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Each president recites the following oath, in accordance with Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Some of these links relate to the 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama but many connect to all of our presidents! |
The Inauguration and the Constitution
From PBS
"Students will investigate how the Constitution outlines the basis for the presidential inauguration." |
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Presidential Inaugurations
The Library of Congress
“Every four years, on a crisp January day, a President will take the oath of office.
What can we expect on that January day? Who will contribute to the national ceremony? What issues will the incumbent discuss in his inaugural address? How will the populace feel about the elected president and the preceding election? What impact might that president have on the nation? Can we expect this process and ceremony, the changing of a citizen to the leader of our nation, to remain the same as our country continues to mature? What might change it? For now, the national stage is set. History suggests that though the players and the setting may change, we can expect the curtain to rise on a new production every four years. We can look forward to continuing suspense, mystery, drama, comedy and tragedy in this participatory production, the governance of our nation.” |
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Historical Insights: Presidential Inaugurations
From the Library of Congress
“Marvin Kranz, historical specialist in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress, reviews nine inaugurations from George Washington's in 1789 to Theodore Roosevelt's in 1905. The ceremonial traditions associated with presidential inaugurations-using a Bible when taking the oath of office, reading an inaugural address, attending an inaugural ball-were all established by George Washington at his first inauguration and have been followed until the present day.” |
Inauguration 2009
From the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
The 2009 Inaugural Theme of “A New Birth of Freedom” commemorates the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth and expresses Lincoln’s hope that the sacrifice of those who died to preserve the nation shall lead to “a new birth of freedom” for it. |
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Presidential Inaugural Weather
From the National Weather Service
This site provides information about normal weather for a January inauguration, extreme weather for previous inaugurations, inauguration day weather for traditional dates and non-traditional dates, and an inaugural weather fact sheet. |
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"I Do Solemnly Swear..."
From the Library of Congress
The Learning Page's "I Do Solemnly Swear . . .": Presidential Inaugurations, "provides an overview of inaugural ceremonies throughout United States history. Primary source materials such as drafts of inaugural addresses, letters, illustrations, and photographs are organized chronologically by presidential inauguration. This framework reflects a changing nation as the U.S. expands its borders, enters military conflicts, and celebrates the democratic ideal embodied in the peaceful transition of power within the inaugural ceremony." |
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Resources for ELL Students
From EL Civics
This site contains Inaugural Facts, U.S. Government Bingo, Obama Bingo Game, Large Vocabulary Cards, and more for ELL students. |
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Presidential Inaugurations
From the White House Historical Society
"Every four years since 1801, a presidential inauguration has been held in Washington, D.C., the culmination of our nation’s peaceful electoral process. Some of these marked a change of president and even a change of the political party in power, while others were second inaugurations for incumbent presidents. There have also been a few inaugurations in between – when eight presidents died in office and one resigned." |
U.S. Presidential Inaugurations: Firsts and Photos
From National Geographic
This link connects you to the National Geographic News. |
Inauguration Time Line
From Scholastic
This is a link to Scholastic - you will need the Flash plug-in to see the time line. |
Presidential Inaugurations: The Capitol Connection
From the U.S. Capitol Historical Society
The U.S. Capitol Historical Society provides information about the Capitol unique role in presidential inaugurations throughout history. |
Inauguration 2001 Related Lessons and Activities: Elementary
From PBS
This site has some very interesting connections, such as "Math and the Presidents—Comparing Costs: Calculate the cost of the Louisiana Purchase and Thomas Jefferson's library in current terms, and compare presidential salaries in the 19th century and today." |
Inauguation 2001 Related Lessons and Activities: Secondary
From PBS
This includes: "Frontline: So You Want To Buy A President? In recent elections, fewer than .33% of Americans made a political contribution of $200 or more. But some of those people who did contribute gave a lot. Who are they? Why do they give? And most importantly, what do they get in return? Those are the questions correspondent Robert Krulwich set out to answer in 'So You Want To Buy A President?' Krulwich and company spent months interviewing politicians, campaign insiders, big contributors, campaign finance experts, and studying federal records. These pages contain some of what they learned about the 'rules of the game.'" |
Inaugural Fashion!
From PBS!
