Essay Topics

1. Essay Topics Fundamental differences between the Liberal and Conservative political ideologies. How a person’s demographics affects their level of involvement in government.

2. Chapter 5 The American Political Landscape

3. Chapter 5 • Additional Resources: • Study Guide w/word bank Text Pages : 108-131

4. Concepts • Differences in race, ethnicity, gender, family structure, religion, wealth & income, occupation and social classes can affect opinions and voting options.

5. Concepts • The relationship between age - education and political participation.

6. Chapter Outline • A Land of Diversity • Where we live • Who we are • Unity in a Land of Diversity

7. A Land of Diversity • The U.S. has been more open to accepting people from all over the world than many other countries have been. • The “American Dream” has offered the promise of religious, political and economic freedom.

8. Expatify.com • Lists countries and the immigration requirements for each.

9. Geography & National Identity • The Atlantic Ocean provided a barrier to foreign meddling during the formative years of the U.S. • The Western frontier provided room to grow and avoid political and social tensions.

10. Geography & National Identity • A 2nd Ocean on the Pacific provided great isolationism from Europe and many of the alliances and entanglements. (which helped shape our initial foreign policy)

11. Geography & National Identity • Overall size of the U.S. landmass allowed for tensions to be diffused as people were able to spread out. • Abundance of natural resources found in the U.S. provided enhanced economic growth, provided jobs and stabilized the govt.

12. Sectional Differences • Different groups of people do not separate themselves into distinct area within the U.S. • Race and religious differences occur throughout the entire country. • Only during the country’s early period did we have the South’s agriculture differ much from that of the North’s commerce and manufacturing.

13. Sectional Differences • Civil rights revolution helped eliminate roadblocks that prevented African Americans from voting, opened up new educational opportunities and helped integrate the South into the national economy.

14. Sectional Differences • “Solid South” • Term referring to region that voted primarily Democratic at all levels. • Came out of the Civil War

15. Red = Republican Blue = Democrat 1864

16. Red = Republican Blue = Democrat 1880

17. Sectional Differences • Since 1968, the South has turned more Republican in nature, first at the National level and then at state and local levels. • Clinton and Gore won only 4 of 11 “Southern States in ’92 and ’96 elections.

18. Red = Republican Red = Republican Blue = Democrat Blue = Democrat 1928 1932

19. Red = Republican Blue = Democrat 1964 Can you notice the change?

20. Sectional Differences • Why did the South Change ? • Debate within the Democratic party regarding Vietnam policy in the late 60’s and early 70’s • Republican candidates have more recently emphasized family values, opposition to taxes, and law and order issues.

21. Sectional Differences • New Growth: • South is experiencing large growth in the 65 and older demographic • The West is seeing an increase in the number of younger persons.

22. Sectional Differences • New Growth: • Sunbelt states are experiencing greater economic growth as industries have headed south and Southwest where land and labor is cheaper and more abundant.

23. Where we live • 4 out of 5 Americans live in central cities and their suburbs • Early 20th Century movement was from rural to central cities…..since 1950, the movement has been from the central cities to the suburbs. • Regionally, the West and Northeast are the most urban areas, whereas the south and Midwest are the most rural.

24. Where we live • Why do people move to the suburbs ? • Better housing • New transportation systems • Cleaner air • Safer streets

25. Where we live • “White flight” • Movement of whites away from the central cities. • Avoid being bused for racial balance

26. Where we live • White, middle-class migration to the suburbs has made the American cities increasingly poor. • More than ½ of all African Americans now live in central cities (as opposed to 1/5th of all whites. • The proportions are almost reversed for the suburbs.

27. Who we are • Race: • A grouping of human beings with distinctive physical characteristics determined by genetic inheritance. • Ethnicity: • A social division based on national origin, religion, and language, often within the same race, and includes a sense of attachment to that group.

28. Who we are • Statistics: • African Americans 12.5 % • Hispanics 11 % • Asian Americans 4 % • Native Americans 1.5 % * See chart on page 117 for projections through year 2050

29. Who we are • Pages 117–119 shows breakdown information: • African Americans • Hispanics • Asian Americans

30. African Americans • Until 1900, more than 90% of African Americans lived in the south. (by 2000, the percentage was 55 ) • Many left the south hoping to improve their lives by settling in the cities of the Northeast, Midwest and West.

