INDV Coursepage

WE SHALL OVERCOME

The Rules

The Teams

The Score

Final Scores:

Section 23:

Democratic Left: 32

Traditional Democrats: 28

Traditional Republicans: 26

Conservative Republicans: 22

Populist Democrats: 14

Section 28:

Populist Democrats: 35

Conservative Republicans: 28

Traditional Democrats: 25

Traditional Republicans: 25

Democratic Left: 16

Section 29:

Traditional Democrats: 32

Traditional Republicans: 31

Populist Democrats: 30

Conservative Republicans: 30

Democratic Left: 13
INTRODUCTION
We Shall Overcome is an abstract simulation of American political conflict from 1961 until 1972. Players represent one of the major political factions active during this time and attempt to achieve its political goals and thus win the game. WSO is played on three Round Sheets that are divided into boxes representing certain political issues and campaigns.
The factions are the Democratic Left, Traditional Democrats, Populist Democrats, Traditional Republicans, and Conservative Republicans.
Each issue has two boxes, one labeled For, the other Against. Players will contest issues in these boxes. In addition, each faction has an election box for conducting political campaigns.

HOW TO PLAY
We Shall Overcome consists of three Rounds. Each Round is divided into three Phases.
A Round proceeds as follows:
Phase 1: Negotiation 10-15 min
Time is allocated for negotiation among the players.
Phase 2: PSF Deployment
Each group receives 15 Political Strength Factors (PSFs) per Round.
The first group, as specified in the Round instructions, puts three PSFs in any issue or electoral boxes on the Round Sheet.
The remaining groups deploy three PSFs, following the order given in the Round Sheet's Order of Play. The first group then deploys another three PSFs, and the remaining players do the same in the proper order. This process continues until all the PSFs received in that Round have been placed on the Round Sheet.
Phase 3: Totaling Points
Total the number of PSFs in each issue box. Groups then check these numbers against their objectives to see how many points they have won. This ends the Round. Record points won in the Round on the Scoresheet.
The groups then continue to the next Round. When all three Rounds have been completed, the game is over. The groups total their points from all three Rounds and see who has won the game.

POLITICAL STRENGTH FACTORS
Political Strength Factors (PSFs) represent a faction's leadership, ideas, finances, political strength, and its willingness to use these. PSFs are similar to the pieces in Risk and checkers.
Your goal is to win issues and elections. You do this by deploying PSFs. Each Round you receive 15 PSFs. You then put 3 PSFs in any issue or election boxes whenever it is your turn. You may divide PSFs as desired.
To deploy PSFs, tell the instructor where you want to put them. The intructor will then record your deployments in an issue or election box on each Round Sheet according to your instructions.
You must deploy all PSFs received in a Round during that Round. You cannot move PSFs after deployment, save them for another Round, or give them to another player.
Each player has objectives in each Round. These include winning issues (ideological battles) or elections. To contest an issue, place your PSFs in either the For or Against box for that issue on the Round Sheet. You get points at the end of the Round if your side wins that issue (has more PSFs in its box than the other side has in its box). If the For and Against sides are tied, no one gets any points for that issue.
For example, take the Civil Rights: Education boxes in Round I. If the For box has the most PSFs in it, then the Democratic Left gets 4 Points, the Traditional Republicans get 3 Points, and the Traditional Democrats get 2 Points. The Populist Democrats and Conservative Republicans get zero Points for that issue. If the Against Box has more PSFs in it, then the Populist Democrats get 5 Points, and the Conservative Republicans get 2 Points, and the other 3 factions get none. If the number of PSFs in the For and Against boxes are equal, then no one gets any Points.
To contest an election, put your PSFs in the election box next to your faction's name. You may not put your PSFs in another faction's election box.
Always check your objectives for each Round so you can deploy your PSFs wisely.
NEGOTIATIONS
You cannot win We Shall Overcome unless you negotiate with the other players. Some players will share your objectives so have them do your work for you. Others will oppose your objectives so cooperate with others to stop them.
Whoever makes the best deals usually wins. However, trust no one! Lies, betrayals, threats, broken deals, and bluffs are all allowed and encouraged. Always remember: you and your opponents are politicians. If you have any bad qualities as a human being, this would be a good time to use them.

HOW TO WIN
A game of We Shall Overcome lasts three Rounds. Record points earned in each Round on the Scoresheet. After the last Round, players total the points earned in each Round. The group with the most points at the end of the game wins.

HISTORICAL NOTES-FACTIONS
The factions in the game represent political activists and their supporters. Points earned represent numbers of uncommitted voters moving to your side.

