The online tool for teaching with documents, from the National Archives

Gerrymandered Districts After the 2010 Election

Mapping History

All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses.

Introduction

The House of Representatives consists of 435 members of Congress. Every ten years – following the results of decennial Census – the number of House members representing each state is subject to change. States that experience a higher population growth may gain seats in the House of Representatives, while those that experience a population loss, or just a lower population growth, lose seats. 

After the 2010 Census, eight states gained seats and 10 states lost seats in the House of Representatives. Examine the following Congressional District maps that were created following the 2010 Census. Click on the orange "open in new window" icon to see each one more closely.

Place each one on the correct corresponding state – note that one has been done for you. As you work, take note of unusually shaped districts.


Name:
Class:

Worksheet

Gerrymandered Districts After the 2010 Election

Mapping History

Examine the documents and text included in this activity. Consider how each document or piece of text relates to the image shown below. Write the corresponding document or text number on the image where you think it belongs. (Some may be placed for you already.) Write your conclusion response in the space provided.

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113th Congress of the United States, Florida Congressional District 5 Map

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113th Congress of the United States, Illinois Congressional District 4 Map

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113th Congress of the United States, Louisiana Congressional District 2 Map

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113th Congress of the United States, Maryland Congressional District 3 Map

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113th Congress of the United States, North Carolina Congressional District 1 Map

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113th Congress of the United States, North Carolina Congressional District 12 Map

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113th Congress of the United States, North Carolina Congressional District 4 Map

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113th Congress of the United States, Pennsylvania Congressional District 7 Map

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113th Congress of the United States, Texas Congressional District 33 Map

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113th Congress of the United States, Texas Congressional District 35 Map

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Conclusion

Gerrymandered Districts After the 2010 Election

Mapping History

Which congressional district do you feel is the most gerrymandered? Why?

Your Response




Document

113th Congress of the United States, Florida Congressional District 5 Map

2010

 

 
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.
National Archives Identifier: 124068907
Full Citation: 113th Congress of the United States, Florida Congressional District 5 Map; 2010; [Decennial] Census of Population and Housing, 2010: Thematic Maps, Large Sheet Maps; Thematic Maps from the 23rd Census of Population and Housing, 2010 - 2010; Records of the Bureau of the Census, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/florida-congressional-district-5-map, March 28, 2024]


113th Congress of the United States, Florida Congressional District 5 Map

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113th Congress of the United States, Illinois Congressional District 4 Map

2010

 

 
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.
National Archives Identifier: 124069005
Full Citation: 113th Congress of the United States, Illinois Congressional District 4 Map; 2010; [Decennial] Census of Population and Housing, 2010: Thematic Maps, Large Sheet Maps; Thematic Maps from the 23rd Census of Population and Housing, 2010 - 2010; Records of the Bureau of the Census, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/illinois-congressional-district-4-map, March 28, 2024]


113th Congress of the United States, Illinois Congressional District 4 Map

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113th Congress of the United States, Louisiana Congressional District 2 Map

2010

 

 
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.
National Archives Identifier: 124069093
Full Citation: 113th Congress of the United States, Louisiana Congressional District 2 Map; 2010; [Decennial] Census of Population and Housing, 2010: Thematic Maps, Large Sheet Maps; Thematic Maps from the 23rd Census of Population and Housing, 2010 - 2010; Records of the Bureau of the Census, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/louisiana-congressional-district-2-map, March 28, 2024]


113th Congress of the United States, Louisiana Congressional District 2 Map

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Document

113th Congress of the United States, Maryland Congressional District 3 Map

2010

This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.
National Archives Identifier: 124069115
Full Citation: 113th Congress of the United States, Maryland Congressional District 3 Map; 2010; [Decennial] Census of Population and Housing, 2010: Thematic Maps, Large Sheet Maps; Thematic Maps from the 23rd Census of Population and Housing, 2010 - 2010; Records of the Bureau of the Census, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/maryland-congressional-district-3-map, March 28, 2024]


113th Congress of the United States, Maryland Congressional District 3 Map

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113th Congress of the United States, North Carolina Congressional District 1 Map

2010

 

 
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.
National Archives Identifier: 124069343
Full Citation: 113th Congress of the United States, North Carolina Congressional District 1 Map; 2010; [Decennial] Census of Population and Housing, 2010: Thematic Maps, Large Sheet Maps; Thematic Maps from the 23rd Census of Population and Housing, 2010 - 2010; Records of the Bureau of the Census, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/north-carolina-congressional-district-1-map, March 28, 2024]


113th Congress of the United States, North Carolina Congressional District 1 Map

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Document

113th Congress of the United States, North Carolina Congressional District 12 Map

2010

 

 
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.
National Archives Identifier: 124069365
Full Citation: 113th Congress of the United States, North Carolina Congressional District 12 Map; 2010; [Decennial] Census of Population and Housing, 2010: Thematic Maps, Large Sheet Maps; Thematic Maps from the 23rd Census of Population and Housing, 2010 - 2010; Records of the Bureau of the Census, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/north-carolina-congressional-district-12-map, March 28, 2024]


113th Congress of the United States, North Carolina Congressional District 12 Map

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Document

113th Congress of the United States, North Carolina Congressional District 4 Map

2010

 

 
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.
National Archives Identifier: 124069349
Full Citation: 113th Congress of the United States, North Carolina Congressional District 4 Map; 2010; [Decennial] Census of Population and Housing, 2010: Thematic Maps, Large Sheet Maps; Thematic Maps from the 23rd Census of Population and Housing, 2010 - 2010; Records of the Bureau of the Census, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/north-carolina-congressional-district-4-map, March 28, 2024]


113th Congress of the United States, North Carolina Congressional District 4 Map

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Document

113th Congress of the United States, Pennsylvania Congressional District 7 Map

2010

 

 
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.
National Archives Identifier: 124069115
Full Citation: 113th Congress of the United States, Pennsylvania Congressional District 7 Map; 2010; [Decennial] Census of Population and Housing, 2010: Thematic Maps, Large Sheet Maps; Thematic Maps from the 23rd Census of Population and Housing, 2010 - 2010; Records of the Bureau of the Census, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/pennsylvania-congressional-district-7-map, March 28, 2024]


113th Congress of the United States, Pennsylvania Congressional District 7 Map

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Document

113th Congress of the United States, Texas Congressional District 33 Map

2010

 

 
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.
National Archives Identifier: 124069579
Full Citation: 113th Congress of the United States, Texas Congressional District 33 Map; 2010; [Decennial] Census of Population and Housing, 2010: Thematic Maps, Large Sheet Maps; Thematic Maps from the 23rd Census of Population and Housing, 2010 - 2010; Records of the Bureau of the Census, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/texas-congressional-district-33-map, March 28, 2024]


113th Congress of the United States, Texas Congressional District 33 Map

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Document

113th Congress of the United States, Texas Congressional District 35 Map

2010

 

 
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.
National Archives Identifier: 124069583
Full Citation: 113th Congress of the United States, Texas Congressional District 35 Map; 2010; [Decennial] Census of Population and Housing, 2010: Thematic Maps, Large Sheet Maps; Thematic Maps from the 23rd Census of Population and Housing, 2010 - 2010; Records of the Bureau of the Census, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/texas-congressional-district-35-map, March 28, 2024]


113th Congress of the United States, Texas Congressional District 35 Map

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