History does not repeat, as the saying goes. But it sometimes rhymes. While many historians feel awkward making direct comparisons—after all, the world today is very different from the world even four years ago—there is value in looking back. By considering separate historical moments in context, we're reminded of history's echoes. Call them half-rhymes.

Each of these learning resources examines a previous U.S. election and the foreign policy issues facing American voters at the time. These are issues of war, trade, immigration, and international partnerships. Each investigation then considers the 2024 U.S. presidential election to see how these same issues take shape now. When Americans head to the polls in November, what concerns will they share with Americans who cast their votes more than a century before?