Compromising Choices:  Settling For Less?
By George Telzrow

Overview

In this lesson, students will examine the concept of compromise, especially in relation to choosing a president.  After viewing The American President video "Compromise Choices," students will analyze the four presidents (Pierce, Garfield, Harding, and Ford) who made it into office without having been a first-choice presidential candidate.  The performance of these presidents was mixed but mostly less than stellar.   Was this the result of making compromise choices or simply coincidence?  Students will construct their own arguments to answer this question.  Appropriate for U.S. history or U.S. government classes, this lesson could stand alone or as an introduction to looking at other, more dynamic leaders of the country.

Objectives

Students will:

  • Analyze the video "Compromise Choices" and summarize important points in a graphic organizer
  • Interpret the video's themes of compromise and leadership
  • Write a position paper, citing information gathered from the video

Time Required

This lesson will take two 60-minute class periods. 

Materials

Initial Motivation

Prepare students for the lesson by using this concept formation exercise that is similar to the game of Hangman.  Tell students that they will be trying to discover what the unknown word or concept is.  Write a "Yes" column and a "No" column on the board.  The "Yes" column means "yes, these are examples of the word."  The "No" column means "no, these are not examples of the word."  Begin using examples of compromises such as the following (you may want to have these pre-written on pieces of paper):

  • In 1947, Palestine was partitioned between the Arabs and Israelis.
  • The union agreed to a smaller pay increase in exchange for greater job security.
  • In 1850, the U.S. adopted a plan that allowed California to enter the Union as a free state while permitting New Mexico and Utah citizens to decide if their states would be slave or free states.¥ You want to go out for a burger for lunch, your friend wants to go out for chicken. You both agree on pizza.

Tape these examples in the "Yes" column.  Intersperse some non-examples such as the following and place those in the "No" column:

  • A transit strike in New York causes problems for workers and bosses.
  • Protestants and Catholics battle in Northern Ireland.
  • You and your friend can't agree on a movie to see together so you don't go at all.

Ask students to write down their guess as to what the concept is.  Check their guesses at their desks.  Time permitting, if a student gets the correct answer ("compromises"), you can ask him/her to keep it a secret to give more students the opportunity to think it through.  Start with harder examples and progress to more obvious ones if students are struggling.  You may distribute examples and ask students to read them out and place them in one of the categories.  Often students see the concept before being able to come up with the word. You may also guide students to analyze the "Yes" column by asking, "What do these situations have in common?" 

Procedures

1.  Review the methods for choosing presidential candidates:

  1. A two-thirds vote at national conventions.  Include an explanation of what happens when a two-thirds vote cannot be reached, i.e., the nomination goes to a compromise candidate that is acceptable to all.
  2. Primary elections as we have today.

2. Distribute the graphic organizers to students to use in their analysis of the video.

3. Show the "Compromise Choices" video, stopping the VCR after each president to check for student comprehension and to see if they are filling out their organizers.

4. Hold a class discussion to thoroughly discuss the issue of compromise both as it relates to choosing a leader and in other aspects of life.  Encourage students' extended thinking on the issue.

5. Review the graphic organizers and have students share their thoughts on the effectiveness of Harding and Ford as presidents.

6. As a homework assignment, have students use their graphic organizers, notes, and/or The American President presidential biographies to prepare written responses to these three questions:

  1. Does choosing a compromise candidate lead to an ineffective president?  Students should develop a position paper, employing examples and information from the video to support their positions.  Here is a suggested essay outline:

      2. Paragraph 1:  Student clearly states a position on the question and introduces the presidents to be used to support his/her position.

      Paragraph 2:  Student discusses two presidents and uses specific information from the video and/or other sources to support his/her position.

      Paragraph 3:  Student discusses the other two presidents and uses specific information from the video and/or other sources to support his/her position.

      Paragraph 4:  Student concludes by restating his/her position and main points that support it.

  2. In terms of the effect on the country, were these compromise choices for president harmful to the good of the American people?  Students should develop a one-half page response.   
  3. In your opinion, in what kinds of situations does it make sense to compromise?  Students should develop a one-half page response.   

Assessment

The writing assignment provides a tool for assessing student comprehension of the video, understanding of the concept, and writing abilities.

Interdisciplinary Connections

This lesson would link well with classes that touch on themes of leadership and/or compromise.  It could serve as a useful contrast to classes that are studying a great leader or person of accomplishment.  What separates the great leaders from the four men in the video?  How important is motivation?  Linking to an English class would greatly help with the mechanics of the writing assessment. This would also be effective for a class that discusses careers since these men fell into careers for which they either were not suited or did not want in the first place.

George Telzrow teaches history and world geography in Washington, D.C.  

Compromising Choices:  Settling For Less?

Graphic Organizer

 

Years in Office

First Choice or Compromise Choice

Outcomes/Focus of Presidency

Effectiveness as President

Pierce

 

 

 

 

        

Garfield

 

 

 

 

        

Harding

 

 

 

 

        

Ford