Download 12 Choropleths as Propaganda WS

AP Human Geography
How Maps Lie: Maps as Political Propaganda
Map A
Map B
Name: _____________________________ P: ____
Map C
Map D
1. Are these reference or thematic maps? (Reference maps
(e.g. physical or political maps) just show where things are
while thematic maps “tell a story”.)
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2. There are five types of thematic maps: choropleth,
dot distribution, proportional symbol, isoline, and
cartograms. Which type are the maps above?
3. Thematic maps have a theme! What is the theme
of these maps? (What story are they trying to tell,
usually the title)?
4. All four maps were created from the same data and
all divide the rate of phonelessness into three classes
or classifications: high, medium, and low. Why then
do they look so different?
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(over)
5. Write the name of the map above (Map A, Map B, etc.) next to the conclusion that someone analyzing
each map might logically draw from that map. PLEASE don’t just guess or copy these from someone
else. Read through them carefully and match the descriptions with the maps.
_________: Since the states in the white low “phonelessness” category (MA, RI, CT, NJ, PA) are all high
urban (have lots of big cities), and the two states in the high “phonelessness” category (Virginia, Maine),
are much more rural this map suggests that phone access is related to whether one lives in the city
(where you would likely be connected) or the countryside (where you might not be connected).
_________: Since the only state in the low “phonelessness” category (white shading) has a large, affluent
white population (Connecticut), and the only state in the high “phonelessness” (black shading) category
(Virginia) has a large, poor black population, this map suggests that phone access is related to race and
socioeconomic status (rich whites are connected/poor blacks are not).
_________: Since the cartographer has forced almost all the states into the low “phonelessness”
category (white shading), this map suggests a rosy picture: most New Englanders are connected to
phone lines. Government must be doing a good job combating poverty and regulating phone companies
to keep phones affordable.
_________: Since the cartographer has forced almost all the states into the high “phonelessness”
category (black shading), this map suggests that there is generally poor connectivity in New England,
perhaps because the government is not effective in combating poverty or because of price gouging (the
phone companies charge high prices that few people can afford).
6. What are our key takeaway from this lesson? (What’s the most important thing you learned?) Write one
of your own and add a second when we review this as a class.

Mine:

From class discussion: