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Lesson

Peaceful Transition of Power

Guiding question

How are the letters similar or different?

Published
Apr 15, 2025
Two individuals shaking hands, conveying a sense of partnership or agreement.
How does a peaceful transition of power help maintain the Constitution?

Guiding Questions

  • How are the letters similar or different?
  • What themes of representative government, public service, and responsibility appear?
  • How does a peaceful transition of power help maintain the Constitution?

Objectives

  • Students investigate primary sources to draw conclusions about the peaceful transition of power.
  • Students investigate civic virtues like humility and respect.
  • Students consider how the peaceful transition of power helps ensure a stable system of government.

Materials

Resources

Lesson Components

ActivityPresidential Notes

Three presidential transition letters left by modern presidents to their predecessors.

Lesson plan

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Standards

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Related materials

PlaylistPeaceful Transitions

A list curated by BRI staff with resources considering principles, processes, and examples of constitutionally guided transitions of power

A red-handled tool inserted into a mechanical voting machine with labeled slots.
E LessonContentious Elections and the Peaceful Transition of Power

Contentious elections are nothing new in U.S. history. This eLesson explores some of our most bitter presidential elections, and challenges students to analyze the value of a peaceful transfer of power within our governing system.