RESOURCES FOR TEACHING
ABOUT THE 2009 INAUGURAL

"I Do Solemnly Swear" Presidential Inaugurations from the American Memory Collection. A collection of approximately four hundred items and two thousand digital files relating to inaugurations from George Washington's in 1789 to George W. Bush's inauguration of 2001. This presentation includes diaries and letters of presidents and those who witnessed inaugurations, handwritten drafts of inaugural addresses, broadsides, inaugural tickets and programs, prints, photographs,and sheet music.

Inaugural Materials from the Library of Congress (part of the “I Do Solemnly Swear..” collection-above). Eighteen presidents are featured in this display—from George Washington to John F. Kennedy.

Write President Obama's Inaugural Address. xx
Lesson plan from PBS Newshour in which students study campaign statements, as well as past Inaugural speeches.

The Inauguration and the Constitution. In this lesson from PBS Newshour Students will investigate how the Constitution outlines the basis for the presidential inauguration.

C-Span: Learning About Inaugural Addresses. This lesson examines the inaugural addresses of five presidents: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and George W. Bush.

CNN News Activity. Students participate in an online scavenger hunt using CNN videos and other news resources about moments in the history of Inaugurals.

Historical Inaugural Speeches from the Smithsonian Museum; students examine Inaugural speeches for priorities and promises an then conduct research.

Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents from George Washington to 2001 George Bush Inaugural: The Avalon Project, Yale Law School.

Inauguration Quiz. Test your knowledge about past Presidential Inaugurations in this activity from the National Archives.
 		 

Inaugurations in Times of Peril. 5 minute video from the New York Times includes original footge from some of the best inaugural speeches; includes statements by President-Elect Obama's on his own upcoming speech.

Making the Transition from the Constitutional Rights Foundation "More Perfect Union" Newsletter. Activities include, "From Bush to Obama, " "Inaugural Address Listening Guide," and "Letters to the Next President."

Facts and Firsts from the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, History of Inaugurals, 1779-2005, including the video, "So Help Me God."

Welcome to the White House. For younger students, a lesson from the Southern Poverty Law Center "Teaching Tolerance" Project in which students study the significance of Barak Obama's Presidency.

Inaugural Parade History. The tradition of an Inaugural parade dates back to the very first Inauguration, when George Washington took the oath of office on April 30, 1789, in New York City.

Inauguration Issues Bill of Rights in the News. Special edition of the Bill of Rights Institute Newsletter focusing on constitutional issues surrounding the Inauguration.

 


Inauguration Lessons developed by NEA and AFT. Collection includes, "Two Presidents from Illinois," "Making History," and "Living History" to encourage students to continue studying US government and the presidency after Inauguration Day.

Inaugural Poems

"The Intersection of Poetry and Politics," Dec. 24, 2008 New York Times story about the fourth Inaugural Poet, Elizabeth Alexander.

Robert Frost, 1961 Kennedy Inaugural

Maya Angelou, 1993 Clinton Inaugural, "On the Pulse of Morning"

Miller Williams, 1997 Clinton 2nd Inaugural, "Of History and Hope"
 

Photos: Top right: Inauguration of President Lincoln, March 4, 1861. Library of Congress. Prints and Photographs Division. Benjamin Brown French Album. Reproduction number: USZ62-48090 (b&w film copy neg.). Left: Library of Congress. The Inauguration Procession in Honor of President Buchanan Passing through Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington City, March 4th, 1857.