Lesson Plan - The Country Church

The Country Church

Online Lesson Plan for Students Age 13 - 15

Write Your Own “Stump Speech”



Background - A “stump speech” is a speech outlining a candidate's main ideas and plans. A Presidential candidate would deliver a version of his stump speech at campaign stops, as they traveled across America. In the 19th century, candidates moved from town to town where they delivered a consistent message, oftentimes from atop a tree stump, to potential supporters. 

Famous “stump speeches” abound in American history and none are more renown than Abraham Lincoln’s 1858 Cooper Union speech in which he presented a rousing denouncement of slavery and an urgent call for the nation to stand for what was morally right: “Neither let us be slandered from our duty nor frightened from it by menaces of destruction to the Government… Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us , to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it”. Over 1500 people in attendance roared their approval and Lincoln was catapulted into the forefront of candidates for the Republican presidential nomination in 1860. This moral condemnation of slavery and call for national unity resonated in Lincoln’s stump speeches throughout his campaign and presidency.

An equally famous but less successful call to the nation was 1896 Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” stump speech. Bryan, who lost three elections for president, presented the speech at the Democratic convention in Chicago as a relatively unknown, 36-year old two-term congressman. Arguing that money based on a silver standard was more beneficial to the working man that the gold standard, Bryan concluded his fiery speech with these words that catapulted him to the nomination:“You shall not press down on the brow of labor a crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind on a cross of gold”. 


In the 19th and 20th centuries, stump speeches were often delivered at rural churches and then discussed at the church's Election dinner.   In Georgetown Delaware, people came from far and wide to hear the candidates’ speeches before casting their votes and then revisiting on Return Day !

Assignment - Write A “Stump Speech”

Imagine you are visiting a rural church to deliver your stump speech. In a stump speech, you state your ideas clearly to capture voters' attention, but also to convince them that your ideas are right for the country. Use the resources and follow the steps below to create your speech.

Step 1 - Think of it: You have just been named your party's nominee for President. Now the whole country is watching you, waiting to hear your vision for the future. It's an incredible opportunity. What would you say? Use these resources for inspiration:  Read Abraham Lincoln’s 1858 Cooper Union speech and William Jennings Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” stump speech.  Identify and take notes on key points as you read each speech.

Step 2 - Brainstorm: Consider what you would want to say on the campaign trail if you were running for president. Write a list of the issues most important to you and think about how you will present these issues in the speech. Can you support your arguments using facts or statistics? Will they appeal to the listeners’ emotional side using a personal story? Remember to use language that is comfortable for you to memorize so you are prepared to deliver it with confidence!

Step 3 - Write & Edit: Write a rough draft of your speech. Consider having a peer review the speech to provide constructive criticism on how it can be improved. Remember: speeches are meant to be heard—not read in silence—so read your speech to a partner for feedback! Use the “How To Write A Speech” section below for guidance.

Step 4 - Deliver Speech: Now make the final changes as needed and once you have completed a final draft, deliver your speech!

How To Write A Speech

Use the outline below to write your stump speech:

OPENING: Say your name, what you are running for, and why. 

CONNECTION: Establish a connection with the audience by demonstrating a shared concern. 

PROBLEM: What problem are you running for office to solve? How does it affect the audience? 
Describe the problem and say why you care about it. 

SOLUTION: Describe your solution and how it benefits voters. What specifically will you do or fight for if elected? 

VISION: Describe how things could be better and what kind of future you will work for. How would the community be different if this problem were solved? 

CALL TO ACTION: Ask your audience to make a difference by voting for you and supporting your campaign. 

CLOSING: Summarize why you are running, restate your call to action and thank the audience. 
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