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Where We Live

A Land of Diversity

Demographics = Characteristics of where we live, who we are in terms of age, education, religion, and occupation affect how we vote

Political Predisposition = A characteristic of a person that can predict political behavior

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Political Socialization

The process by which we develop our political values, beliefs, and attitudes

What causes this?

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Ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one’s nation or ethnic group

1) GeographyThe 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 alliancesThroughout 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

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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)

Manifest Destiny = Belief that developed in the 19th century in which Americans were destined to rule the continentAs a result, we have resorted to violence to take away the lands of Native Americans, Mexicans, and Canadians

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4) Abundance of natural resources

Rich farmland that feeds our population AND makes us the largest exporter of food in the worldRich in natural resources: coal, iron, uranium, oil, precious metals

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Question:

How may where we live in the United

States affect how we vote or think about various candidates, issues, or policies?

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The most distinct section of the United States remains the South,

although the differences are diminishing

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Voting Patterns in the 11 Former Confederate States

Cause in difference with rest of the nation? A history of slavery in the South

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 issuesPolitical 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 nowCivil Rights movement in 1960s eliminated legal and social barriersHowever, the South still falls below the rest of the country in per capita income and educationThe 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 CaliforniaGrowing more rapidly than the rest of the country, thus gaining more representation in CongressLand and labor cheaper and more abundant in the Sun BeltPeople who live in the Sun Belt tend to vote RepublicanCopyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.,

Publishing as Longman

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

CaliforniaCalifornia stands out53 of members of House of Representatives exceed total of representatives from smallest 20 states55 electoral votes are key for any presidential candidate

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Where We Live: Percent Change in Resident Population, 2000-

2007Many live in metropolitan areasMovement of rural to central citiesMany are now moving out of the cities to the suburbsBetter housing, new transportation systems make it easy to get to work, desire for cleaner air

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Four out of five Americans now live in central cities and their suburbs

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

This has made American cities increasingly poor, African American, and DemocraticMore than half all African Americans live in central cities- poverty level amongst them is higher than among whites

Cities That Are at Least 50 Percent African American (2006)