What percent of Americans support violence in response to the direction of the country?

Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, and your knowledge of American government and politics.

1. As of 2023 what percent of Americans support violence in response to the direction of the country?

2. How has that support for violence changed over the past 2 years?

3. Why do you think support for violence has changed?

4. How does party affiliation impact views on violence in politics?

5. How does religion impact views on violence in politics?

6. Today, nearly a quarter of Americans (23%) 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,” Do you agree that true American patriots may have to resort to violence to save our country?

7. 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.”

8. The January 6 insurrection happened after the 2020 election. Many Americans, even some who were the target of the uprising, are now downplaying the seriousness of this event. Do you think we will see a January 6 style insurrection during he upcoming 2024 election?

9. "I think we're in for a pretty challenging election season between now and the presidential election in 2024," said Robert Jones, the CEO and founder of the PRRI — a nonpartisan group that conducts research on the intersection of politics, culture and religion. How do you think the data from the PRRI visual above will impact the 2024 election?

10. Jones says he thinks these views are a symptom of continued polarization in the country's politics. He also blamed a spillover effect created by the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. "I think the temperature is high and people feel the sense that the guardrails are down," Jones explained. "We did have the first non-peaceful transfer of power in the last election and I think that still is resonating across the years and into this new election cycle." What do you think best explains the data from the visual above?

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Learning Extension

Check out this NPR story on Americans’ appetite for political violence.

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Action Extension

Tweet @POTUS or @realDonaldTrump and explain to them their chances of winning in 2024.

Visual Extension