Cover: Al Smith and the 1928 Presidential Election, 1st Edition by Matthew Sutton

Al Smith and the 1928 Presidential Election

First Edition  ©2021 Matthew Sutton Formats: E-book

Authors

  • Headshot of Matthew Avery Sutton

    Matthew Avery Sutton

    Matthew Avery Sutton (Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara) is associate professor of history at Washington State University. He is the author of Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America, which later served as the basis for the PBS American Experience documentary on this subject. His articles have appeared in several historical journals including the Journal of American History as well as the New York Times and he has received research fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Foundation.

Table of Contents

Central Question

Learning Objective

Historical Background

Timeline

PRIMARY SOURCES

Charles C. Marshall, "An Open Letter to the Honorable Alfred E. Smith," April 1927

Alfred E. Smith, "Catholic and Patriot," May 1927

J. Frank Norris, "The Candidacy of Al Smith," February 1928

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, "Address Nominating Smith for President," June 1928

A Baptist Paper Denounces Smith in the South, July 1928

Letters to a Protestant Preacher, August 1928

"Breaking Home Ties," 1928

Project Questions

Additional Assignments

Additional Resources for Research

Product Updates

Curated Course Material for Single Class Periods!

This collection brings together documents from Al Smith’s supporters and detractors in months leading up to the election of 1928. After completing the unit, students should be able to construct an argument that addresses the central question: How does Al Smith’s failed presidential bid illuminate the controversies raging in the United States at the time over questions of race, immigration, religion, urbanization, politics, and the consumption of alcohol? 

Students are guided in their analyses of the documents by a learning objective, central question, historical background, source headnotes, source questions, project questions, and suggestions for further research. Through their work with these documents, they will gain a deeper awareness of the diversity of the American experience, a more complete understanding of the present in an historically-based context, an enhanced ability to read, interpret, assess, and contextualize primary sources, and practice explaining historical change over time.

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ISBN:9781319344382

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