You are so closed-minded. No, you are so closed-minded. No You! Your Mama!
AP Hate
When asked how the other party is more _______ than other Americans, what word did Republicans and Democrats both most use to describe each other?
How accurate was your prediction?
What most surprised you about this data?
What is the big story this chart tells?
Why do you think that is?
What is a consequence of this?
Fill in the blank: Republicans are more _____ than other Americans.
Fill in the blank: Democrats are more _____ than other Americans.
How many of the adjectives used to describe partisans in the charts above do you agree with?
Make a claim that can be supported by the data in the chart:
According to the Pew Research Center (WHOOT!) political polarization is “the vast and growing gap between liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats – a defining feature of American politics today.“ The good folks at Pew have been studying this political phenomenon for decades and say that “Republicans and Democrats are more divided along ideological lines – and partisan acrimony is deeper and more extensive – than at any point in recent history. And these trends manifest themselves in myriad ways, both in politics and in everyday life.” Yikes. What is the most important reason for party polarization in the U.S.?
What is the most important consequence of this “vast and growing” party polarization in the U.S.?
Overall, is the data from the chart good or bad news?
Have you ever lost or downgraded a friend because of a political difference?
My very Democratic mother-in-law married my very Republican father-in-law. But that was over 50 years ago. Would you date someone with diametrically opposed political beliefs?
Do you have many friends who support the political party you least like?
In the data from the chart, what is the biggest compliment partisans gave each other?
What questions do you have about this data?
Let’s say that you decided to become less partisan and more open to the political party you least agree with. What would be the most effective step you could take to change your feelings about the other party?
Who was the last major figure of the party you least like who you admired?
Do you believe that Prince wrote a song called Political Party Polarization Like it's 1999 or is that fake news?
Party polarization sounds sort of like winterizing your political party. Do you agree?
Would the chart above make James “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition” Madison, author of Federalist No. 51 happy?
It doesn’t have to be perfect, colorful, lovely, awe-inspiring, museum-bound, or an instant-classic. And becuase this isn’t AP Studio Art you may use stick figures, shapes, images, symbols, or whatever to draw or illustrate political polarization.
Think about memes. I’ve included a few classics memes below in our AP Memebank.* Use one of these classic memes to create a new meme with words about political polarization:
Considering the data from the chart, how do you the feelings partisans have of each other impact the following:
Elections
Voting
Political campaigns
interest groups
The impeachment process
Political party platforms
The mass media