The Democratic Left included intellectuals, media types, radicals, extreme liberals, and minorities. It was the driving force behind the civil rights and antiwar movements.

Traditional Democrats were a coalition of labor unions, Northern white ethnics(i.e Irish) and catholics, moderate southerners, and city machines. Its primary goals included maintaining political power and increasing social spending. It was sympathetic to many of the Left's goals, but never really trusted them.

Populist Democrats were mostly Southern Democrats and the more conservative Northern ethnics. They favored social spending in many areas, but opposed civil rights legislation.

Traditional Republicans consisted of Nelson Rockefeller and Richard Nixon supporters, attracting suburban, moderate, Eastern, Midwestern, Yankee, Lutheran, and southern mountain voters. It favored social spending as long as the budget was balanced and supported the cold war, but grew disillusioned with Vietnam.

Conservative Republicans abandoned Robert Taft's isolationism and turned to a more interventionist outlook under Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. They took over the Republican Party in 1964 and lost heavily in November, but this began the movement of Southern and ethnic Democrats into the party. This paid off in Reagan's 1980 and 1984 election victories.

We Shall Overcome Randomly Determined Teams:

10 AM section
Democratic Left: Sarah, Jennifer, Karina, Blair

Traditional Democrats: Christina, Ryan, Brie, Ashley

Populist Democrats: Derek, Kelbert, Sean, Erik

Traditional Republicans: Susanne, Courtney, Kelsie

Conservative Republicans: Telisha, Nathan, Alisa, Betty

12 Noon section
Democratic Left: Jenna, Kara, Robyn, Alex

Traditional Democrats: Megan, Sarah, Carolina, Jackie

Populist Democrats: Ben, Philip, Rachel, Taku

Traditional Republicans: Jennifer, Brian, Mario, Jenni

Conservative Republicans: Ashley, Jason, Trinity

1 PM section
Democratic Left: Jon, Alexis, Anthony, Ryan

Traditional Democrats: Matt, Alisha, Wes K

Populist Democrats: Mike, Tashina, Kara, Liz

Traditional Republicans: Lane, Scott, Annie,

Conservative Republicans: Ben, Doug, Wes F. top

DESIGNER'S NOTES
We Shall Overcome is based on European Union, a political simulation designed for European History courses. It can be found here.
We Shall Overcome is designed by Peter L. de Rosa, and is Copyright, 2002. All rights reserved. Reproduction allowed for nonprofit educational use as long as this copyright notice is included.

Round I Sheet (1961-1964)
Order of Play: Democratic Left, Populist Democrats, Traditional Republicans, Conservative Republicans, Traditional Democrats
Each group receives 15 PSFs.
OBJECTIVES:
Democratic Left Populist Democrats Traditional Republicans
Social Spending: For--3 Points Social Spending: For--1 Point Social Spending: For--2 Points
Cold War: Against--1 Point Cold War: For--2 Points Cold War: For--3 Points
Civil Rights: Education: For--5 Points Civil Rights: Education: Against--5 Points Civil Rights: Education: For--3 Points
Civil Rights: Public Accommodations: For--5 Points Civil Rights: Public Accommodations: Against--5 Points Civil Rights: Public Accommodations: For--2 Points
Election: at least 1 PSF in its box--1 Point Election: at least 1 PSF in their box--2 Points Election: more PSFs in their box than the Conservative Republicans have in theirs. 5 Points

Conservative Republicans Traditional Democrats
Social Spending: Against--3 Points Social Spending: For--4 Points
Cold War: For--3 Points Cold War: For--2 Points
Civil Rights-Education: Against--2 Points Civil Rights-Education: For--2 Points
Civil Rights: Public Accommodations: Against--2 Points Civil Rights: Public Accommodations: For--2 Points
Election: more PSFs in their box than the Traditional Republicans have in theirs. 5 Points Election: more PSFs in their box than any other faction has in theirs. 5 Points

ISSUE BOXES
For Against
Social Spending . .
Cold War . .
Civil Rights: Education . .
Civil Rights: Public
Accommodations . .

ELECTION BOXES--1964 Election
Democratic Left .
Populist Democrats .
Traditional Republicans .
Conservative Republicans .
Traditional Democrats .

