Unit II Lesson 4

Political Parties in America: The Democrats

Essential Question:• Why do Americans believe what they do about

politics and what role do families, schools and media play in the changing or perpetuating of these political beliefs?

• In what ways do Americans participate in their political system?

• How does participation vary among various racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups in the nation?

• How have political parties developed, how are they organized, and what effect do they have on the political process?

Now that you understand the political spectrum and terms like

“liberal” and “conservative” we can begin to talk about the two

major political parties in America: Democrats and Republicans!

Republicans Democrats

Anarchy

First up The Democrats!First Up: The Democrats!

“Liberal”

Democratic Voters Tend To: *Be More Racially Diverse. On

average 90% of African-Americans and 65% of Latinos vote

Democrat. (Asian-Americans favor both political parties

about equally)

90%

65%

Democratic Voters Tend To: *Live on the East or West Coast

or in “Urban Areas” (Big Cities). California, New York, and

other coastal areas have historically been solidly Democrat

2012

2008

“Urban”

“Urban”

First up The Democrats!More on the Democrats!

Medicare

Medicaid

“Peachcare” Affordable Care Act

“Obamacare”

Democratic Voters Tend To: *Support more social-welfare programs.

Democratic legislatures and presidents created Medicare, Medicaid,

Social Security and the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) and have

historically raised taxes on the upper class to pay for these programs

What Kind?

*Believe in targeted tax cuts for the lower and middle classes.

Democrats believe the middle class is the “economic engine” that

drives America and support “progressive tax rates” that require the

wealthy to “pay their fare share”

“Progressive

Tax Rate”

Democratic Voters Tend To: *Be from the middle class and

lower incomes (Refer to your last note for the reason why:)

Four Notes to Go…

Democratic Voters Tend To: *Favor greater government investment

in clean energy. Democrats believe there is no way to “drill” to

energy independence and instead support raising taxes on the

upper class to help subsidize wind, solar, and hydroelectric power

Upper Class

Democratic Voters Tend To: *Be LESS likely to spend on “defense”

(the military) and are MORE likely to spend on public education.

Democrats would like to see a more balanced budget that directs

money away from the armed forces and towards American schools

Defense

Two Left…

Democratic Voters Tend To: *Favor broader regulations on

firearm ownership and support a ban on all assault weapons.

Democrats advocate increased background checks, mandatory

waiting periods, and a full prohibition against the private

ownership of semi-automatic weaponry

“Gun-Control”

Last Note…

Democratic Voters Tend To: *Support Marriage Equality and are “Pro-

Choice” regarding Abortion*. Democrats feel abortion is a decision best

left to a woman and her doctor and should be kept a legal “choice”. They

also believe gays and lesbians should have the same legal rights as

heterosexual couples

“Pro-

Choice”

“Pro-Marriage

Equality ”

Two Things to

Remember:

“Liberal” “Conservative”

REMEMBER I:

REMEMBER II:

All of the things we talked about today

are GENERALIZATIONS; there are

always EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE

First up The Democrats!That’s The Democrats!

Tomorrow the Republicans!

Democrats tend to attract more:

A.Liberals

B.Moderates

C.Conservatives

D.Individuals with no political ideology

The strongest and most consistent group of

supporters of the Democratic Party in recent

presidential elections has been:

A.Asian-Americans

B.African-Americans

C.Cuban-Americans

D.Indian-Americans

A member of which of the following

demographic groups would be LEAST likely

to support a Democratic candidate for

president?

A.African-American

B.Urban

C.Upper income

D.Under thirty years of age

Which of the following groups is LEAST

likely to vote for a Democratic candidate?

A.Pro-Choicers

B.Latinos and Hispanics

C.The Lower and Middle Class

D.Pro-Lifers

Which of the following religious groups

traditionally has most consistently supported

the Democratic Party?

A.Evangelical Christians

B.Hindus

C.Jews

D.Muslims

Generally, the Democratic coalition consists of which of the following groups in the

electorate?

A.Wealthy businessmen, southerners, and Midwesterners

B.Rural voters, African-Americans, and Hispanics

C.Jewish voters, urban voters, and Hispanic-Americans

D.Minorities, southerners, and urban voters