As Donald Trump takes office as the forty-fifth president of the United States, this course explores presidential elections in historical perspective, via five case studies. It tells the story of key campaigns in US history, and by doing so it investigates how politics changed over time—and how understanding the past sheds light on the current campaign. From the arrival of "dirty politics" to the impact of the "digital revolution," the course looks at the historical background to some of the key phenomena that shaped the controversy-laden campaign of 2016.
Offered By


The Making of the US President: A Short History in Five Elections
The University of EdinburghAbout this Course
2,242 recent views
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Beginner Level
Approx. 20 hours to complete
English
Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?
Try Coursera for BusinessFlexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Beginner Level
Approx. 20 hours to complete
English
Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?
Try Coursera for BusinessOffered by
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
3 hours to complete
The Election of 1800
3 hours to complete
19 videos (Total 96 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz
4 hours to complete
The Election of 1860
4 hours to complete
6 videos (Total 28 min), 7 readings, 2 quizzes
4 hours to complete
The Election of 1968
4 hours to complete
9 videos (Total 46 min), 7 readings, 1 quiz
4 hours to complete
The Election of 1980
4 hours to complete
6 videos (Total 54 min), 8 readings, 2 quizzes
3 hours to complete
The Election of 2008
3 hours to complete
4 videos (Total 56 min), 7 readings, 1 quiz
3 hours to complete
The Election of 2016
3 hours to complete
2 videos (Total 87 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz
Reviews
- 5 stars70.27%
- 4 stars18.91%
- 3 stars8.10%
- 1 star2.70%
TOP REVIEWS FROM THE MAKING OF THE US PRESIDENT: A SHORT HISTORY IN FIVE ELECTIONS
by JQFeb 11, 2017
Great Review. I am active in politics and still found there were things I'd forgotten. Thanks for the fun and the review.
by JSFeb 18, 2017
This has some good history in it. But short for sure.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.