the 2008 presidential election: obama versus mccain: who votes for whom? u.s. history and geography...
TRANSCRIPT
The 2008 Presidential Election:
Obama versus McCain: Who votes for whom?
U.S. History and Geography High School
Tennessee Geographic Alliance
InstructorMichael Robinson
Houston High SchoolGermantown, TN
1
Overview of Lesson
• Discuss how scale influences the understanding of the 2008 US Presidential election between Senator Obama and Senator McCain.
• Using the Stanford Election Atlas locate examples disproving that: 1) wealthiest areas all vote Republican, 2) poor areas all vote Democratic, 3) minorities all vote Democratic, 4) the NE and West all vote Democratic, and 5) the South and Great Plains all vote Republican.
• Student Assignment (Computer Lab)- Students will find three examples disproving the stereotypes of Presidential elections. 2
Tennessee Standard
3
US.112 Describe the increasing role of…
minorities in American society, politics, and
economy, including… the election of President
Barack Obama. (C, H, P)
Connections to
Common Core Standards
4
ScaleRecognize and interpret (at
different scales) the relationships among
patterns and processes.
Source: http://atlas.esri.com/Atlas/VoterAtlas.html
2008 Presidential Election
at Different ScalesHow does changing scale change the
understanding of the map?
Observations1. Rural versus Urban Areas2. North versus South3. Hispanic Areas5. African-American Areas6. Oklahoma City (example)
Scale Exampl
e
How many precincts in Oklahoma were over 50% for Obama? Less
Than 25?
Scale Example
How many precincts in Oklahoma were over 50% for
Obama?
Scale Example
How many precincts in Oklahoma were over 50% for Obama?
Scale Example
How many precincts in Oklahoma were over 50% for Obama?
Scale Example
How many precincts in Oklahoma were over 50% for Obama?
Scale Example
Selected
Examples1. Milwaukee2. Boston3. Megalopolis 4. Atlanta5. Birmingham6. Knoxville7. Memphis
2008 Presidential Election
at Different ScalesHow does changing scale change the
understanding of the map?
1. Milwaukee and Madison
2. Boston
3. Megapolois - DC to Boston
4. Atlanta
5. Birmingham
6. Knoxville
6. Knoxville
7. Memphis
7. Suburban Shelby County (Memphis)
Urban versus Suburb
Memphis to Birmingham
2008 Presidential Election
at Different Scales
How does changing scale
change the understanding
of the map?
From Small Scale to Large
Scale…
Little Detail to Great Detail…
Small ScaleLittle Detail
Large ScaleGreat Detail
2008 Presidential Election
Obama versus McCain: Who voted for whom?
Key Statements to Disprove
• The wealthiest areas in the United States all voted for Senator McCain.
• The poorest areas in the United States all voted for Senator Obama.
• Everyone in the Northeast and West voted for Senator Obama.
• Everyone in the Great Plains and South voted for Senator McCain.
• All minorities voted for Senator Obama.
Key Questions to Answer• Which of the wealthiest areas in the United
States voted for Senator Obama?
• Which of the poorest areas in the United States voted for Senator McCain?
• Which areas in the Northeast and West voted for Senator McCain?
• Which areas in the Great Plains and South voted for Senator Obama?
• Which minorities voted for Senator McCain?
DISPROVE: The wealthiest areas in the United States all voted
for Senator McCain.
Which of the wealthiest areas in the United States voted for Senator Obama?
2008 Vote and Income Map
Shelby County, TN
Memphis and Germantown
Boston, Massachusetts
Washington, DC
Atlanta, GA Suburbs
DISPROVE: The poorest areas in the United States all voted for
Senator Obama.
Which of the poorest areas in the United States voted
for Senator McCain?
2008 Vote and Income
Mississippi Delta Region
Eastern Tennessee & Kentucky
Davidson County, Tennessee
Southern West Virginia
Amarillo, Texas
DISPROVE: Almost everyone in the
Northeast and West voted for Senator
Obama.
Which areas in the Northeast and West voted
for Senator McCain?
Long Island, New York
Southern New Hampshire
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
San Francisco, CA
Orange County, CA
Northern California
DISPROVE: Almost everyone in the Great
Plains and South voted for Senator McCain.
Which areas in the Great Plains and South voted for
Senator Obama?
Kansas
Witchita, Kansas
Dallas, Texas
Southeast United States
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Larger Scale Map
DISPROVE: Almost all minorities voted for
Senator Obama.
Which minorities voted for Senator McCain?
Shelby County, TN
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Red is African-
American
Miami, Florida
Green is Hispanic
American Indian in AZ and NM
Blue is American-Indian
Los Angeles Area in CA
Purple is Asian
Oahu Hawaii
Yellow is Two or More Races
Purple is AsianLight Blue is Pacific
Islander
Southern Texas
South Detroit Area, Michigan
TENNESSEE
Nashville, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
STUDENT ASSIGNMEN
T
Give an example of a poor income area
that voted for Senator McCain.
Name of Location
Description of Location(urban, suburban, rural)
Median Household Income
Median Household Income for our high
school:
Number of Votes for Senator McCain
Number of Votes for Senator Obama
Give an example of a wealthy income
area that voted for Senator Obama.
Name of Location
Description of Location(urban, suburban, rural)
Median Household Income
Median Household Income for our high
school:
Number of Votes for Senator McCain
Number of Votes for Senator Obama
Give an example of a minority location
that voted for Senator McCain.
Name of Location
Description of Location(urban, suburban, rural)
Median Household Income
Median Household Income for our high
school:
Number of Votes for Senator McCain
Number of Votes for Senator Obama
POOR LOCATION VOTING FOR MCCAIN
WEALTHY LOCATION VOTING FOR OBAMA
WEALTHY LOCATION VOTING FOR OBAMA
WEALTHY LOCATION VOTING FOR OBAMA
Mason, TN
MINORITY LOCATION VOTING FOR MCCAIN