civics/geography. notes: on both maps, the red states indicate republican votes and the blue states...
TRANSCRIPT
PARTY CHANGE: ACTIVATING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
Notes: On both maps, the red states indicate Republican votes and the blue states indicate votes for Democrats. 1. What vocabulary do you need to know in order to
understand the maps? 2. What is the purpose of the maps? 3. What information do the maps provide?
4. Identify at least two patterns on the maps. (Which blocks of states changed or stayed the same?)5. Explain why the patterns exist? 6. How has political party representation changed regionally over time?
1908
REVIEWING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE Each state has a number of electors equal to the number of Senators and
Representatives that state has Based on population Protects the power of small states Smallest states (and Washington DC) have 3 (2 Senators and one Representative) Largest state (California) has 55
Electors are selected by the state legislatures
Some states can split their electors
Electors are often guided by, but not bound by, the popular vote
A candidate MUST HAVE A Majority to win (270 out of 538)
WHAT DO PARTIES DO? Provide a label for candidates
Organize the legislative branch
Organize opposition
Help voters make semi-informed choices
Create policy options
PARTY CHANGE: DIRECT INSTRUCTION Party Realignment
When groups of voters leave one party for the other party Happens in “critical elections”
Party dealignment Occurs when people leave political parties and identify as independents Characterizes the second half of the twentieth century
Party Change is often a reaction to national events Expansion War Economic Crisis Wave of immigration
PARTY CHANGE: APPLICATION Electoral Maps
Realignment 1860 Realignment 1932 2008 Map
Tea Party role in Party Change Tea Party Articles Questions
RED STATES VS. BLUE STATESHow the States Got Their Shapes Season 2 Episode 1
Answer Identify three characteristics of Red States
Identify three characteristics of Blue States
PREDICTING 2016 http://www.270towin.com/
Projected Swing States Arizona (11) Colorado (9) Iowa (6) Wisconsin (10) Ohio (18) Pennsylvania (20) New Hampshire (4) Virginia (13) North Carolina (15) Georgia (15) Florida (29)