DBQ. -Hollie Russon Gilman,Where is our Polis in the 21st century

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1 DBQ Critics claim that Americans today are more alienated from politics and have lost confidence in government. Assess the validity of this statement by examining and providing specific examples of the following behaviors interest group behavior citizen participation behavior political party behavior congressional behavior media behavior Thesis: Over the last 15 years the people of the United States have become progressively distrusting of its government, leading to a sense of alienation from its actions. Doc. A If you could improve the relationship between citizens and the state, how would you do it? It s likely that your answer would be different from mine and still different from the next five people I ask. Because rules and structures of government are constantly changing and the tools people use to communicate shift with newly available technologies, this relationship must continue to evolve " -Hollie Russon Gilman,Where is our Polis in the 21st century This document provides a reason for alienation from government. The constant changes in government and in the ways that people communicate can cause information to be difficult for some to receive. This may cause people to feel that they are alienated because they do not know how to recieve information. Doc. B

2 I would use this document as part of the explanation as to why the American people have alienated themselves. First, it shows a citizen who sees pending disaster and wants the politicians to take action. Second, it portrays the politicians simply ignoring the girl and even condemning her for what she is saying. I could use these to parts to argue that people feel that the politicians do not even listen to them so there is no point to speaking up. I could also argue that the American people do not believe in their politicians decisions. Doc. C

3 This Gallup poll shows the approval rating of the war in Afghanistan from 2001 to Throughout the years, it becomes apparent that the people of the United States increasingly see the war as a mistake. I could use this information to argue that the increasing dislike for the war could cause the American people to distrust its government, especially its president and congress. Doc D a3d8760a62a6e03cf20537c3102bb.jpg This headline was made the day after the terrorist attacks on November 11, It shows that immediately following the attacks, there was a call to war. I can use this as a leading point to Doc. C that the American people wanted war but, then slowly grew to dislike it more and more. It would be a point leading to Doc. C.

4 Doc. E Composition of Congress Senate House Congress Years Total Dems Reps Others Vacant Total Dems Reps Others Vacant 107th th th th th th th th Read more: Composition of Congress by Party A html#ixzz3VE8ZL2WH This document shows the changes in who holds seats in Congress. It shows that congress has been fairly even though it has switched back and forth fairly often over the last 7 elections. I could use this to argue that the changes could show a general dislike for its actions throughout the years. Since it switches that means that the people are not happy with a specific party causing them to vote the other way the next election. Doc. F Americans have never been truly fond of their press. Through the last decade, however, their disdain for the media establishment has reached new levels. Americans believe that the news media have become too arrogant, cynical, scandal-minded, and destructive. -Ted Koppel (2010), longtime host of ABC s Nightline program, expresses his own discontent

5 This document discusses that the American people are distrusting of the news and media. Since the American people distrust its main outlet of learning what the government is doing. I could argue that this is part of the reason why Americans do not trust its government since it does not trust its source.