FDR's Four-Term Presidency: A 9th Grade Case Study
A case study activity for 9th graders that examines how Franklin D. Roosevelt's four presidential elections challenged the two-term tradition and set the stage for the 22nd Amendment. Students build skills in historical analysis, weighing competing arguments, and connecting a historical event to a constitutional outcome. It is well suited to a 45 to 60 minute class period or small-group discussion.
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as a small-group case study after students have covered the New Deal and World War II, so they have context for why voters re-elected Roosevelt.
- Discussion question: Did the voters' right to re-elect a trusted leader outweigh the concern about concentrated power during wartime? Ask students to support their position with evidence from the text.
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Provide a timeline of FDR's elections and a short glossary of terms like 'tradition,' 'amendment,' and 'precedent' before reading.
- Extension for advanced students: Have them compare the 22nd Amendment's ratification in 1951 with other constitutional amendments that responded to a specific political event.
- Estimated time: About 45 to 60 minutes including reading, group discussion, and a brief class share-out.
FDR's Four-Term Presidency: A 9th Grade Case Study
A case study activity for 9th graders that examines how Franklin D. Roosevelt's four presidential elections challenged the two-term tradition and set the stage for the 22nd Amendment. Students build skills in historical analysis, weighing competing arguments, and connecting a historical event to a constitutional outcome. It is well suited to a 45 to 60 minute class period or small-group discussion.
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as a small-group case study after students have covered the New Deal and World War II, so they have context for why voters re-elected Roosevelt.
- Discussion question: Did the voters' right to re-elect a trusted leader outweigh the concern about concentrated power during wartime? Ask students to support their position with evidence from the text.
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Provide a timeline of FDR's elections and a short glossary of terms like 'tradition,' 'amendment,' and 'precedent' before reading.
- Extension for advanced students: Have them compare the 22nd Amendment's ratification in 1951 with other constitutional amendments that responded to a specific political event.
- Estimated time: About 45 to 60 minutes including reading, group discussion, and a brief class share-out.