How the Presidency Has Changed Over Time
5-Day Lesson Plan
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Day 1
The Founders’ Big Debate |
Day 2
Early Presidents Stretch Rules |
Day 3
Presidents Become Famous Symbols |
Day 4
Checks and Balances Break Down |
Day 5
Why This Matters Now |
| Reading |
- The Founders Disagreed About How Much Power a President Should Have
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- Early Presidents Expanded Their Power Through War and Foreign Policy
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- The Twentieth Century Transformed the President Into a National Symbol
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- How Congress and Courts Stopped Checking Presidential Power
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- Why Presidential Power Still Matters for Your Future
- Discussion Questions: Connecting the Big Ideas
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| Key Ideas |
- The founders had just escaped a powerful king and were worried about creating another one
- Federalists wanted a strong president while Anti-Federalists feared too much power
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- Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory even though the Constitution didn’t clearly allow it
- President Monroe claimed America could protect the entire Western Hemisphere with the Monroe Doctrine
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- Early presidents were quiet and humble – many Americans didn’t even know what they looked like
- Franklin D. Roosevelt used radio ‘fireside chats’ to speak directly to people in their homes
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- The three branches of government were supposed to watch over each other to prevent anyone from getting too powerful
- Congress actually gave away many of its own powers to the president over time
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- Presidential decisions affect everyday things like clean air, jobs, and civil rights
- Emergency powers allow presidents to act without asking Congress first
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| Activities |
- Vocabulary Cards (Set 1)
- Mini Book: The Founders’ Big Debate
- Coloring Page
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- Flapbook: Early Presidents Stretch Rules
- Vocabulary Cards (Set 2)
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- Copywork
- Vocabulary Cards (Set 3)
- Mini Book Pages
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- Flapbook: Checks and Balances Break Down
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- Tri-Fold Booklet: From Start to Finish
- Booklet: What Do You Think?
- Optional Quiz or Writing Prompts
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