1. Session: Political Socialization & Identity
Essential Question of the Unit:
To What extent are American Elections truly Democratic?
Unit 3: Elections & the Trump Phenomenon

2. What We Are Exploring: We are looking at 2016 election results
You are examining how people develop their political identity
You are analyzing the impact of Millennials on 2016 election in the U.S.
You will take a political identity quiz to help begin to determine your political identity
You will write a reflection describing who YOU ARE politically speaking
*Note, today’ session, all VOCAB TO KNOW will be in red and italicized

3. The Trump Phenomenon
In November of 2016, the world was shocked and confused when Donald Trump beat Hilary Clinton and won the U.S. Presidency…
Reliving the Election Night
Take 90 seconds to discuss any observations
Bringing out to the floor...
What does the average person living in the U.S. feel and think about the Trump Presidency so far?...
Here’s What Americans Think About Trump’s first Year in Office
Take 90 seconds to discuss what you observed & analyzed
One Last time out to the floor…

4. The Millennial Vote
For this 2018 election, all EYES AND EARS are focused on the Millennial Vote
(FYI Millennials are people born 1981 to 1998)
Here is a video that will help you understand the “generations” in context: From NOW THIS!- Message from the Elderly
As you watch:
What impression do you get about young people?
Why do you think Millennials/young people are important in this election?
Dear Young People, “Don’t Vote”
2018 Midterm Elections & Young People
Take 2 mins to debrief with your SW partner- person who will be 18 sooner talks first
Bringing this out to the floor…

5. Millennials By the Numbers
Voting Data:
Population Data:

6. From Students to Activists…
On February 14th, in Parkland, Florida- At Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School endured a mass shooting that left dozens dead and many more injured
This is documentation of the first day of school after the shooting
Returning Back to School in Parkland
Since the shooting, students from Parkland have become activists on the Gun Control issue and have become national figures and have changed the political landscape (environment) for young people
From Students to Activists
Take now 2 mins with your partner to discuss reactions…
You have to be able to say more then just
“ That’s crazy fool!” or “That’s F***ed Up!”- Wrap Your Brain Around this, please

7. What is Public Opinion?
Def.: Politically relevant opinions held by ordinary citizens that they express openly.
Attitudes and opinions of a large group of people on particular issues
Let’s see how people feel about “issues”:
This is an example of a public opinion poll on guns:
Clinton & Trump Supporters on Gun Policies-Pew Research Center
Take 90 seconds to discuss what you observe about people’s opinions on guns

8. Gun Issue: Clinton vs Trump
Gun Priorities
Gun Policy Proposals

9. Political Socialization
So, where do we get our public opinions?
Political Socialization: the learning process by which people acquire their political opinions, beliefs, and values.
Take 1 min to discuss with your SW partner the words that are underlined
Where do you think opinions are acquired from?
Where do we get our values and beliefs from?

10. Agents of Political Socialization
Def. The agents that have a significant impact on citizens’ political socialization.
Primary Agents:
Parents and families (#1 influence!)
Schools
Religious Organizations
Secondary Agents:
Race
Income
Gender

11. Primary Socializing Agents
Family: Main influence for early life. Political leanings developed early, later given reasons.
School: Reinforce importance of political institutions, pride in country and values (liberty, equality, participation in govt.)
Religion: Socializes beliefs in societal topics, esp. how we help the poor while at the same time issues such as abortion, vaccines for children
Protestants (Christians)  Tend to vote Republican
Catholics  Tend to vote Democrat
Jewish Tend to vote Democrat

12. Secondary Socializing Agents
Race: Voting Patterns by Race
White vote  Tend to vote more Republican
Black vote Historically Democrat, but has been changing recent decades
Latino/Hispanic Vote  Same as Black vote
Income:
those with higher incomes  more conservative and supportive of Republicans
those with lower incomes  more liberal and supportive of Democrats.
Gender:
Men Tend to vote Republican
Women Tend to vote Democrat

13. Other Agents of Socialization
Media: influence indirectly, through images and themes. (ex. Exposure to crime on television makes people believe society is more dangerous than it is).
Leaders: Authority figures and those well respected can impact public opinion. Ex. The President (#1), News Media figures (Oprah Winfrey, Jon Stewart, Bill O’Riley)

14. So what does this mean for you..
These are the top 6 influential agents of socialization
Family
School
Religion
Race
Education
Gender

15. Morgana’s Pol. Id Chart
This is an example of my political ID chart based on the 6 agents
Family
Raised Catholic
Latin Amer Immigrants
Working class values (hard work etc)
School
All education public school
Urban schooling
Influenced by teachers as mentors
Religion
Mom strong Catholic background
At teen age, went vs church and values
No set religion now
Race
Latino heritage has influenced my leaning towards “the left”
Education
Having a college degree and gone to a more “liberal” school big influence on my politics
Exposure to different ideas and people
Gender
This is where I break the trend of men voters
Although I am a man, I do not vote “conservative”

16. A View From a Distance…How we “See” Democracy

17. Political Ideology
Based on the Political socialization from all the Agents that shape your political public opinions, you then define your political ideology
Def. Consistent pattern of opinion on particular issues that stems from a core belief or set of beliefs.
Americans have ideological leanings: Liberal and Conservative on the Political Spectrum.
Lets see what that looks like:

18. The Political Spectrum
Left
Right
Liberal
Conservative
Radical
Reactionary
Moderate

19. Dividing the Issues
In general, political issues can be divided into two categories:
Economic Issues:
Dealing with money, business, taxes, government regulation of business, Government spending, wealth distribution
Cultural (Social) Issues:
Dealing with society and the way people live, crime, morality, prison, liberties, rights
Let’s now TEST who YOU are Politically Speaking

20. Political Identity Quiz
Open your laptops, sign in, and open a web browser
Open Google and type in
1. PBS Pew Political Party Quiz (this helps you determine political party)
2. Ballotpedia.org gives you non partisan site for more information
Instructions:
Click on tab that says “Take The Quiz”
Answer the questions that are listed
At the end press “submit” and you will see your results

21. Debrief YOUR Results/Reflection
Now that you have taken this political quiz- let’s debrief your answers:
Take the next 5-7 mins to review the results from isidewith.com
Questions to consider as you debrief:
What political party does this correspond you with?
What are the most important issues for you based on results?
Where are you on the “political spectrum”?
What “issues” would you like to learn more about?

22. Finding Your Reps… Open Google Browser
Type in “ Common Cause Find Your Rep”
Click on link
Type in Your Address
Voila, all of your Representatives for Federal and State
1. navigate through their web sites
2. Read about them
3. Sign up for the newsletter via - this gives you an letting you know about issues and updates to stay informed
*Senator Kamala Harris does not have a newsletter- but you can follow her on Twitter- You can actually follow all of them on Twitter

23. YOUR Pol Identity Chart
Fill YOUR OWN Chart as best as you can: Take 5 mins
Family
School
Religion
Race
Income
Sex (yes please)