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 Examples

1. 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 Electionat Different ScalesHow 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 CAPurple 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