Transcript Political Spectrum

Political Spectrum
Students will examine the political
spectrum in order to classify the
events of the Revolutionary period.
Vocabulary
• Loyalist
• Patriot
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Radical
Liberal
Moderate
Conservative
Reactionary
Loyalists
• Loyalists were
American colonists
who remained loyal
to the Kingdom of
Great Britain during
the Revolutionary
period
Patriots
• Patriots (also known
as American Whigs),
was the name that
the colonists who
rebelled against
British control
during the American
Revolution, called
themselves
What is a Continuum?
• A person’s views on the issues help
determine where they fall on the
political spectrum.
• The labels used on the spectrum are not
pure categories, but they make up a
continuum, or value line, and citizens and
politicians fall somewhere on that line
depending on what they believe.
Factors That Determine
Placement
• Two major factors shape political views.
– The first is how much change a person is willing to
have within their society and government.
– The second deals with how much government
involvement in the economy a person calls for.
• Others also bring in the question of how much
freedom from government authority a leader
is willing to give the people.
Political Labels
• To see where you stand, you would have to
figure out where you stand on a number of
social (people-related), economic (moneyrelated), and political (governmental) issues.
• First you need definitions of the terms
radical, liberal, conservative, and reactionary.
Political Spectrum
Radical
Looks toward the future
(left)
For Independence
Liberal
Moderate
Direction
of
Change
Conservative
Reactionary
Looks toward the Past
(right)
Against Independence
What is a Radical?
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Seen as being on the far
left of the political
spectrum, radicals call for
immediate change from the
present system by any
means necessary.
Goals may be changes in
political structure, laws, and
government.
They may be willing to
resort to extreme methods
to bring about change,
including the use of
violence, revolution, or
illegal methods.
Examples: Patriots, Malcolm
X, Lenin
What is a Liberal?
• Liberals believe that the
government should be
actively involved in the
promotion of social welfare
of a nation’s citizens.
• They usually call for
peaceful, gradual change
within the existing political
system.
• They reject violence
• Example: Dr. King or
Gandhi
Liberals Point of View
• Government should not censor speech, press,
media or the internet
• Repeal laws prohibiting adult possession and
use of drugs
• Government regulation of business is
necessary to protect the public
• Too much power is concentrated in the hands
of a few large companies.
• The government should help those in need
even if it has to raise taxes
What is a Moderate?
• Moderates may share
viewpoints with both liberals
and conservatives.
• Moderates may want change
on some issues, and no change
on others.
• A moderate emphasizes
peaceful compromise with the
system as a means of resolving
conflict.
• They advocate a “go-slow” or
“wait-and-see” approach to
social or political change.
Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) is
generally seen as a moderate.
What is a Conservative?
Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) is widely
regarded as the father of the modern
conservative movement
• A conservative is a person who
wants to preserve the best of
what exists today and in the past.
• Conservatives usually supports
few changes. Conservatives are
usually hesitant or cautious about
adopting new policies, especially
if they involve government
activism in some way.
• They feel that the less
government there is, the better.
• Legal or non violent methods used
• They agree with Jefferson’s view
that “the best government
governs least.”
• Examples: Loyalists, Ronald
Reagan, and Barry Goldwater
Conservative Point of View
• Let people control their own retirement;
privatize Social Security.
• Replace government welfare with private
charity.
• Government regulation of business usually
does more harm than good
• Stricter environmental laws and regulations
cost too many jobs and
• hurt the economy.
• Government programs like welfare discourage
people from working
What is a Reactionary?
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Sitting on the far right of the
political spectrum, reactionaries want
to go back to the way things were—
the “good ol’ days.”
A Reactionary is a person who
supports an immediate change that
would bring about a return to the old
ways of doing things by any means
necessary.
Often reactionaries are willing to use
extreme methods, such as repressive
use of government power, to achieve
their goals.
The term “reactionary is generally
negative.
Use illegal or violent methods
Examples: Hitler, KKK, some
Loyalists.
American Politicians on the
Spectrum
• Here is how one website places important American
political figures on the spectrum.
You can take the quiz at
http://www.madrabbit.net/webrabbit/quizshow.html