When has the Electoral College been a deciding factor in an election?
Objectives
Students learn about the Electoral College's role in the election process. They learn about an election (1876) when the Electoral College played a deciding role in the election. They use a resource to determine which other elections were decided by the Electoral College.
Keywords
Electoral College, election, president, Rutherford B. Hayes
Materials Needed
computers with Internet access or printouts of the resource referenced in the Lesson Plan section below
Lesson Plan
The election of 1876 was a unique one. In that election, Samuel J. Tilden got more of the popular vote than candidate Rutherford B. Hayes, but Hayes won the election because he got more of the electoral vote. Ask students to use the Electoral College Box Scores Web page to figure out the next election when the electoral vote decided the presidential election. (1888) Has it ever happened since again since then? (no)
Assessment
Students correctly identify the elections in which the Electoral College played a deciding role.
