In 1950 Children Were Taught to Settle Disputes. They Invented a Third Party Problem.

In 1950 Coronet Instructional Films taught school children how to settle disputes through four methods — compromise, obeying rules, finding facts, and finding opinions. The first dispute involved a tricycle. Alice, Jerry, and Eddie were summoned to resolve it. They were also children. The class later held an election for the playground committee between two candidates. A third candidate was present. The film presented the outcome as democracy in action. Previously in America explores the films, footage, and ideas that shaped everyday American life — sourced entirely from public archives.