr2.html
http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2008/09/10/the-most-consequentialelections-in-history-franklin-delano-roosevelt-and-the-election-of-1932
http://www.kennesaw.edu/pols/3380/pres/1932.html
http://essayinfo.com/sample/essay/463/
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/155279/Key-events-in-the-life-of-FranklinD-Roosevelt
http://www.shmoop.com/franklin-d-roosevelt-fdr/timeline.html
http://millercenter.org/president/fdroosevelt/essays/biography/3
http://www.shmoop.com/franklin-d-roosevelt-fdr/1932-election.html
http://www.fdrheritage.org/fdrbio.htm
http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/
Roosevelt Election Speeches
http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/1482/1518562/primarysources1_26_2.html
http://publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu/faculty-research/new-deal/rooseveltspeeches/fr092932.htm
http://newdeal.feri.org/speeches/1932e.htm
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=85
http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/fdrs-forgotten-man-speech-thespeech.html
http://newdeal.feri.org/speeches/1932e.htm
http://newdeal.feri.org/speeches/1932b.htm
http://newdeal.feri.org/speeches/1932a.htm
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?subcategory=19
Primary Resource Documents

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library
http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/archives/collections.html

Hoover & FRD views plans to end the depression
http://shs.westport.k12.ct.us/jwb/ap/dbqdocs/hhfdrdbq.htm

Bonus Army invades Washington
http://www.rpadden.com/bonus/bonus_army_dagvin_r.htm
Journals

Great Depression oral history (from WPA) http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/wpa:@field(DOCID+@lit(wpa221060316))
Newspapers

Women Discuss Legislation on Child Labor
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86071985/1908-11-07/ed-1/seq-9/

Great Depression Headlines
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/primary-resources/crashheadlines/

Prohibition-era article on arrest of woman making whiskey
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1922-09-14/ed-1/seq-9/
Photographs

1922 Letter to the Editor about bobbing hair (1920’s)
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045211/1922-03-02/ed-1/seq-15/

Volunteer Effort on WWI Homefront http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/cdn:@field%28NUMBER%2B@band%28ichicdn%2Bn068512%
29%29

Breaker Boys (child labor) http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/det.4a07285/

U.S. officials destroying liquor at the Brownsville Customs House, December 20,
1920 (Prohibition, Jazz Age) http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/h?ammem/runyon:@field%28NUMBER+@band%28txuruny+08690%29%2
9

Women Suffragists picketing the White House http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/query/r?ammem/suffrg:@field%28NUMBER+@band%28cph+3a32338%29%29

Unemployment map of the United States during Great Depression
http://www.maps.com/ref_map.aspx?pid=11384
Poems

“Pantoum Of The Great Depression” (Donald Justice)
http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/donaldjustice/7837
Speeches

Franklin Roosevelt Speech in San Francisco
http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/1482/1518562/primarysources1_26_2.
html

Franklin Delano Roosevelt New Deal Speech
http://newdeal.feri.org/speeches/1932e.htm

Hoover’s Inaugural Address, 1929
http://www.hooverassociation.org/hoover/speeches/inaugural_address.php

Herbert Hoover Speech at New York City
http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/1482/1518562/primarysources1_26_1.
html
Sample Work