Data Scavenger Hunt

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above:

1. What portion of Americans currently say they trust the federal government to do what is right just about always/most of the time?

2. Since 1958, what was the highest percent of Americans who said they trust the federal government to do what is right just about always/most of the time?

3. What is the big story of change over time that the data tells?

4. Describe what happened to the level of trust in the federal government between 1970 and 1980.

5. Do you trust the federal government to do what is right just about always/most of the time?

   Big Brain Questions

   Answer these questions by yourself using your brain and the links below:

6. Think about how trust impacts society and politics. Then list what you think are two major causes and two major effects of the change of Americans’ trust in the federal government change over time?

7. In 2001, Americans’ trust in government hit a recent high. Based on your historical knowledge, how do you explain the momentary increase in trust around 2001?

8. When the pandemic first hit the U.S. in 2020, I (wrongly) predicted that this challenge would bring American’s together. Why do you think Americans’ trust in government did not increased during this grave threat to the entire nation?

9. How do you think the lack of trust in the federal government will impact voting and the 2024 election?

10. Explain the connection between trust in the government and democracy.

Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

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Get Creative

Imagine you lived in a country where almost everyone trusted the government. What would that be like? Try to capture the feeling of a highly trusting country in a creative and artistic expression.

Learn More

Read this poppin’ Pew Research Center report on public trust.