Bell Ringers
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By sunshinecavalluzzi
On November 4, 2018

Bell Ringer: Political Polarization and its Impact

Political Polarization and Ideological Divisions

David Yudkin of More in Common discusses the characteristics and impact of Americans with more polarized political views, and why the majority of Americans in the middle might struggle more to affect the political narrative than the minority on the wings.

Description

Political Polarization is defined by a division of people along party lines - in the United States, it's characterized by strong divisions between Republicans and Democrats or conservatives and liberals. While an increasing number of Americans are likely to identify as independent rather than as a member of either major party, there remain strong and vocal activists at the wings of each party who emphatically promote their preferred political agendas.

Bell Ringer Assignment

  • Why does David Brooks call the American political conflict a "primarily a rich white civil war"? What demography did David Yudkin present to support that characterization?
  • How many Americans, according to the More in Common survey, believe America is in one of its most polarized times right now? What does he assert is driving that perception?
  • What does Yudkin assert are the narratives put forward about the right and left? What do Brooks and Yudkin advocate as the optimal new narrative?
  • AP Gov- Questions to Consider: How do the responses to the question about determinants of success discussed by Yudkin reflect other aspects of conservative and liberal philosophy? Why would the "exhausted majority" in the center of the political spectrum have more difficulty advancing a narrative than either the left or the right? How do the ideas discussed in the clip reflect and relate to Madison's discussions in Federalist 10?

Additional Resources

Participants

    Vocabulary

    • Conservative
    • Demographics
    • Moderate
    • Party Affiliation
    • Polarization
    • Political Behavior
    • Political Ideology
    • Progressive
    • Tribalism

    Topics

    AP U.S. Government Key TermsCampaigns & ElectionsPolitical Parties

    Grades

    High School