Released on: August 28, 2008, 8:53 am

Press Release Author: ABC-CLIO

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: Free Site Connects History of Past Elections With 2008
Presidential Campaign Process



Press Release Body: SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Aug. 28, 2008 - How does the Electoral
College work? Does media bias influence what voters do at the polls? What influence
have special-interest groups had on past presidential elections?

With less than two months until the most historic presidential election in decades,
school librarians and teachers can use the excitement of current events as a
springboard to answer questions about campaigns and voters, and teach the history of
our country's political process with an authoritative and intriguing collection of
free resources from ABC-CLIO.

"Presidential Elections: In History & Today" will feature historical background on
elections paired with classroom activities and research project ideas that will help
put Campaign 2008 into historical context for students.

"Our country's 56th presidential election is significant in many ways. During the
primary election, young voters turned out in unprecedented numbers, and the
controversy and excitement surrounding the candidates have been extraordinary," said
Becky Snyder, president, ABC-CLIO. "With our collection of history resources, school
library media specialists and teachers can transform schools into 'Campaign
Central.' With the articles, activities and classroom ideas on our election site,
students will discover the history of U.S. elections and develop an understanding of
how the past has shaped the way Campaign 2008 works."

While many students find the McCain-Obama race riveting, this collection of history
reference materials will help them explore other significant election campaigns.
They will learn about how and why voting rights have expanded since the 1787
Constitutional Convention. They will discover how one significant event can change a
candidate's future by listening to an excerpt from the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debate.

Plus, they will become familiar with the 2008 candidates through the site's in-depth
biographies of Senator Barack Obama, his running mate Senator Joe Biden, and Senator
John McCain and his soon-to-be named vice presidential nominee.

Designed to support election study across the curriculum, the free site offers
teachers one-click access to more than 25 project ideas, each with a set of related
references, primary sources and more. Topics range from "The Role of the Media in
the Election" to "The Expansion of Voting Rights in America," helping students
research past events to put today's in historical context.

To keep track of the constantly changing events in Campaign 2008, school library
media specialists and teachers can sign up to receive timely emails with news and
other updates to support classroom discussions and assignments.

"Presidential Elections: In History & Today" will be available free at
www.abc-clio.com/ElectionReference through Election Day on Nov. 4.

About ABC-CLIO
ABC-CLIO provides history teachers and students with authoritative reference
information and teacher resources that help students hone the skills of history
inquiry and inquiry-based discussion as they master historical content and develop a
deeper understanding of history's major themes and lessons. ABC-CLIO's award-winning
subscription databases provide a comprehensive collection of references, curriculum
and current events that together simplify historical research and help students make
sense of world events as they unfold. A premier history publisher for more than 50
years, ABC-CLIO is based in Santa Barbara, Calif. For more information or a list of
available titles, visit www.abc-clio.com.



Web Site: http://www.abc-clio.com/electionreference

Contact Details: L. Wolfe Communications for ABC-CLIO
1341 W. Fullerton Suite 239
Chicago, Ill. 60614
773-227-1049
lwolfe@lwolfe.com