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Where We Live
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
A Land of Diversity
Political Socialization
The process by which we develop our political values,
beliefs, and attitudes
Demographics =
Characteristics of
where we live, who we
are in terms of age,
education, religion,
and occupation affect
how we vote
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
Political Predisposition
= A characteristic of a
person that can predict
political behavior
Ethnocentrism
Belief in the superiority of one’s nation or ethnic group
What causes this?
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
1) Geography
The Atlantic ocean
has served as a
barrier to foreign
meddling
– Allowed US time to
establish political
tradition and develop
economy
The wide Western
frontier-room to grow
and avoid social and
political tensions that
Europe experienced
Being surrounded by
oceans reinforced sense
of isolation from
Europe and foreign
alliances
Throughout US history,
America has shown
reluctance in
involvement in foreign
wars
2) Weak Neighbors
Before the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, only
one foreign enemy had struck the continental
US
– Presence of powerful and aggressive neighbors impedes
the development of democracy in relatively weak nations
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
3) Size
Landmass of
America exceeds
that of all but 3
nations (Russia,
Canada, & Brazil)
US has so much
space (lower
population density
in comparison to
other countries)
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
Manifest Destiny =
Belief that developed
in the 19th century in
which Americans
were destined to rule
the continent
As a result, we have
resorted to violence
to take away the
lands of Native
Americans, Mexicans,
and Canadians
4) Abundance of natural
resources
Rich farmland
that feeds our
population AND
makes us the
largest exporter of
food in the world
Rich in natural
resources: coal,
iron, uranium, oil,
precious metals
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
Question:
How may where we live in the
United States affect how
we vote or think about
various candidates, issues, or
policies?
The most distinct section
of the United States
remains the South,
although the differences
are diminishing
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
Voting Patterns in the 11
Former Confederate States
Cause in difference with rest of the nation? A history of slavery in
the South
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
Democrat vs. Republican?
Until the 1970s, most people referred to the
South as mainly Democratic (aka “solid South”)
Changed when:
Republican candidates appealed to white
Southerners through emphasis on family
values, opposition to taxes, and law-and-order
issues
Political alignment also shifted as more African
Americans became more enfranchised and
voted Democratic
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
Differences in the South & other places in
America are diminishing
More people are moving to the
South now
Civil Rights movement in 1960s
eliminated legal and social
barriers
However, the South still falls
below the rest of the country in
per capita income and education
The traditional religious and
moral conservation of the South
remains
Sun Belt Effect!
Includes the 11 former Confederate states, New Mexico,
Nevada, Arizona, & southern half of California
Growing more rapidly than the rest of the country, thus
gaining more representation in Congress
Land and labor cheaper and more abundant in the Sun
Belt
People who live in the Sun Belt tend to vote Republican
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
State and Local Identity
Different states have
distinctive political
tradition
Distinctive political
cultures that affect public
opinion and policy
outcomes
Electoral rules and other
laws reinforce state
identities
Reinforced by method of
electing the president and
members of Congress
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
California
California stands out
53 of members of
House of
Representatives
exceed total of
representatives from
smallest 20 states
55 electoral votes are
key for any
presidential
candidate
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
Where We Live:
Percent Change in Resident Population, 2000-2007
Many live in metropolitan
areas
Movement of rural to central
cities
Many are now moving out of
the cities to the suburbs
Better housing, new
transportation systems make
it easy to get to work, desire
for cleaner air
Four out of five Americans now live in central cities and their suburbs
Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,
Publishing as Longman
Where We Live:
White flight = White middle class moving away
from central cities so children can avoid being
bused for racial balance and attend generally
better schools
Cities That Are at Least 50 Percent African American (2006)
This has made
American cities
increasingly
poor, African
American, and
Democratic
More than half
all African
Americans live
in central citiespoverty level
amongst them is
higher than
among whites