SOCIAL SCIENCE BRANCH. Inauguration Day: The Peaceful Transition of Power

LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SECONDARY INSTRUCTION HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCE BRANCH Inauguration Day: The Peaceful Transition of Power Teacher R...
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LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SECONDARY INSTRUCTION HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCE BRANCH

Inauguration Day: The Peaceful Transition of Power

Teacher Resources and Classroom Activities Presidential Inauguration January 20, 2009

Acknowledgements These materials reflect the collaborative work of many educators. Appreciation is extended to all who contributed here. Special appreciation is extended to Mark Elinson, retired History/Social Science teacher, LAUSD and Michelle Herczog, Ed. D., Consultant III, History-Social Science, Los Angeles County Office of Education for sharing recourses and materials used here.

Inauguration Day: The Peaceful Transition of Power On January 20, 2009 the world will witness two extraordinary events: The inauguration of Barack Obama, the first African American to become President of the United States, and the peaceful transition of leadership from one American political party to another. While many nations have smooth transitions of power, many of the world's nations still change their leaders through violence or threat of violence. The heightened attention on this year's inauguration provides an excellent opportunity to teach students about the value of democratic institutions and the role each citizen can play out system of government. Basic Concepts 1. The president takes an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States. This protects our nation from having a dictatorship. 2. The President is the head of the executive branch and his power is subject to checks and balances of the legislative and judicial branches. 3. The new president's inaugural address sets out the goals and priorities of his administration. Often these words are remembered for generations to come. Terms 1. oath: A public statement of a promise. 2. inauguration: A ceremony at which a person becomes a leader 3. Constitution: A written statement of the powers and structure of government. 4. invocation: A prayer said at the beginning of a ceremony. 5. Address: A speech. 6. execute:: To carry out the powers granted. 7. Liberal: A person, who believes in change, that government should help those in need, and that the government to regulate the economy. 8. Conservative: A person who supports preserving what is established, individuals need to take care of themselves, and that fewer government regulations will create a stronger economy. 9. Administration: The President and the people who he appoints to help him. 10. Political party: People who share similar ideas about how the government should be run.

The History Article II, Section I of the United States Constitution lays out the powers of the president and states specifically the Oath of Office. Other parts of the presidential inauguration ceremony have been established through legislation and custom. George Washington, our first president was inaugurated in New York City in 1789. The nation’s capital in Washington D.C. had not yet been built. The first president to be inaugurated in Washington D.C. was Thomas Jefferson. He was inaugurated on March 4, 1801. March 4th remained Inauguration Day until 1937. The 20th amendment to the Constitution set inauguration date as January 20th, and it has remained so until today. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to take office on January 20. The Schedule On this very special day new presidents have generally had the following schedule: • A prayer service at a church of the new president's choosing. • A visit to the White House where the new president and the former president get in a limousine that will take them to the Capitol Building. • The inauguration ceremony on the west side of the Capitol. • The inaugural luncheon in the Capitol. • Inauguration Parade • Inaugural Balls (parties) Nearly four million people are expected to attend Barack Obama's inauguration. This will be one of the largest inaugurations in history. According to law the Oath of Office will be taken at 12:00 noon eastern standard time-or 9:00 a.m. pacific standard time.

Lessons and Activities. 1. The Constitution and the Inauguration A. Ask students to read Handout #1 and answer the questions. B. Discuss with the students the answers to the questions and expand on the discussion with the following questions: ƒ Why do you think the writers of the Constitution decided that the President must take an oath? ƒ Have you or will you ever take an oath of some kind? When? ƒ What happens to people who break their oath or promise ? ƒ What can the citizens of the United States do to a president who has broken an oath ? C. Have the students write an essay on the following topic: ƒ Are the qualifications to be President, as stated in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, fair ? ƒ What would you change? ƒ Why? 2. The Oath and the Address A. Have students read Handout 2 B. Have students define the terms listed. C. Ask students to rewrite the presidential oath in their own words. 3. The Whole World is Watching A. Have students look at the photographs in Handouts 3A and 3B B. Ask them to answer the questions. C. Discuss the answers. D. Expand the discussion to include the following questions: ƒ Why do you think the inauguration is held at the Capitol

instead of some other government building? ƒ Should Inauguration Day be a national holiday? ƒ Barack Obama will take the Oath of Office on the bible Lincoln used when he took the Oath. What book or document would you want to place your hand on if you were taking the Oath? Why?

