 Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitutions states the census will begin in 1890 and be given every 10 years following that date  The purpose of the census is to allocate Representatives based on population Each state has a different number of Representatives based on the population of that state

 The process of allocating seats in the House based on state population is called apportionment  Dividing up Representatives by population instead of wealth or land holders is a uniquely democratic idea

 The census has evolved over time  The first census only collected data on the number of men, women, free African- Americans, and enslaved people  Over time the census has grown in scope (what data is recorded), size (who they gather data on), and complexity (based on changes in government, economy, and society)

 The census has recorded many changes in American history  In 1920 information gathered in the census indicated the country was now more urban than rural 1920 Census

 Today, census data is used to allocate congressional seats  It is also used to make decisions about providing community services and how to distribute $ billion in federal funding to local, state, and tribal governments each year  This money is used to improve schools, hospitals, roads, senior services and other community services

 Today you will be gathering information on how the census has changed throughout American history  You will use the websites on the next slide to find important events that changed the census  You timeline should be unique to what you find interesting

  gh_the_decades/fast_facts/ gh_the_decades/fast_facts/   _Census _Census  ml ml  srv/national/includes/census_timeline.htm