Social Studies Lab

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Is America the greatest country in the world?

Critical Analysis

  1. What portion of Americans think America is the greatest country in the world?

  2. Describe how Republicans and Democrats differ in their views on American greatness.

  3. Why do you think that is?

  4. What is one consequence of this divergence?

  5. How much do you think that our nation’s pandemic response has impacted Americans’ feelings about our country being the best in the world.

  6. Overall, do you believe America is the greatest country in the world?

  7. Use one piece of evidence to support the claim that American is the best country in the world.

  8. Use one piece of evidence to refute the claim that American is the best country in the world.

  9. Look at the charts below* on age and American greatness, and race and American greatness. How do these demographic factors impact belief in American greatness?

  10. Why do you think your generation feels so differently about our country’s greatness from older Americans?

Learning Extension

Check out this great You Gov data about American exceptionalism and see how demographics like gender, wealth, and age impact these beliefs.

Action Extension

Register to vote. It will take two minutes. If you will be 18 by November 8, 2022 you can vote in most states’ primary elections, and all states’ 2022 midterm elections. If you can’t register to vote, convince someone who can.

Visual Extension*