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How Did the Fallout from Watergate Contribute to Political Polarization?

The impact of Watergate made the political divide in America much worse. Here are some important points to consider:

  1. Decreased Trust:

    • In 1964, 77% of people trusted the government. By 1974, that number fell to just 36%.
  2. Political Divide:

    • Support for Republicans dropped a lot, with approval ratings going down by 20% after the Watergate scandal came to light.
  3. Growth of Partisan Media:

    • In the 1980s, talk radio and cable news started up. These platforms created spaces where people only heard views that matched their own, leading to even bigger divides.
  4. More People Getting Involved:

    • Many grassroots movements popped up, and by the late 1970s, 40% of citizens were involved in political activities, often split along party lines.

All these changes led to a growing sense of division and distrust in the political system.

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How Did the Fallout from Watergate Contribute to Political Polarization?

The impact of Watergate made the political divide in America much worse. Here are some important points to consider:

  1. Decreased Trust:

    • In 1964, 77% of people trusted the government. By 1974, that number fell to just 36%.
  2. Political Divide:

    • Support for Republicans dropped a lot, with approval ratings going down by 20% after the Watergate scandal came to light.
  3. Growth of Partisan Media:

    • In the 1980s, talk radio and cable news started up. These platforms created spaces where people only heard views that matched their own, leading to even bigger divides.
  4. More People Getting Involved:

    • Many grassroots movements popped up, and by the late 1970s, 40% of citizens were involved in political activities, often split along party lines.

All these changes led to a growing sense of division and distrust in the political system.

Related articles