School politics class. ‘Nadir for the party’: US Democrats edge towards civil war

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Specification:

• Edexcel Component 3, Section 5.2: The key ideas and principles of the Democratic and Republican Parties

• AQA Component 3.2, Section 3.2.1.6: Political parties: the ideological changes in both the Democratic and Republican parties making them more distinct and polarised

Background: what you need to know

Since their defeat in the November 2024 election, US Democrats have become increasingly divided. Radicals call for outright opposition to the Trump presidency and are impatient with compromises made by the party’s official leaders, such as Chuck Schumer’s support for a Republican budget bill in the Senate. Meanwhile establishment figures and their supporters argue that the party should adopt a more low-key approach, try to reconnect with uncommitted voters and wait for Trump’s radical policies to alienate the public.

Click the link below to read the article and then answer the questions:

‘Nadir for the party’: US Democrats edge towards civil war

The ideological tensions within the party are covered in some depth here:

The Democrats must make a choice

Question in the style of AQA Politics Paper 2

• Explain and analyse three causes of division within the US Democratic Party. [9 marks]

Question in the style of Edexcel Politics Paper 3A

• Evaluate the view that the two main US political parties are now deeply divided on values and policies.

  You must consider this view and the alternative to this view in a balanced way. [30 marks]

  TIP: The Edexcel-style question requires you to write a balanced answer which covers both the Democratic and the Republican Party. In each case, you must look for areas where they are united as well as divided. Here is an interesting piece on how Trump’s tariff policy has met resistance from a significant minority of Republicans: Trump tariffs open rift among top Republicans in Washington

Graham Goodlad, Portsmouth High School