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

2. “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
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3. 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
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4. 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
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5. Voting Patterns in the 11 Former Confederate States
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6. 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
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7. Where We Live: Percent Change in Resident Population, 2000-2007
Four out of five Americans now live in central cities and their suburbs
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8. Where We Live: Cities That Are at Least 50 Percent African American (2006)
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9. 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
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10. 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
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11. Who We Are: Race and Ethnicity
Median Net Worth of Households in the U.S. by Race, 2000
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12. Who We Are: Race and Ethnicity
Changing Racial Composition of the U.S. Polity,
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13. Who We Are: Religion
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14. 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
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15. 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
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16. Who We Are: Sexual Orientation
Homosexuals comprise 2~10% of the population
Fight to end discrimination and backlash
Military service
Marriage
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17. 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
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18. Who We Are: Education
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19. Who We Are: Wealth and Income
What are the implications of an unequal distribution of income for a society’s democratic stability?
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20. 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
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21. 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
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22. Percent of Population Over the Age of 65, 1900-2000
Who We Are: Age
Percent of Population Over the Age of 65,
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