Critical Analysis

1. According to the data from the chart above, what is the most common political ideology of Americans in 2022 and what was the most common political ideology of Americans in 1992?

2. According to the data from the chart above, what percentage of Americans identified as moderates in in 1992 and what percent identified as moderates 2022?

3. Identify one trend you see in the data from the ridiculous chart above.

4. Identify one explanation for that trend.

5. What is one political consequence of this trend?

6. Identify some of the core ideological differences between American conservatives and liberals?

7. Using the data from the chart and your knowledge of American government and politics, respond to the following claim: Because of the decrease in moderates over the past 25 years, America’s political divisions have grown greater.

8. What kind of impact do you think the media will have on political ideology and polarization in America in the next few years?

9. Using the data from the chart and your knowledge of American government and politics, respond to the following claim: ideology = party.

10. Based on the charts below, describe how the ideological makeup of the following groups changed over the past 25 years?*

• Democrats:

• Republicans:

• Independents:

Learning Extension

Read this Gallup report on American political ideology.

Action Extension

On a secret ballot, identify the following ideology you most strongly identify with (liberal, conservative, moderate). Tally up the number of adherents to each of the three ideologies in your classroom and note how your classroom is similar or different from the United States.

Visual Extension*

Check out this gif is about party and ideology polarization over the past few decades.