Toward Reform: Red States and Blue States Unit 3: AP Gov

11.6 United or Divided?  Increasing partisan divisions Northern liberal Republicans and southern conservative Democrats have become rare Parties have retreated in opposite directions  Effect on Americans? Unclear if Americans are equally polarized

11.6 Causes of Polarization  Geographic divide “The United States of Canada” to the north “Jesusland” to the south  Stereotypes of political identifiers Republicans = NASCAR Democrats = Starbucks  Wedge issues “Guns, God, and gays” Abortion, gay marriage

11.6 Consequences of Polarization  Congress Least productive in history Lack of moderates, lower incentive to compromise  Consequences to electorate Forcing moderate electorate to choose between extremes may increase voter apathy

Video: So What? IA_1/polisci/presidency/OConner_Ch11_Political_Parties_S eg6_v2.html

The Last Word: Assignment 6 due Monday; Collaborize due Mon. Consider: Why does it matter more that we are polarized NOW than perhaps in the past?