AP U.S.
Government and Politics © ACCESS Virtual Learning 2022
Name: Disha Patel Facilitator: Grace Billman
Date: 11/05/2024
School: James Clemens High School
4.02 Ideology and Voting Patterns
(40 Points)
Read each scenario and decide if the voter is likely to be a conservative or a liberal, based
on the provided demographics and your knowledge of demographic and political ideology
trends. (Per question: 2 points for identifying the most likely ideological affiliation and 2
points for providing a thorough and well-reasoned explanation.)
1. A rooster farmer in Wyoming who is retired after serving in the Army for 20 years
a. Likely political ideology / party affiliation:
b. Reasoning:
Write your answer below:
a. The voter is most likely to be a conservative.
b. Rural areas mostly have strong conservative support and veterans often have
conservative values with views on defense, patriotism, and limited
government.
2. A Black male sociology professor in Colorado
a. Likely political ideology / party affiliation:
b. Reasoning:
Write your answer below:
a. The voter is most likely to be a liberal.
b. Black Americans lean more toward the Democratic Party, and in areas of
social sciences like sociology, often hold liberal views. Colorado is also a state
that has leaned more liberal in recent years.
AP U.S. Government and Politics © ACCESS Virtual Learning 2022
3. The adult grandson of a Cuban immigrant in Miami. His grandfather came to the United
States from Cuba after the Bay of Pigs invasion.
a. Likely political ideology / party affiliation:
b. Reasoning:
Write your answer below:
a. The voter is most likely to be a conservative.
b. Many Cuban Americans who immigrated after events like the Bay of Pigs
are more conservative because of strong anti-communist beliefs which is
associated with the Republican Party and its anti-communist and anti-socialist
values.
4. A female nursing home aid who lives in Tennessee and attends an evangelical church
a. Likely political ideology / party affiliation:
b. Reasoning:
Write your answer below:
a. The voter is most likely to be a conservative.
b. Tennessee is a conservative-leaning state, and evangelical Christians often
support conservative values, mostly on social issues.
5. A paraplegic, Jewish office clerk living in Chicago
a. Likely political ideology / party affiliation:
b. Reasoning:
Write your answer below:
a. The voter is most likely to be a liberal.
b. Jewish Americans often lean Democratic and people who live in large urban
areas like Chicago. People with disabilities also lean toward liberal policies
that advocate for social services and protection.
AP U.S. Government and Politics © ACCESS Virtual Learning 2022
6. A naturalized Mexican American citizen. He lives in South Carolina and is a small
business owner.
a. Likely political ideology / party affiliation:
b. Reasoning:
Write your answer below:
a. The voter is most likely to be a conservative.
b. Small business owners often lean toward conservative beliefs that favor
limited government and tax policies. South Carolina is also a conservative state
that leans toward the Republican Party.
7. A wealthy investor living in Omaha, Nebraska. He has pledged over $50 billion to the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
a. Likely political ideology / party affiliation:
b. Reasoning:
Write your answer below:
a. The voter is most likely to be a liberal.
b. Philanthropy often aligns with more liberal ideals around wealth
redistribution and social welfare. Many wealthy philanthropists who support
causes through major foundations often align with the Democratic Party.
8. A widow who lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Her husband died in Afghanistan in 2014.
a. Likely political ideology / party affiliation:
b. Reasoning:
Write your answer below:
a. The voter is most likely to be a liberal.
b. Families of fallen soldiers often support policies such as increased veterans'
benefits and support for military families which aligns with democratic ideals.
Cleveland is also an urban area that tends to be more liberal politically.
AP U.S. Government and Politics © ACCESS Virtual Learning 2022
9. A female dot-com entrepreneur who lives in Oregon
a. Likely political ideology / party affiliation:
b. Reasoning:
Write your answer below:
a. The voter is most likely to be a liberal.
b. The tech industry and entrepreneurship attract more progressive values,
especially on social and environmental issues. Oregon is a liberal state, and
entrepreneurs often support Democratic policies about innovation.
10. An Alaskan woman whose hobbies include hunting
a. Likely political ideology / party affiliation:
b. Reasoning:
Write your answer below:
a. The voter is most likely to be a conservative.
b. Alaskans are often conservative-leaning and the Republican Party supports
valuing hunting and gun rights, which aligns with the woman’s views.