This PBS website offers several views of former First Ladies’ Inaugural gowns. |
Lesson on Obama Inauguration
From Suite 101
Lesson plan for teaching about the historic 2009 inauguration. |
The Presidential Inaugural
From the Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Photographic Services online photo portfolios of Presidential Inaugurals include historic photos as well as photos from the more recent inaugurations of Presidents Reagan and Clinton. |
The Inaugural Program News Release
From the JCCIC
This site gives information about the Inaugural Program for January 20, 2009. |
Index of Inaugural Lesson Plans
From PBS
Inauguration Lesson Plans for 2001 – many are applicable for 2009. |
Kids Democracy Project: President For A Day
From PBS
This activity provides a job description for the presidency, so students understand what kinds of skills and competencies are necessary in that office. Students have the opportunity to role play the president for a day, making decisions about different events that a president might actually experience (meetings with Cabinet members, speeches to the public, bowling in the White House). |
Video: Inauguration Construction
From the Washington Post
CBS News toured the construction grounds where workers have made progress on building the Inaugural platform on the Capitol’s West Front Lawn. |
Address America, the Six Word Inaugural
From the National Constitution Center
"This lesson introduces the history of the Presidential Inaugural Address, and ultimately provides a framework for student to write a “six word inaugural.” The lesson opens with an introduction to the power of just six words, and then asks student to read past inaugural addresses to examine how the new president uses this unique oration. After brainstorming a list of major issues currently facing the nation, students put pen to paper and create a draft inaugural message for the new president. Using the peer review process, students choose the most powerful six words in their draft and join people from around the world by submitting them to the National Constitution Center via its website." |
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Timelne for Barack Obama's Life
From Tom Snyder
"Use this timeline of Obama’s life as a jumping off point for discussion of his path to the presidency." |
The 56th Presidential Inaugural
From the United States Secret Service
The Department of Homeland Security has designated the Inaugural as a National Special Security Event (NSSE). When an event is designated an NSSE, the Secret Service assumes its role as the lead federal agency for the design and implementation of the operational security plan. |
Your Government, Your Voice!
From Scholastic
>"Starting with President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, this bonus online program will foster writing skills and civic participation, with writing prompts, lesson plans, printables, and multimedia civics activities to help your students understand the politics of the U.S." For grades 1-2, 3-4, and 5-8. |
Lincoln's First Inaugural Address: We Must Not Be Enemies
From EDSITEment
Help your students understand the historical context and significance of Lincoln's inaugural address through archival documents such as campaign posters, sheet music, vintage photographs and documents. |
"I Do Solemnly Swear": A Half Century of Inaugural Images
From the United States Senate
"This exhibit features the historic engravings in the U.S. Senate Collection that depict inaugural festivities at the Capitol and around Washington, D.C. It begins with the 1853 inauguration, when the great 19th century weekly news magazines began to come into their own, and ends with 1905, a time when photographic techniques had largely overtaken the use of engraved images in news periodicals." |
Inauguration Day Events
From the JCCIC
This site reviews the day of the presidential inauguration over more than 200 years. |
Hail to the Chief: Inauguration Lessons
From Education World
"Education World offers ten super activities to help your students learn about and commemorate the inauguration. Included: Activities in which students write letters to the president, create presidential portraits, complete an inauguration trivia hunt, and much more!" |
The Inauguration and the Media: Background, Activities and Critical Analysis
From PBS
"In our modern society, we live in a time known as the "Information Age." Information can be acquired through a number of sources that use modern technology to bring events and ideas to us almost instantaneously. With so much information at our disposal, our democracy requires that citizens know how to consume, analyze, and filter information and its sources. The inauguration of a president is a world event that carries a high level of symbolism for the people of the United States and all over the world. With the images of television and the speed of the new medium known as the Internet, students of government, politics, and history will need to have the skills required to evaluate information and express their opinions in a way that is logical and reasonable to others." This lesson plan comes from the Online News Hour Extra and PBs and is designed for grades 9-12. "Students will read, review, and write about the presidential inauguration as it appears in the media." Links to multiple news sources in the U.S. and around the world are given. |
“I Do Solemnly Swear…”
From the Library of Congress
"In this special presentation are more than forty items including photographs, manuscripts, campaign posters, letters, broadsides, and inaugural speeches. This unique selection of items offers a glimpse into the history of American presidential inaugurations. Eighteen presidents are featured in the display--George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, William Harrison, James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy." |
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Welcome to the White House!
From Teaching Tolerance
"In this early grades activity, students will discuss the significance of Barack Obama's presidency and create cards welcoming his children to the White House." For Grades 3-5. |
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