Do now:
Pick an issue that is important to you (same-sex marriage, abortion, immigration, etc). Why is this
issue important to you? Is there a particular event that drew you to this issue?
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US Political Socialization
Will we be connected to politics?
Most Researchers report the following items influence US political behaviors.
They are listed in order of importance:
Family
School
Peers
Media
Church
Questions to consider (Think of your own family situation.)
 Are the adults in the family interested in politics?

Do the adults vote or do they believe that their votes won’t matter?

How much time do the adults spend with school age children?

What is the socio-economic setting of the school?

Is the school in an urban, sub-urban, or rural setting? (See voting group
patterns)

How close to voting age are your friends?

Do peers discuss politics/voting?

What ethnic groups make up your peers?

What forms of media does the family/person access?

Is that media outlet political or news oriented?

Which religious group? (See voting group patterns)

Does the family participate regularly in religious events?

Is the family church politically outspoken?
Watershed moment
Match the following watershed moments with the issues
they influenced:
September 11th
The death of George Floyd
The Children March in
Birmingham
Harvey Weinstein scandal
Plessy v Ferguson
Covid 19
Sandy Hook Shooting
War in Vietnam
Roe v Wade
Citizens United v FEC
#metoo and sexual assault
Vaccinations and disease
awareness
Gun Control
Police brutality
Money in Politics
The anti-war movement
National Security
The Pro-Life Movement
The Civil Rights movement
Segregation
Exit Ticket:
Identify a watershed moment in American history and how explain its impact on the
political ideologies of those who lived through that moment?
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