starter activity

How would you describe the political differences between these two presidents?

How do Democrats How do Democrats and Republicans and Republicans

differ?differ?To identify the similarities To identify the similarities

and differences between the and differences between the two major US political partiestwo major US political parties

Aims

Your taskYour task

Read Bennett p.117-122 on the Read Bennett p.117-122 on the political differences between the two political differences between the two main parties and complete a table main parties and complete a table noting the response of Democrats noting the response of Democrats and Republicans to the 6 big issues and Republicans to the 6 big issues that have traditionally divided the that have traditionally divided the parties. parties.

Your taskYour task

Study the cards your teacher Study the cards your teacher provides and sort them into two provides and sort them into two groups: Democrat or Republicangroups: Democrat or Republican

Democrats

Republicans

Your taskYour task

Read Bennett p.126—130 and define Read Bennett p.126—130 and define the term ‘Solid South’. Explain when the term ‘Solid South’. Explain when and how the Solid South was broken and how the Solid South was broken up.up.

Solid SouthSolid South

Describes idea that whether black, Describes idea that whether black, white, liberal or conservative you voted white, liberal or conservative you voted Democrat if you lived in the SouthDemocrat if you lived in the South

‘‘Yellow dog Democrats’ – even a yellow Yellow dog Democrats’ – even a yellow dog as a Democratic candidate could dog as a Democratic candidate could winwin

Break down of ‘solid South’ 1964-2000 Break down of ‘solid South’ 1964-2000 due to perceptions as party of ‘tax and due to perceptions as party of ‘tax and spend’ and overly liberal attitudesspend’ and overly liberal attitudes

Emergence of ‘solid North East’Emergence of ‘solid North East’

Your taskYour task

Create a scales chart gathering Create a scales chart gathering evidence to support the so-called evidence to support the so-called ’50-50 nation’ principle and evidence ’50-50 nation’ principle and evidence that this idea is over simplistic. How that this idea is over simplistic. How true is his term today?true is his term today?

50-50 nation50-50 nation

2000 presidential election, both 2000 presidential election, both sides gained 49% of popular vote, sides gained 49% of popular vote, electoral college divided 271-267, electoral college divided 271-267, House of Representatives divided House of Representatives divided 221-212; Senate split 50-50221-212; Senate split 50-50

2004 presidential election, 51%-48, 2004 presidential election, 51%-48, electoral college divided 286-252, electoral college divided 286-252, House divided 232-202, Senate split House divided 232-202, Senate split 55-4555-45

Problems with 50-50Problems with 50-50 Overly simplistic, e.g. 2008, 9 states which Overly simplistic, e.g. 2008, 9 states which

previously voted for Bush voted for Obamapreviously voted for Bush voted for Obama Congressional & state elections sometimes Congressional & state elections sometimes

differ from presidential results, e.g. West differ from presidential results, e.g. West Virginia voted McCain, but its Senator and Virginia voted McCain, but its Senator and Representatives are DemocratsRepresentatives are Democrats

New York voted Democrat in presidentials New York voted Democrat in presidentials but has had Republican governor recentlybut has had Republican governor recently

Decline in party votingDecline in party voting

2000

2004

Your taskYour task

List reasons for the ‘red-blue’ divide List reasons for the ‘red-blue’ divide using the evidence on p.133-4.using the evidence on p.133-4.

Red-Blue divideRed-Blue divide New right – Reagan’s more ideological New right – Reagan’s more ideological

approach moved politics away from centre approach moved politics away from centre ground, you were either ‘with us or against ground, you were either ‘with us or against us’us’

Collapse of Cold War consensus politicsCollapse of Cold War consensus politics Clinton opened divisive issues of 1960s – Clinton opened divisive issues of 1960s –

sex, feminism, authority & moralitysex, feminism, authority & morality Bush – foreign policy, esp. Iraq, divided Bush – foreign policy, esp. Iraq, divided

countrycountry Media – polarised opinion, esp. growth of Media – polarised opinion, esp. growth of

media syndicates, e.g. News Internationalmedia syndicates, e.g. News International

Big tent coalitionsBig tent coalitions

Both parties remain ‘big tent’ Both parties remain ‘big tent’ coalitionscoalitions

Wide spectrum of political ideologiesWide spectrum of political ideologies Republican and Democrat over-Republican and Democrat over-

simplifiessimplifies Need for prefixes, e.g. ‘conservative’, Need for prefixes, e.g. ‘conservative’,

liberal’ or ‘moderate’liberal’ or ‘moderate’ Also ‘hawks’ & ‘doves’, ‘isolationists’ Also ‘hawks’ & ‘doves’, ‘isolationists’

& ‘internationalists’& ‘internationalists’

Extension taskExtension task You have been asked by Time magazine to You have been asked by Time magazine to

create a survey to assess the Democrat or create a survey to assess the Democrat or Republican leanings of students at FSG. Republican leanings of students at FSG. Write a survey and test it out on your peers. Write a survey and test it out on your peers. Include the following areas:Include the following areas:

EducationEducation ImmigrationImmigration Foreign policy, e.g. Iraq & AfghanistanForeign policy, e.g. Iraq & Afghanistan Family valuesFamily values Health careHealth care Socio-economic profileSocio-economic profile

HomeworkHomework

Visit the Democrat and Republican Visit the Democrat and Republican Party websites (links on Party websites (links on www.studyhistory.co.ukwww.studyhistory.co.uk ) and note ) and note down the current policies of both down the current policies of both partiesparties

Complete Section 2 of the study Complete Section 2 of the study guide.guide.

PlenaryPlenary

List as many ideological or policy List as many ideological or policy differences between Democrats & differences between Democrats & Republicans as possibleRepublicans as possible

What is meant by the term ‘solid What is meant by the term ‘solid South’South’

What evidence is there to suggest the What evidence is there to suggest the USA has become a 50-50 nationUSA has become a 50-50 nation

What evidence is there to suggest it is What evidence is there to suggest it is a ‘purple’ nation?a ‘purple’ nation?