Longman PoliticalScienceInteractive Magleby & Light Government by the People Chapter 5 The U.S. Political Landscape Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

“Identity Politics” in the 2008 Presidential Election “Identity politics”: Identification with a particular candidate because of personal attributes Barack Obama & Blacks Hillary Clinton & women Mike Huckabee & evangelical Christians Mitt Romney & Mormons 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 Reinforcing Cleavages Divisions within society that reinforce one another, making groups more homogeneous or similar Cross-Cutting Cleavages Divisions within society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups that are more heterogeneous or different Ethnocentrism Belief in the superiority of one’s nation or ethnic group Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Regional Differences Sectional differences in the United States are primarily geographic, not ethnic or religious 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 Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

State and Local Identity Reinforced by method of electing the president and members of Congress More than one out of eight Americans is a Californian Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Where We Live: Percent Change in Resident Population, 2000-2007 Four out of five Americans now live in central cities and their suburbs Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Where We Live: Cities That Are at Least 50 Percent African American (2006) Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Who We Are: Race and Ethnicity A grouping of human beings with distinctive characteristics determined by genetic inheritance Ethnicity A social division based on national origin, religion, language, and often race African Americans Hispanics (Latinos) Asian Americans Native Americans Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Who We Are: African Americans Most African Americans came to this country against their will Most continue to be more vulnerable economically than whites Most have lower educational levels than whites Little political power until after WWII Historic victory of Barack Obama in 2008 Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Who We Are: Race and Ethnicity Median Net Worth of Households in the U.S. by Race, 2000 Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Who We Are: Race and Ethnicity Changing Racial Composition of the U.S. Polity, 1950-2050 Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Who We Are: Religion Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Who We Are: Religion Constitution Separation of church and state Protection of religious freedom Still, America is a very religious country, and religion has had a large influence on politics Fundamentalists: Conservative Christians who as a group have become more active in politics in the last two decades, and were especially influential in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Gender and the Vote for President, 2008 Who We Are: Gender Gender gap: The difference between the political opinions or political behavior of men and of women Gender and the Vote for President, 2008 Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Who We Are: Sexual Orientation Homosexuals comprise 2~10% of the population Fight to end discrimination and backlash Military service Marriage Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Who We Are: Family Structure Marriage Used to be essential to be a family at all From 1996 to 2002, the number of U.S. adults who live with someone of the opposite sex without being married increased by 50 percent The divorce rate has nearly doubled since 1950 People also now marry later Birthrates Have been falling for decades Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Who We Are: Education Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Who We Are: Wealth and Income What are the implications of an unequal distribution of income for a society’s democratic stability? Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Knowledge is the organizing device of the postindustrial era Who We Are: Occupation We are now in what Daniel Bell labels the “postindustrial” phase of our development Knowledge is the organizing device of the postindustrial era Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Who We Are: Social Class Most Americans, when asked what class they belong to, say “middle class.” Very few see themselves as lower class or upper class Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman

Percent of Population Over the Age of 65, 1900-2000 Who We Are: Age Percent of Population Over the Age of 65, 1900-2000 Copyright 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as Longman