Elementary school biography of president slogans
•
Win or Lose: Memorable Presidential Slogans
| 5 Min Read
A witty catchphrase can set the tone of a presidential candidate’s campaign giving supporters something to chant as they rally behind their candidate and voters something to remember as they head to the polls. Win or lose, here are some of history’s most memorable presidential slogans that still resonate today.
Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!
The election of 1840 between William Henry Harrison and Martin Van Buren was the first national campaign to use advertising, such as banners, merchandise, slogans and songs to bolster a candidate’s image and reach voters. And, the effects of the more catchy campaign resulted in increased voter turnout and a political upset. Long considered the underdog, Harrison’s catchy slogan, “Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too!” resonated with voters. The slogan referred to Harrison’s ställning eller tillstånd as a war hero during the 1811 Tecumseh’s War. Not only did Harrison lead the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe, he
•
Subjects
Social studies, history, governmentEstimated Time
1-2 50 minute classesGrade Level
7-12Activities:
As a warm-up, click here for a PBS NewsHour media gallery on presidential campaigns through history. What techniques have candidates used for campaigning in the past? Are those techniques still useful or popular today? Explain.- With a small group of classmates, write down as many presidential campaign slogans as you can remember. What characteristics of these slogans make them more memorable than others? How does a memorable campaign slogan influence an election? Discuss.
- Click here for a detailed list of historical
•
175 Years of Presidential PR [Infographic]
Campaign slogans are an indelible part of U.S. presidential elections. Throughout American history, campaigns have used slogans to distill complex campaign goals into short and easily digestible messages.
Slogans historically either focus on a positive attribute of the candidate or give a glimpse of the candidate’s goals for the presidency. They are woven throughout the campaign in speeches, signs, advertisements and other writing, reinforcing the message through repetition. For example, the first slogan detailed in the infographic below, “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too,” referred to the candidate William Henry Harrison’s nickname and his choice for vice president, John Tyler.
This year, the slogans of failed 2016 contenders ranged from the simple, such as Jim Gilmore’s “For America,” to Rand Paul’s rhyming “Defeat the Washington Machine. Unleash the American Dream.” Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton rose abo