Glossary
Birth Rates
The number of live births per 1,000 people in a population over a specific period, which have seen significant changes in the US, contributing to an aging population.
Example:
A decline in birth rates can lead to an older average population age and potential challenges for future workforce growth.
COVID-19 Pandemic
A global health crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that began in late 2019, leading to widespread illness, deaths, and significant economic disruption worldwide, including in the US.
Example:
The widespread business closures and remote work mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic drastically altered the American economy and daily life.
Campaign Finance
The funds raised to promote candidates, political parties, or policies in elections, often seen as a contributor to polarization due to the influence of wealthy donors and special interest groups.
Example:
Large corporate donations influencing political agendas highlight concerns about how campaign finance can make politicians more beholden to donors than to the general public.
Demographic Changes
Shifts in the characteristics of a population, such as age, ethnicity, and geographic distribution, which can influence political interests and contribute to polarization.
Example:
The increasing diversity of the US population and the movement to urban centers represent significant demographic changes that impact political alignments.
Economic Inequality
The unequal distribution of income, wealth, or opportunities among individuals or groups within a society, often exacerbated by shifts in the economy.
Example:
The stagnation of middle-class wages while the wealthiest individuals accumulate more capital contributes to growing economic inequality.
Family Structure
The composition and organization of a family unit, which has diversified in the US with an increase in single-parent households and a decline in traditional married couples with children.
Example:
The rise of diverse family structure models, including blended families and same-sex parent households, reflects evolving societal norms.
Geographic Mobility
The movement of people from one place to another, often between states or regions, influencing population distribution and contributing to urbanization and diversity.
Example:
The ongoing trend of people moving from the Midwest to the Sunbelt illustrates significant geographic mobility within the United States.
Globalization
The increasing interconnectedness of the world's economies, cultures, and populations, driven by international trade, technology, and information flows.
Example:
The outsourcing of manufacturing jobs to other countries is a direct consequence of globalization, impacting the American industrial sector.
Great Recession
A severe economic downturn in the United States from 2007 to 2009, triggered by a collapse in the housing market and a financial crisis, leading to high unemployment and slow growth.
Example:
Many families lost their homes and jobs during the Great Recession, highlighting the fragility of the financial system.
Great Society
A set of domestic programs launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s, designed to eliminate poverty and racial injustice, focusing on education, healthcare, urban renewal, and civil rights.
Example:
Medicare, providing health insurance for the elderly, was a key achievement of the Great Society initiatives.
Immigration
The movement of people from one country to another to live permanently, which has significantly diversified the US population, particularly from Latin America and Asia.
Example:
The continued influx of people seeking new opportunities through immigration has reshaped the cultural and demographic landscape of many American cities.
Life Expectancy
The average period that a person is expected to live, which has generally increased in the US due to advancements in healthcare and technology, contributing to an aging population.
Example:
Improvements in medical treatments for chronic diseases have contributed to a higher life expectancy for many Americans.
Media
Various forms of communication, such as television, radio, and print, that disseminate news and information, contributing to polarization when outlets cater to specific political viewpoints.
Example:
The proliferation of cable news channels with distinct ideological leanings demonstrates how the fragmented media landscape can deepen political divides.
New Deal
A series of programs and reforms enacted in the United States during the 1930s under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, aimed at combating the Great Depression through relief, recovery, and reform.
Example:
Programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps and Social Security were cornerstones of the New Deal, providing jobs and a social safety net during economic hardship.
Political Parties
Organized groups that share common political ideologies and work to elect their members to political office, whose increasing ideological divergence has contributed to polarization.
Example:
The widening gap between the Democratic and Republican political parties on issues like gun control makes bipartisan legislation increasingly difficult.
Political Polarization
A sharp division within a society based on political ideology, where opposing political groups or parties move further apart from each other, making compromise difficult.
Example:
The increasing divide between conservative and liberal viewpoints on issues like healthcare and climate change exemplifies modern American political polarization.
Post-Industrial Basis
An economic system characterized by a shift from manufacturing and heavy industry to a focus on services, information technology, and knowledge-based industries.
Example:
Silicon Valley's dominance in software and tech innovation exemplifies the US economy's move to a post-industrial basis.
Reagan Revolution
A period of significant political and economic change in the United States during the 1980s, characterized by conservative policies, deregulation, tax cuts, and a strong anti-communist stance.
Example:
The Reagan Revolution fundamentally shifted the Republican Party's platform towards supply-side economics and a more assertive foreign policy.
Rust Belt
A region of the northeastern and midwestern United States that has experienced industrial decline, deindustrialization, and population loss since the 1970s.
Example:
Cities like Detroit and Pittsburgh, once thriving industrial hubs, became part of the Rust Belt as manufacturing jobs moved overseas.
Service-Sector and High-Tech Jobs
Employment opportunities primarily in industries that provide services rather than goods, and those involving advanced technology, which have grown significantly in a post-industrial economy.
Example:
The rise of healthcare professionals, software engineers, and financial analysts reflects the growth of service-sector and high-tech jobs in the modern economy.
Social Media and the Internet
Digital platforms and global networks that facilitate communication and information sharing, contributing to political polarization by creating 'echo chambers' and reinforcing pre-existing beliefs.
Example:
The spread of highly partisan news articles through platforms like Facebook and Twitter can exacerbate political divisions, illustrating the role of social media and the internet in polarization.
Sunbelt
A region of the United States generally stretching across the southern and southwestern states, characterized by warm climates and significant population growth since the 1970s.
Example:
States like Florida, Texas, and Arizona have seen rapid growth in population and economic activity as people migrate to the Sunbelt.
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
Major tax reform legislation enacted in the United States under President Donald Trump, which significantly reduced corporate and individual income tax rates.
Example:
Supporters of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 argued it would stimulate economic growth, while critics contended it primarily benefited the wealthy.
The Federal Reserve
The central banking system of the United States, responsible for conducting monetary policy, supervising banks, and maintaining financial stability.
Example:
During economic downturns, The Federal Reserve often lowers interest rates to encourage borrowing and stimulate economic activity.
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
A proposed trade agreement among twelve Pacific Rim countries, designed to lower trade barriers and foster economic growth, from which the US withdrew in 2017.
Example:
The US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) signaled a shift towards more protectionist trade policies.