What percent of Americans accept political violence?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, and your knowledge of American government and politics.
According to the data above, as of 2025 what percent of Americans agreed with the following statement: “true American patriots may have to resort to violence to save our country?
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a close ally of President Trump, was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University. There have been other recent acts of political violence, but Mr. Kirk’s assassination marks a grim chapter in American political violence. Why do you think so many Americans are turning to political violence?
Using the data from the visual above describe how support for violence has changed since 2020.
The PRRI Trump’s First 100 Days Survey finds that most Americans (81%) disagree that “because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country,” including 53% who completely disagree, compared with 14% of those who agree. How do you think the assassination of Charlie Kirk will impact those numbers?
In 2023 nearly a quarter of Americans (23%) agreed that “because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country,” Do you agree that true American patriots may have to resort to violence to save our country?
When we condone and normalize political violence we throw gasoline on a fire that will eventually burn us all. Explain what you think will happen when a majority of Americans agree that “because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.”
One thing I have noticed is that just as most Americans (81%) are against political violence, most people I interact with in real life (IRL) tend to decry and oppose political violence. Meanwhile online extremists on both sides are calling for more violence. How do you think the media, social media and AI impact the toleration of political violence.
According to the visual below* how does age impact toleration of political violence and do you think that the Alpha Generation (individuals born roughly between 2010 and 2024 and now between 1 and 15 years old) will tolerate violence even more that Generation Z?
In the United States, France, and Germany, political violence has been rising. Three factors are salient: Polarization (political division) convinces some people that violence is acceptable to keep opponents from power; extreme political parties normalize polarization and violence, leading to attacks from — and against — their supporters; and the democratically disillusioned (people who think voting is useless) use violence, not votes, to express themselves. Political violence can be reduced if: 1) leaders insist on nonviolence; 2) governments and politicians support the rule of law, accountability, and equitable policing; 3) voting systems dampen extremism; 4) communities organize across difference against violence; and 5) activists insist on nonviolence within their movements. Explain whether any of these five methods or reducing political violence are being used in the U.S. today.
Reacting to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, conservative columnist David French wrote, “Even vast political differences can be managed when people acknowledge the humanity and dignity of their opponents.” Do you think this political violence will bring us together or move us apart. What happens next?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
HOPE (HARNESSING OUR POWER TO END POLITICAL VIOLENCE) has created a guide to ending political violence in communities. What do you think you can do to lower the temperature and slow the spread of political violence? Create a class project or school group to oppose all political violence.
Get Creative
Write about your reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the rise of political violence in the U.S.
