An American Bumper Sticker

The election of 1828 was the first American election to feature the use of rallies, slogans, campaign buttons, and other now common features of campaigns. The first use of the bumper sticker appeared sometime around World War II (1940’s), and political bumper stickers followed shortly thereafter.

But what if bumper stickers had been around during the Civil War, slapped the butts of stampeding war horses? What if wagons carrying thousands of settlers across the Oregon Trail had been affixed with catchy slogans? What if John Adams’s beautiful phaeton carriage had been adorned with a funny political slogan?

Your job on this assignment is to create a bumper sticker for any one presidential candidate, political party, or national issue of your choice from the time of the Revolutionary War (1775) up through the end of the Civil War (1860’s). Options (you are not limited to these):

- Candidates: George Washington - John Adams - Thomas Jefferson - Aaron Burr - James Madison - James Monroe - John Quincy Adams - Henry Clay - Andrew Jackson - Martin Van Buren - William Henry Harrison - James K. Polk - Zachary Taylor - Franklin Pierce - Millard Fillmore - James Buchanan - Abraham Lincoln - Stephen Douglas - Jefferson Davis - Ulysses S. Grant

- Parties: Federalists - Anti-Federalists - Democratic-Republicans - National Republicans - War Hawks - Whigs - American Party (“Know-Nothings”) - Free-Soil Party

- Issues: Declaration of Ind. - Rev. War - Constitution (ratify?) - Louisiana Purchase - War of 1812 – 2ND Great Awakening – Oregon Trail - Monroe Doctrine - Suffrage (women/black) - Slavery/Abolition - Nullification Crises - Jackson vs. the Bank - Trail of Tears - Manifest Destiny - Gold Rush - Civil War

** It is not enough merely to mention a candidate or an issue. Bumper stickers typically use a catchy slogan, humor, or deep insight to catch our attention. You must do this. See examples on the back for inspiration. ** ** Your assignment should look like an actual bumper sticker (long and rectangular, most likely), and will not be accepted if done sloppily or on notebook paper. ** EXAMPLES: Re-elect Rehabilitate: William Henry Harrison – May 1841 “Four more weeks! Four more weeks!” VOTE George Washington for His Royal Highness, the Supreme Leader and Most Exalted Sovereign of Stupendousness, President of the United States

This message heartily approved by 1789! John Adams.

STOP BIG GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER!! Say “NO” to ratification! JOIN the Anti-federalist Party! Vote Henry Clay in 1824 1828 1832 1836 1840 1844 1848! “Okay, seriously. We mean it this time!”