What has happened to the price of oil since Israel and the U.S. bombed Iran on February 28?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
According to the visual above, what was the price of oil per barrel on March 1?
According to the visual above, what was the price of oil per barrel on March 6?
Describe the trajectory you see in the price of oil since Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran on February 28?
Based on the visual below*, as gas prices rose during his term in office, what happened to President Biden’s approval ratings?
According to the latest polling data from The Economist, Donald Trump currently has a 28% approval rating. Since the start of the latest round of the Iran War, the price of oil has surged, with the average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. climbing 34 cents to about $3.32, according to AAA. How do you think the increasing price of oil will impact Trump’s approval ratings?
Some people say that Americans vote with their wallets. In other words, our voting is mostly motivated by how it impacts us economically. Do you think that’s true?
Only one in four Americans approves of U.S. strikes on Iran that have plunged the Middle East into chaos, while about half — including one in four Republicans — believe President Donald Trump is too willing to use military force, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. How do you think the price of gas, the unpopularity of war in Iran, and Donald Trump’s approval ratings will impact the midterm elections this November?
The Strait of Hormuz has become the center of the energy universe again after the U.S. and Israel began bombing Iran over the weekend. In retaliation, the regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has launched missiles at vessels near the critical choke point in the global energy trade, bringing ship traffic there to a virtual standstill. Identify the ways the price of gasoline impacts your life.
President Trump has said that he will order U.S. Navy vessels to escort oil tankers through the Straits of Hormuz to get oil flowing and send the price of oil back down again. Describe other methods Presidents can use to impact the American economy.
One intended consequence of all war is that people die. 175 elementary school girls died in a U.S. strike on the first day of the war. Wars also have many unintended consequences, and thus should be entered into carefully and only as a last resort. For example due to the intensified conflict in the Middle East, more than 23,000 global flights have been cancelled, causing the most significant disruptions to international travel since the 2020 pandemic. Additionally, since the Iran War began over 330,000 people across the region have been displaced. As you consider other unintended consequences of this war, explain how much care and planning you feel has gone into the current War in Iran.
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
Contact the White House and let them know what you think about the consequences of the War in Iran.
Get Creative
What is the connection between gas prices and war? Create a simple sign, poster, or flyer making a connection between gas prices and the Iran War.
Learn More*
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