Vote: The Machinery of Democracy Homepage
Vote: The Machinery of Democracy explores the history of voting methods in the United States. In this online exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, students will study how ballots and voting systems have evolved over the years as a response to political, social, and technological change, transforming the ways in which American’s vote.
National Standards
United States History Standards (Grades 5-12)
- United States History Standards View Details
- Era 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945) (NSH (5-12) USHE8)
- Era 4: Expansion and Reform (1801-1861) View Details
- Era 4: Expansion and Reform (1801-1861); Standard 3: The extension, restriction, and reorganization of political democracy after 1800 (NSH (5-12) USHE4S3)
- Era 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877) View Details
- Era 5: Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877); Standard 3: How various reconstruction plans succeeded or failed (NSH (5-12) USHE5S3)
- Era 6: The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900) View Details
- Era 6: The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900); Standard 2: Massive immigration after 1870 and how new social patterns, conflicts, and ideas of national unity developed amid growing cultural diversity (NSH (5-12) USHE6S2)
- Era 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930) View Details
- Era 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930); Standard 1: How Progressives and others addressed problems of industrial capitalism, urbanization, and political corruption (NSH (5-12) USHE7S1)
- Era 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970s) View Details
- Era 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970s); Standard 4: The struggle for racial and gender equality and the extension of civil liberties (NSH (5-12) USHE9S4)
- Era 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present) View Details
- Era 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present); Standard 2: Economic, social, and cultural developments in contemporary United States (NSH (5-12) USHE10S2)
Keywords
vote; voting; voting methods; election; democracy; election day; ballot; politics; technology; voting equipment; political science; enfranchisement; history; US history; American history; United States history; government
