Social Studies Lab

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National Divorce

Jonathan Milner

Critical Analysis

  1. Republican House Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene suggested on Twitter that the United States should have a “national divorce” that separates red states from blue states. According to the data in the map above, what portion of Americans strongly agree that “We need a national divorce. We need to separate by red states and blue states”?

  2. According to the data in the map above, what percentage of Americans do not agree with the statement “We need a national divorce. We need to separate by red states and blue states”?

  3. According to the data in the map above, what American political party most strongly agrees that “We need a national divorce. We need to separate by red states and blue states”?

  4. Explain whether you agree with the following statement “We need a national divorce. We need to separate by red states and blue states”?

  5. If our country did get a divorce, which side would you want to live in - red or blue states?

  6. Does the U.S. Constitution even have a mechanism for secession “Divorce”?

  7. Describe two consequences of the most significant “divorce"s in our nation’s history.

  8. State legislators in Mississippi and Texas and state GOP leaders in Texas and Wyoming have openly advocated secession in recent months. Are you supportive of your state seceding from the United States to form a new regional union?

  9. How does the issue of a national divorce relate federalism?

  10. A 2021 national survey by pollster John Zogby found a plurality of Americans (46%) believed a future civil war was likely, 43% felt it was unlikely, and 11% were not sure. War seemed more likely for younger people (53%) than older ones (31%), and for those residing in the South (49%) and Central/Great Lakes region (48%) relative to those in the East (39%). But not all experts and scholars think there will be another American civil war. The Harvard political scientist Josh Kertzer wrote on Twitter that he knows many civil war scholars, and “very few of them think the United States is on the precipice of a civil war.” What do you predict will happen to the union?

Learning Extension

Check out this YouGov report about public opinion on a national divorce.

Action Extension

Talk to friends and relatives and ask them if they support a national divorce. Share their responses with class.

Visual Extension