31. African Americans • Poverty rates are higher among African Americans than whites….about 25% are considered below the poverty level. • The African American population is much younger than the white population. Median age : 30.2 vs. 37.7

32. African Americans • Political Power developed after WWII when many African Americans saw the Democratic Party as the party of civil rights. • In 1964, LBJ received nearly all of the African American vote. • In 1984 and 2000, their Democratic vote averaged 86%. (2012=93%)

33. African Americans • Political Power Recently: • Making up 37% in Mississippi, 33% in Louisiana and 30% in South Carolina. (Wash. D.C. is 51%) • Many southern politicians must ensure that they work towards earning the votes of the highly concentrated groups.

34. Hispanics (Latinos) • Political Power Recently: • Cuban Americans tend to be Republicans • Mexican and Puerto Ricans tend to favor Democratic candidates. • Geography can play a part in this • Cubans (FL.) Puerto Ricans (NYC) • Mexicans ( CA )

35. Hispanics (Latinos) • Economics can play a part in this • Cubans tend to be upper-middle class levels • Puerto Ricans and Mexicans are generally lower in level. • Widespread support for a liberal domestic agenda, including increased spending on health care, crime and drug control, education and the environment.

36. Asian Americans • Classified together for census purposes • Significantly different in culture, language, and political experience in the U.S. • Immigration grew during the 70’s and 80’s

37. Asian Americans • Have been successful economically and educationally. • Nearly 11 million living in predominantly west coast areas (Hawaii, CA, Washington) • 2010 Census has number at 18M the expressive theory of voting.

38. Immigration • Largest number of immigrants: • 1900-1924 saw 17.3 million relocate to U.S. • 1991-1998 saw more than 7.6 million immigrants arrive from primarily the Caribbean and Mexico and from Asian countries. • Foreign-born proportion of the U.S. population has increased from 14M in 1980 to 28M in 2000. (40M 2011….13%)

39. Gender • Women gained the right to vote first in Wyoming in 1869, Utah in 1870 and then in Co. and Id. • It wasn’t until 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment that women were given the national right to vote.

40. Gender • During the past 20 years, women have voted more than men. • Women have chosen to work within the existing political parties and do not overwhelmingly support female candidates, especially if they must cross party lines to do so.

41. Gender • Since 1917, less than 6% of representatives in the U.S. House have been women. • Following the 2000 election there were 3 female governors,13 women serving in the Senate, and about 15% of the House is made up of women. • 40% of State Legislatures are made up of women.

42. Females in Political Office:

43. Gender Gender Gap in voting behavior? • Women tend to vote more Democrat than men. • Women tend to oppose violence in any form (death penalty,new weapons systems, possession of handguns) • Women identify more with work and family issues (day care, maternity leave, equal workplace) • Other issues: reproductive rights, restrictions on pornography, gun control and sexual harassment.

44. Gender Gender Gap in economics: • More than 2X the number of women make less than $15,000 a year than men do. • Women college graduates ages 25-34 earn an average of 80 cents for each dollar a man makes of the same age and education level. • As age increases, the earnings gap widens.

45. Sexual Orientation • Modern movement for expanded rights for gay and lesbians dates back to 1969. • Reports from the gay and lesbian community put their numbers as 10% of the U.S. population. • Politically important in many cities such as NYC and SF, which have openly professed members of Congress.

46. Sexual Orientation • In 2000, Vermont became the first state to enact legislation granting gay and lesbian couples, “Civil Union” status. (which confers many of the benefits of marriage) • In other U.S. cities, some employers have given health and benefits to domestic partners.

47. As of Jan. 2013, nine states allow same-sex marriage: Vermont - Maine New Hampshire - Maryland Connecticut - New York Massachusetts - Washington Iowa Also recognizing is: Washington D.C. Sexual Orientation

48. Sexual Orientation • 11 states recognize some alternative form of same-sex union or domestic partnership. • 12 states ban any recognition of any form of same-sex unions including civil union • 28 states have adopted amendments to their state constitution prohibiting same-sex marriage

49. Sexual Orientation • Anti- discrimination statutes protect people from discrimination in housing and employment have been passed in many cities. • The push for laws against Hate crimes based on sexual orientation have led to Federal legislation (2009)

50. Sexual Orientation Additional policies to reference: • Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) • Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell policy