Political Party Platform
OER PROJECT: WH ORIGINS / LESSON 8.5 ACTIVITYPOLITICAL PARTY PLATFORMS1Unless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Political Party Platforms,” OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/PurposeIn this activity, you’re going to analyze various statements used in a real political party platform. This will help you learn how to deconstruct and closely examine the messages that politicians, advertisers, and other influencers use. Process1.You’re going to analyze fourof the political party platform statements below. Your teacher will either assign you the statements or let you choose. Circle the four you’re analyzing, read what each one says, and then move to page 3.Statement numberPolitical party platform statements1We demand the uniting of all our citizens within one Greater Country, on the basis of the right to self-determination of nations.2We demand equal rights for all our citizens, with respect to other nations, and the annulment of all peace treaties.3We demand land and soil to feed our People and settle our excess population.4In view of the tremendous sacrifices in property and blood demanded of the nation by every war, personal gain from the war must be termed a crime against the nation. We therefore demand the total confiscation of all war profits.5Any person who is not a Citizen will be able to live here, but only as a guest and must be subject to legislation for Aliens.6Only a Citizen is entitled to decide the leadership and laws of the State. We therefore demand that only Citizens may hold public office, regardless of whether it is a national, state, or local office.7We demand that the State make it its duty to provide opportunities of employment first of all for its own Citizens. If it is not possible to maintain the entire population of the State, then foreign nationals (non-Citizens) are to be expelled from the State.
OER PROJECT: WH ORIGINS / LESSON 8.5 ACTIVITYPOLITICAL PARTY PLATFORMS2Statement numberPolitical party platform statements8Any further immigration of non-Citizens is to be prevented. We demand that all non-Citizens who entered the State after a certain date, be forced to leave the State without delay.9All Citizens must have equal rights and duties.10It must be the first duty of every Citizen to carry out intellectual or physical work. Individual activity must not be harmful to the public interest and must be pursued within the framework of the community and for the general good.11We demand the large-scale development of old-age pension schemes.12In order to make higher education—and thereby entry into leading positions—available to every able and industrious citizen, the State must provide a thorough restructuring of our entire public educational system. The courses of study at all educational institutions are to be adjusted to meet the requirements of practical life. Understanding of the concept of the State must be achieved through the schools (teaching of civics) at the earliest age at which it can be grasped. We demand the education at the public expense of specially gifted children of poor parents, without regard to the latter's position or occupation.13The State must raise the level of national health by means of mother-and-child care, the banning of juvenile labor, achievements of physical fitness through legislation for compulsory gymnastics and sports, and maximum support for all organizations providing physical training for young people.14We demand freedom for all religious denominations, provided that they do not endanger the existence of the State or offend the concepts of decency and morality.
OER PROJECT: WH ORIGINS / LESSON 8.5 ACTIVITYPOLITICAL PARTY PLATFORMS32.Rewrite each of your four statements in your own words. This is called paraphrasing.Statement numberParaphrasedpolitical party platform statements
OER PROJECT: WH ORIGINS / LESSON 8.5 ACTIVITYPOLITICAL PARTY PLATFORMS43.Remember that these are from a political party platform. They are intended to convince people to vote in a certain way. Explain why your assigned statements might be supported by some people.Statement numberWhy would this statement sound positive to potential voters?
OER PROJECT: WH ORIGINS / LESSON 8.5 ACTIVITYPOLITICAL PARTY PLATFORMS54.The statements you read were edited to remove specific geographic and ethnic references. Click here to see the actual political party platform. What historical political party were these statements from? (Perhaps you figured it out even before clicking the link.)5.How do you think the seemingly positive statements you analyzed in the first part of this activity could have led to something so horrible?