Is political polarization worse than it's been in the past?

Your question spans decades of data — I'll pull current research comparing today's polarization to the past.

By most measurable standards, yes - but with important historical nuance:

1. What is at record highs

Scholars distinguish between ideological polarization (differences between policy positions) and affective polarization (a dislike and distrust of political out-groups)

Both have increased sharply in recent decades:

•Ideological sorting: A Pew Research Center analysis from 2022 found Democrats and Republicans are farther apart ideologically today than at any time in the past 50 years. Historical data illustrates the proportion of individuals expressing consistently conservative or liberal opinions increased from 10% in 1994 to 21% in 2014.

•In that same period, the average Republican was more conservative than 70% of Democrats in 1994, compared to more conservative than 94% of Democrats in 2014. Members of both parties who have unfavorable opinions of the opposing party doubled between 1994 and 2014.

•Affective polarization: Gauged by the American National Election Studies (ANES) via feeling thermometer ratings, the gap between in-party and out-party evaluations widened from about 20 points in the 1970s to over 50 points by 2020. Another measure shows a significant increase since 1980, rising from 22.64 degrees in 1978 to 40.87 degrees in 2016.

•As of 2025, polarization was higher than any point in current history, and one expert described partisan polarization as worse today than it has been in 100 years.

•A Brown University study found the U.S. was polarizing faster compared to other democratic countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia.

2. Elite vs mass polarization

The increase has been most pronounced among political elites:

•Political elites of the United States are deeply polarized. Polarization of the Democratic and Republican Parties is higher than at any time since the end of the Civil War. The same research concludes the level of polarization in Congress is now the highest since the end of the Civil War and shows no sign that it will abate.

•The 111th House was the most polarized in post-Civil War history — with the 110th House the second most polarized and the 109th House the third most polarized.

•Polarization among U.S. legislators is asymmetric, as it has primarily been driven by a rightward shift among Republicans in Congress. Polarization has increased since the 1970s, with rapid increases during the 2000s onwards.

For the mass public, the picture is more mixed:

•Elites are polarized by almost any definition, although this state of affairs is quite common historically. In contrast, mass attitudes are now better sorted by party, but generally not polarized.

•Even though elite ideological polarization may indirectly impact views, the masses are not themselves particularly polarized on policy grounds.

In other words, Americans are more consistently sorted into liberal-Democrat and conservative-Republican camps than in the 1970s-1990s, and they dislike the other side more than before, but most ordinary voters are not as ideologically extreme or divided on every issue as elected officials and highly engaged activists.

3. Historical perspective - not the most polarized ever

The current period is often compared to two earlier highly polarized eras:

•The Gilded Age of the late 19th century (c. 1870 – 1900) is considered to be one of the most politically polarized periods in American history.

•The Civil War era remains the benchmark. Some political scientists have pointed out that viewed within the context of data from the last two centuries, today's levels are not such an alarming anomaly compared to those occurring during the time of slavery.

Another view notes: for all the hype about the ruptures and partisan rancor in contemporary American society, the strife pales in comparison with much of the nation's past. There have been long stretches of American history in which conflicts were far worse.

The relatively low polarization of the 1950s and 1960s was marked by high levels of political bipartisanship, the results of a post-World War II "consensus" as well as ideological diversity within each party. That period is now seen as the exception, not the norm, making the post-1970s increase look especially sharp.

In short: Measured by roll-call votes, ideological consistency, and feelings toward the opposing party, polarization today is worse than at any time in the last 50-100 years and is the highest since the Civil War/Reconstruction. Whether it is worse than the Civil War itself — when polarization led to open political violence and secession — most historians would say no.

2.[The Polarization of Contemporary American Politics](https://christopherdanielhare.github.io/files/The Polarization of Contemporary American Politics.pdf)

Citations (2)

1wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
Political polarization in the United States
Backs: “Your question spans decades of data — I'll pull current research comparing today's polarization to the past. By most measurable standards, yes - but with important historical nuance: 1. What is at record highs. Scholars distinguish between ideological polarization (differences between policy positions) and affective…”
2christopherdanielhare.github.ioNot yet classified
The Polarization of Contemporary American Politics
Backs: “Polarization of the Democratic and Republican Parties is higher than at any time since the end of the Civil War. The same research concludes the level of polarization in Congress is now the highest since the end of the Civil War and shows no sign that it will abate.”