Round II Sheet (1965-1968)
Order of Play: Populist Democrats, Democratic Left, Traditional Democrats, Conservative Republicans, Traditional Republicans
Each group receives 15 PSFs.
OBJECTIVES:
Populist Democrats Democratic Left Traditional Democrats
Social Spending: For--1 Point Social Spending: For--2 Points Social Spending: For--2 Points
Vietnam War: For--4 Points Vietnam War: Against--4 Points Vietnam War: For--4 Points
Civil Rights: Voting Rights: Against--4 Points Civil Rights: Voting Rights: For--3 Points Civil Rights: Voting Rights: For--3 Points
Counterculture: Against--3 Points Counterculture: For--2 Points Counterculture: Against--2 Points
Election: at least 3 PSFs in their box--3 Points Election: more PSFs in their box than the Traditional Democrats have in theirs. 4 Points Election: more PSFs in their box than the Democratic Left has in its box. 4 Points

Conservative Republicans Traditional Republicans
Social Spending: Against--4 Points Social Spending: Against--4 Points
Vietnam War: For--5 Points Vietnam War: Against--2 Points
Civil Rights: Voting Rights: Against--1 Point Civil Rights: Voting Rights: For--2 Points
Counterculture: Against--1 Point Counterculture: Against--2 Points
Election: Traditional and Conservative Republicans together must have more PSFs in their boxes combined than the Democratic Left and Traditional Democrats have in theirs combined. 4 Points Election: Traditional and Conservative Republicans together must have more PSFs in their boxes combined than the Democratic Left and Traditional Democrats have in theirs combined. 5 Points

ISSUE BOXES
For Against
Social Spending . .
Vietnam War . .
Civil Rights: Voting Rights . .
Counterculture . .

ELECTION BOXES--1968 Election
Populist Democrats .
Democratic Left .
Traditional Democrats .
Conservative Republicans .
Traditional Republicans .

Round III Sheet (1969-1972)
Order of Play: Traditional Democrats, Populist Democrats, Conservative Republicans, Democratic Left, Traditional Republicans
Each group receives 15 PSFs.
OBJECTIVES:
Traditional Democrats Populist Democrats Conservative Republicans
Social Spending: For--4 Points Social Spending: For--1 Point Social Spending: Against--3 Points
Vietnam War: Against--3 Points Vietnam War: For, with at least 6 more PSFs in the For box than are in the Against box. 2 Points Vietnam War: For, with at least 6 more PSFs in the For box than are in the Against box. 4 Points
Busing and Quotas: Against--2 Points Busing and Quotas: Against--4 Points Busing and Quotas: Against--4 Points
Southern Voting Rights: For--2 Points Southern Voting Rights: Against--4 Points Southern Voting Rights: Against--1 Point
Election: more PSFs in their box than the other Democrats have in theirs--4 Points Election: more PSFs in their box than the other Democrats have in theirs--4 Points Election: Election: Traditional and Conservative Republicans together must have more PSFs in their boxes combined than the Democratic Left and Traditional Democrats have in theirs combined.3 Points

Democratic Left Traditional Republicans
Social Spending: Against--2 Points Social Spending: For--1 Point
Vietnam War: Against--5 Points Vietnam War: For, with at least 6 more PSFs in the For box than are in the Against box. 4 Points
Busing and Quotas: For--2 Points Busing and Quotas: For--2 Points
Southern Voting Rights: For--2 Points Southern Voting Rights: For--2 Points
Election: more PSFs in its box than the other Democrats have in theirs--4 Points Election: Traditional and Conservative Republicans together must have more PSFs in their boxes combined than the Democratic Left and Traditional Democrats have in theirs combined. 6 Points

ISSUE BOXES
For Against
Social Spending . .
Vietnam War . .
Busing & Quotas . .
Southern Voting Rights . .

ELECTION BOXES--1972 Election
Traditional Democrats .
Populist Democrats .
Conservative Republicans .
Democratic Left .
Traditional Republicans .

WE SHALL OVERCOME
Scoresheet
Issues Democratic Left Traditional Democrats Populist Democrats Traditional Republicans Conservative Republicans
ROUND I .
Social Spending . . . . .
Cold War . . . . .
Civil Rights: Education . . . . .
Civil Rights: Public Accommodations . . . . .
1964 Election . . . . .
ROUND I Totals . . . . .
ROUND II .
Social Spending . . . . .
Vietnam War . . . . .
Civil Rights: Voting Rights . . . . .
Counterculture . . . . .
1968 Election . . . . .
ROUND II Totals . . . . .
ROUND III .
Social Spending . . . . .
Vietnam War . . . . .
Busing & Quotas . . . . .
Southern Voting Rights . . . . .
1972 Election . . . . .
ROUND III Totals . . . . .
.
Game Totals
Combine Totals from Rounds I, II, and III . . . . . top