THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

ARE YOU LEFT, RIGHT OR MODERATE?

LEFT OF MODERATE

Liberal – (Left) • Government should play a big role in “social

reform” and well-being.– Focus on issues such as poverty, education, and

environment• Favor change; sometimes called “progressive”

Examples: Democrats, Green Party

RIGHT OF MODERATE

Conservative (Right Wing)• Government should stay out of the lives of

citizens and businesses.• Exception: Moral issues/”family values”– Example: Abortion, Gay Marriage

• Favor status quo• Resistant to change• Want to work within system• Examples: Republican, Reform

MODERATE

Moderate (Middle)• Opinions fall between left and right• Tolerant of multiple view points• Not extreme about issues

Example: Independent, Undeclared

Far LeftRadical (Far Left)…• Favor fundamental changes• Want to reverse the domination of the

wealthy over poor• Often support highly centralized government• Want a total overhaul of the system

Example: Communist

Far Right

Reactionary (Far Right)• Advocate return to a historical system.• Very traditional views on who should have power.• Often very religious, moralistic and/or ideological.• Will use extreme measures (such as violence) to

reinforce laws power.

Examples: Dictatorships, Absolute Monarchies, Oligarchies (e.g. Taliban)

TAKE A MOMENT TO APPLY THIS NEW IDEA…

• Imagine that your house is a country and your parents are the leaders. What type of leaders are they?– Radical– Liberal– Moderate– Conservative– Reactionary

• Explain your choice in one sentence. Then… share your response with a neighbor.

LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE

CHANGE TRADITION

PROBLEMS CIRCUMSTANTIAL

PROBLEMS ARE INDIVIDUAL

GOV’T RESPONSIBLE FOR CHANGE

GOVERNMENT SHOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY

EQUALITY AND FAIRNESS! PERSONAL FREEDOMS, ESPECIALLY ECONOMIC

HUMAN RIGHTS PROPERTY RIGHTS

VALUES ARE “RELATIVE” MORAL ABSOLUTES

DRAW IT…The next few slides show different sides of important issues. Make a two column table and draw symbols that represent positions on each side of the political spectrum.

Liberal/Left Conservative/Right

(Pro-environment) (Pro-business)

MORALITY/IDEOLOGIES…

CHANGE

PRO-CHOICE

GAY MARRIAGE

FREEDOM OF SPEECH AT ALL COSTS

PROBLEMS IN SOCIETY

CIRCUMSTANTIAL

WELFARE PROGRAMS

HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE

DRUG REHABILITATION PROGRAMS

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

GOV’T RESPONSIBLE FOR SOCIAL REFORM

MORE EDUCATION FUNDING

ASSISTANCE PROGRMAS FOR POOR AND MINORITIES

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

RIGHTS

HUMAN RIGHTS

ENVIRONMENT

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

CRIME PREVENTION AND REHIBILITATION

Think-Pair-Share

Which side (liberal or conservative) would be most likely to send their country to war? Why do you think that?

• Think about your answer• Pair up with a neighbor• Share your responses

The train station analogy…

• Rex Tugwell, an advisor to president Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), said that

different attitudes toward change characterize different political

philosophies. He wrote that if a community needed a new train

station (or education reform, crime control, etc.)…

Fill in the blank with: radical, liberal, conservative, or reactionary

“__________ would rebuild the station while the trains are still running,__________ prefer to blow up the train station and forgo service until the new structure is built,__________ would prefer to keep the old station, being satisfied with it, while__________ would abandon the station entirely since they do not approve of trains in the first place.”

REFLECTION

Finish the following thoughts:

• I agree that...• What I learned made me think of…• I feel… about what I learned today.• I am still wondering…

Other Resources…

• http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/politicalbeliefs/preview.weml

• http://www.studentnewsdaily.com/conservative-vs-liberal-beliefs/