'Til Death Do Us Part(isanship)
Critical Analysis
Based on the data from the chart above, how likely are Republicans to marry Democrats?
Of the two major parties, which is more likely to marry an independent?
What story does this chart tell about American politics.
The rate of opposite-party marriages, when a person marries someone who identifies with the opposing political party, is small. Only 3 percent of all American adults are married to an individual from the opposing party, making up 6 percent of all marriages. Why do you think marriages outside of party are so rare?
Would you marry someone from the opposite party?
There isn’t a lot of historical data about inter-party and outer-party marriages, but when Gallup asked in 1958, “If you had a daughter of marriageable age, would you prefer she marry a Democrat or Republican, all other things being equal?” The results: 18% of Americans said they would prefer their daughter to marry a Democrat, 10% preferred a Republican, and the majority didn’t care. What does this information lead you to believe about political partisanship over the years?
Describe one of the causes most responsible for the increasing partisan division in the U.S.*
My wife’s mother and father were of different political parties. Do your parents come from the same political party?
List one question you have about this information.
Based on the data from the chart below, are people more likely to change parties or change partners?*
Learning Extension
Check out all the results of the 2020 Voter Study Group Report: “‘Til Death Do Us Part(isanship)”
Action Extension
Ask your parents the questions from the survey below, and with their permission, share their answers.