Political Socialization In The United States

Have you ever heard a group of people arguing about which candidate is the best option for the United States, or who will take the correct stance against various political issues? Have you ever wondered where these individuals get their opinions from? Passionate ideas about politics do not just randomly pop into a person’s mind. These ideas are cultivated and nurtured through different processes and factors. The forming of these thoughts and political beliefs are known as “political socialization” (Ginsberg, Benjamin et al. 217). One way citizens can become political socialized is through their families. Most people’s initial political voice derives from their family’s political orientation. Whichever way your family swings, there is a good chance you will vote that way as well. If you grow up hearing their political thoughts in favor of one side, chances are, you will retain that information and stay in that political orientation. For instance, if your family is Republican and very pro-second amendment—right to bear arms—you will probably walk away as a
While children are in school, they are exposed to the three basic beliefs of liberty, equality, and democracy. Students are taught about the history of our great nation which leads them to understanding the concepts of liberty and equality; what our forefathers fought to establish and keep. Students are also encouraged to get involved in student government and learn about the nation’s problems. This teaches them the idea of democracy. With these core concepts, they can begin to establish their own political views. Unfortunately, in today’s school systems, many students are soaking up the political orientation of their teachers. Many teachers bring in their political thoughts and only teach the negative about the other side. This creates a problem since children are becoming politically one-sided. They aren’t learning about the opposing