American Studies

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American Studies

• The Political Spectrum

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How do you feel about?
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The most important political issues
Critical Issues
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What is your political philosophy?
Are you a liberal, a conservative, a reactionary
or a revolutionary?

• How do you feel about
• Abortion
• Gun Control
• Death Penalty
• Taxes
• Government Spending
• On Roads, Schools
• On the military
• Gay Marriage
• Laws limiting businesses
• Laws limiting what you can do

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Political Spectrum
Expressed in Degrees
Hot
Cold
in between is a full range of temperatures
Extremes at Both Ends
A continuum is a line used to show relative
degrees of something, with extremes at both ends.
When used as a political spectrum, it shows
relative degrees of political thought.
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At the end of this lesson, you should be able to

• Define each political term like
  liberal and conservative
• Place in its correct relative position on the
  spectrum
• Explain political methods of each philosophy
• Explain degree of change advocated
• Describe direction of change

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Now complete the political questionnaire on the
sheet provided.

• Note that the numbers a negative and positive
• Note that some questions have different number
  values

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What is the role of government?

• The Right
• Provide for defense and law and order.
• Hands off the economy.

• The Left
• Take care of citizens from cradle to grave

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Degrees of Difference
People are divided over this and other issues.
The differences are expressed in degrees, not
absolutes.
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Now lets talk about the questions.

• 1. We spend too much money on national defense
  (over 400 billion annually). This money would be
  better spent on roads, bridges, and
  schools. Strongly agree agree not
  sure disagree strongly disagree
• -2 -1 0 1 2
• 2. The use of embryonic stem cells for
  scientific research is should be financially
  supported by our government.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -3 -1 0 1 3
• 3. Our government should provide free health care
  to all citizens who cant afford it.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -2 -1 0 1 2
• 4. The government should take over the ownership
  of major industries like transportation and oil
  production.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -4 -1 0 1 2
• 5. Our nation should adopt Spanish as well as
  English as the primary languages. All citizens
  should be required to speak both languages.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -4 -1 0 1 2

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• 6. A woman has the absolute right to an abortion
  during the first trimester of pregnancy and the
  government should not interfere with this right.
  
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -2 -1 0 1 2
• 7. The Second Amendment right to keep and bear
  arms should not include assault rifles, machine
  guns, or semi automatic weapons. The government
  should stop their sale to private citizens.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -2 -1 0 1 2
• 8. The government should strongly regulate
  industry, even if it hurts the economy, in order
  to protect the environment and stop global
  warming.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -2 -1 0 1 2
• 9. The war in Iraq was an unjust war for oil and
  the US should immediately withdraw its troops.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -2 -1 0 1 2
• 10. Drugs like marijuana should be legalized.
  
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -2 -1 0 1 2

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• 11. Euthanasia (the right to die) is a natural
  right.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -3 -1 0 1 3
• 12. Wealthy people should be taxed at a higher
  percentage than the poor.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -2 -1 0 1 2
• 13. The death penalty is barbaric and should
  never be used for any reason.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -3 -1 0 1 3
• 14. Gays should have the right to marry and enjoy
  the same privileges as heterosexuals.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -3 -1 0 1 3

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• 15. Affirmative action or the requirement of
  private and government agencies to hire a certain
  percentage of minorities over whites is justified
  to right passed wrongs.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -3 -1 0 1 3
• 16. People who murder doctors who perform
  abortions are savages who should be put away for
  life.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -2 -1 0 3 4
• 17. Welfare relief for the poor should be
  increased to help break them out of poverty.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -2 -1 0 1 2
• 18. Our nation is controlled by big business and
  modern-day robber barons. Our political leaders
  must be eliminated if a true democracy is to be
  created.
• Strongly agree agree not sure
  disagree strongly disagree
• -5 -1 0 1 2

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What words characterize the values of each group?
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I am a member of the Klux Klan. What am I?

• I believe that blacks, Jews, and foreigners have
  ruined America. I want America to go back to the
  way it was before these outsiders invaded our
  nation. America was once a nation where whites
  earned money without be taxed to support a lazy
  foreigner. I will use any means necessary bring
  the US back to its true self.

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I am Barack Obama. What am I?

• I am a Senator from Illinois and I believe that
  the United States needs a lot of change. When I
  become president I hope to provide universal
  health care for all Americans. To do this I will
  tax the wealthy. I also hope to gain more rights
  for minorities, women, and gays.

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I am Vladimir LeninWhat am I?

• I believe that the Russian society under Tsar
  Nicholas II was so corrupt that it needed drastic
  change by any means necessary. To insure that all
  people are equal and free, I ordered that the
  government take over all economic life and that
  the Tsar and his family be executed.

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I am Sarah Palin. What am I?

• I am the governor of Alaska and the Republican VP
  candidate. I believe in American traditional
  values. I believe that government should stay out
  of businesses way by lowering taxes and
  regulations on industry. I believe that Americas
  social values are in decay. Therefore I am
  against gay marriage, abortion, and welfare. If I
  become the VP, I will use my office to keep
  America great.

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Show you know

• On which side of the political spectrum is this
  person?

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• Now create your own.