4. The Ceremony A. Ask the students to look at the schedule in Handout 4 B. Have the students name the people on the schedule with whom they are familiar. Discuss why they think certain people on the list were chosen. C. Have the students complete the task at the bottom of the handout. D. Discuss with the class what changes they would make.

5. The Inaugural Address A. Using Handout 5, ask students to predict what the new president might promise in his inaugural address. B. After they have worked on the handout on their own, discuss the predictions with the entire class. C. Ask students to complete the chart after watching or reading about the inauguration. D. Using a read around technique, have the students read the excerpt from John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in Handout 6 E. As a quick write have students explain what Kennedy meant by: "Ask not what your country can do for you, -- what you can do for your country." Have the class discuss whether or not Americans today follow this request. F. Ask the students to write an analysis of the excerpt. This should include: world conditions at the time of the address, Kennedy’s plans to deal with other nations, his expectations of other nations, and his expectations of American people. G. After the inauguration ask the students to list the ideas that are similar in Kennedy's and Barack Obama's addresses. 6. The Great Seal A. Give the students a copy of Handout #7 with the seal of the President of the United States. Tell the class that this seal appears on the podium when ever the President speaks? It will be there at the inauguration. B. Have the students determine what the various symbols on the seal stand for. 7. The Transition of Power A. Have the students read Handout #8 about political parties. B. Discuss the main differences between the parties. C. Using the internet and other sources, have the students complete the chart.

Handout 1

Taking the Oath "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

George Washington Taking the Oath of Office on April 30, 1789 Proceedings associated with Presidential elections and Inaugurations, almost routine after two centuries, were entirely new and untried following the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The Constitution requires that the President of the United States be a native born citizen, have lived in this country for at least fourteen years, and be at least 35 years of age. It specifies the oath of office the new President must take. George Washington was inaugurated in New York City in front of New York's Federal Hall. He took the office on the balcony overlooking Wall Street. When the ceremony was completed the crowd let out three cheers. Washington returned to the Senate Chambers and delivered a brief speech. This was the first inaugural address. He called upon "That Almightily Being who rules over the universe" to assist the American people in finding "liberties and happiness" under "a government instituted by themselves." 1. When and where was the Oath of Office established?

2. What does the Oath require the President to do?

3. Write down another Oath you may have taken or seen on television.

Handout 2 The Presidential Oath of Office

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." Using your understanding of the following terms:

solemnly affirm faithfully execute ability preserve protect defend

Re-write the oath IN YOU OWN WORDS.

Handout 3A

Since President Ronald Reagan took the Oath of Office on the West Terrace of the Capitol Building on January 20, 1981, inaugurations have taken place in this location. Look at the photograph above and answer the following questions: 1. List the things in the photo that indicate that this is an important event in the United States.

2. Why are photographers from all over the world there?

3. Who meets in the building in the background?

4 What business is done in the building in the background?

Handout 3B

George W. Bush takes the Oath of Office on January 20, 2005. On the far right is Chief Justice of the Supreme Court William Rehnquist. Looking on is Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert. All three branches of the government all represented in the picture: EXECUTIVE BRANCH 1. Which person in the photo represents the executive branch? 2. What does the executive branch do? LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 1. Which person in the photo represents the legislative branch? 2. What does the legislative branch do? JUDICIAL BRANCH 1. Which person in the photo represents the judicial branch do? 2. What does the judicial branch do?

