Iran, Iran so far away

1)Can you identify Iran on an unlabeled map?

2)Two weeks ago the United States assassinated Iran’s most powerful commander, General Qassem Soleimani, and the two countries almost went to war. (*they still could go to war) What portion of American registered voters can locate Iran on an unlabeled close up map of the Middle East?

1. How accurate was your prediction?

2. What story does the data tell?

3. Why do you think so few Americans can identify Iran on a map?

4. What is one consequence of this inability to label Iran?

5. Is this good news?

6. If only 28% of registered voters could identify Iran, what portion of non-voters could identify Iran?

7. What percent of Iranians do you think could identify the United States on an unlabeled map?

8. What percent of Americans do you think could identify the United States on an unlabeled map?

9. Would you support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that said the United States could only fight wars with countries that the majority of voters could identified on an unlabeled map?

10. What does the U.S. Constitution say about who we can fight in a war?

11. What does the U.S. Constitution say about who decides if we fight in a war?

12. Did you know that no two democracies have ever fought each other in a war? Well it’s true (sort of)! Why do you think that is? (in other words, what is it about the way democracy works that decreases war-fighting?

13. Let’s say that the United States and Iran were both democracies. Explain why that would make it less likely for these two countries to go to war?

14. How would the percent of registered voters in the U.S. who can identify Iran change if given a map of the entire world?*

15. Describe what you imagine is the relationship between geographical knowledge and likelihood to go to war.

16. There are lots of interesting places people picked for Iran. I must say that my favorite place someone labeled Iran is right of the coast of England. Who Knew?!?! In the comments section below, comment on the worst map placement of Iran:

17. Imagine that almost 100% of American voters could identify Iran on a map. How would that impact our political system?

18. Which of the past 5 U.S. Presidents do you think could identify Iran on a map?

19. Explain how demographics impact the ability to identify Iran on an unlabeled map.

20. A student named Amanda Hugginkiss said that she wasn’t concerned about this data because after all, President George Washington couldn’t label Iran on a map. Explain why Amanda is wrong!

21. The data in the chart below* shows that Republicans can more successfully identify Iran than Democrats. Why do you think that is?

22. Explain whether the U.S. government should have assassinated General Soleimani.

23. Why do you think the U.S. government assassinated General Soleimani?

Visual Extension

Learning Extension

Read this horrible story about the war between Americans and the map of Iran!

Action Extension

Contact your state governor (most education funding happens at the state level #FEDERALISM) and tell them what you think about geographic education in your state.