Handout 4 The Official Program for the 2009 Inauguration Musical Selections The United States Marine Band Musical Selections The San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks The Honorable Dianne Feinstein Invocation Dr. Rick Warren, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA Musical Selection Aretha Franklin Oath of Office Administered to Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. By Associate Justice of the Supreme Court The Honorable John Paul Stevens Musical Selection, John Williams, composer/arranger Itzhak Perlman, Violin Yo-Yo Ma, Cello Gabriela Montero, Piano Anthony McGill, Clarinet Oath of Office Administered to President-elect Barack H. Obama By the Chief Justice of the United States The Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr. Inaugural Address The President of the United States, the Honorable Barack H. Obama Poem Elizabeth Alexander Benediction The Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery The National Anthem The United States Navy Band "Sea Chanters Look at the official program released by the Joint Congressional Committee on the Inaugural Ceremonies. What would you change? You can not add anything, because there is no more time. What might you substitute? Give a reason for each change that you would make.

Handout 5 What will the new President say? Watch the news and read the newspaper to see what people are saying about what President Obama might say in his inaugural address. What are topics he will discuss? What promises will he make? Then, fill in the first two column. After the speech is given make a list of the promises he did make. Watch the coverage on television or read the next day's newspaper. Promises you think President Obama will make.

Promises that you hope President Obama will make.

Promises that President Obama made.

Handout 6 Inaugural Address of John F. Kennedy January 20, 1961 (The in the following excerpt, President Kennedy discusses his plans for dealing with the nations of the world, especially the Soviet Union and its allies.) So let us begin anew--remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms--and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations. Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce. Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah--to "undo the heavy burdens ... and to let the oppressed go free." And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved. All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin. In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. Now the trumpet summons us again--not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are--but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"--a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself. Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort? In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility--I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it--and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.

Handout 6 My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.

Handout 7

See if you can guess what the symbols on the presidential seal represent: The stars The eagle The arrows The olive branch The stripes on the shield The saying "E Pluribus Unum"

Answers to the symbols on the presidential seal: The stars: represent the 50 states in the United States The eagle: the bald eagle is a symbol of the United States The arrows: the arrows represent the President's position as Commander in Chief of the armed forces. The olive branch: symbolizes peace that the President tries to bring between the United States and the rest of the world The stripes on the shield: represents the fact that the President's job is to protect the nation from harm. The thirteen stripes stand for the original states. The saying "E Pluribus Unum": This saying is Latin for " From Many One" This means that the United States is made up of many types of people who form one nation.

Handout 8 Adapted from material found at: http://usa.usembassy.de/government-parties.htm

Today, there are two major political parties in the United States, the Democratic and the Republican. The Democratic Party evolved from the party of Thomas Jefferson, formed before 1800. The Republican Party was established in the 1850s by Abraham Lincoln and others who opposed the expansion of slavery. The Democratic Party is considered to be the more liberal party, and the Republican, the more conservative. Democrats generally believe that government has an obligation to provide social and economic programs for those who need them. Republicans are not necessarily opposed to such programs but believe they are too costly to taxpayers. Republicans put more emphasis on encouraging private enterprise in the belief that a strong private sector makes citizens less dependent on government. Both major parties have supporters among a wide variety of Americans and embrace a wide range of political views. Americans do not have to join a political party to vote or to be a candidate for public office, but running for office without the money and campaign workers a party can provide is difficult. Using the internet find out what the each party wants to do about the issues listed in the left hand column

Issue taxes jobs War in Iraq health care

Democratic Party

Republican Party

Inauguration Websites http://inaugural.senate.gov/history/daysevents/index.cfmGreat website sponsored by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Includes primary material for each part of the inauguration ceremonies. http://www.whitehousehistory.org/03/subs/03_a.html Fascinating website with information on life in the White House. Includes inaugural events held in the "people's house." http://uschscapitolhistory.uschs.org/articles/uschs_articles-09.htm Website of the Capitol Historical Society. Includes information on the role of the Congress in the inauguration. http://memory.loc.gov/learn/collections/inaug/thinking.html Website of the Library of Congress. Great materials for teachers, including past inaugural addresses. http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=333 Edsitement website from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Includes a lesson plan on the history of the inauguration ceremony. http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/index.html Website of the Government Printing Office. Has great lessons on government for elementary school students.