Aim: How is American political
culture unique?
• What is meant by political culture?
• What do you believe are the key
elements to American political culture?
• de Tocqueville on American democracy
(see outline)
• Effect of “waves of immigration” on
political culture??
Aim: How is American
political culture unique?
Do Now
1. What is meant by political
culture?
2. What does American political
culture emphasize as important?
3. What hasn’t successive waves of
immigration changed American
political culture?
Aim: How is American political
culture unique?
• How do we know Americans share these
beliefs (in political culture)?
• How do we explain behavior
inconsistent with these beliefs?
• Why so much political conflict in U.S.
history? (if we have a shared political
culture)
• What about economic values? (see
outline)
Aim: How is American
political culture unique?
Do Now:
1. What are some characteristics of
American political culture?
2. Do American attitudes regarding
capitalism impact American political
culture? Explain.
3. If there is such a thing as American
political culture, how does one explain
the level of conflict throughout United
States history?
Aim: How is American political
culture unique?
Do you agree with the following
statements: (Poll results)
• “It is entirely the fault of man himself if
he cannot succeed”
• “The fact that some people have so
much more money than others shows
there is an unjust condition in this
country that ought to be changed.”
Aim: How is American political
culture unique?
• How would the previous poll questions
likely be answered in Sweden?
• Why do Americans respond in this way?
• Comparing America with other nations
(See outline and polling data)
Aim: How is American political
culture unique?
BASED UPON POLLS REVIEWED IN CLASS:
How do Americans compare to
counterparts in other democracies?
• Patriotism
• Religious attitudes
• Economic views
• Confidence in Institutions
Aim: How is American political
culture unique?
What are some sources of
American political culture?
-Revolution (liberty)
-Religious pluralism
-Protestant (Puritan) work
ethic/participant culture
-Child rearing practices (equality,
freedom)
Aim: How is American political
culture unique?
• How do we know the sources of political
culture are important? Did the
Revolution really make a
difference?…or would the attitudes
grown up in response to something
else?
• Which factor do you believe has had the
greatest influence?
Aim: How is American political
culture unique?
WHAT IS THE CULTURE WAR?
• Not based on “class consciousness”
• Money is not at stake
• Compromises are almost impossible
• Conflict is more profound
• ORTHODOXY V. PROGRESSIVENESS
• War over values
• Private and public morality
• Key issues: Abortion, Gay rights, Drug
use, school prayer, Pornography
Orthodox v. Progressive
•
•
•
•
Orthodox
Morality is as
important or more
important than selfexpression
Constant
From God an Nature
Clear and
unchanging
Progressive
• Personal freedom is
as important or more
important than
certain moral
traditions
• Circumstances
change
• Individual
preferences should
be considered
Aim: How is American political
culture unique?
MISTRUST IN GOVERNMENT
• What are the causes of the rise in mistrust?
(since 1960s)
• Is this a mistrust of government institutions or
specific political leaders and policies?
• 1980s – stabilizes – why?
• Iran-contra affair??
• Early 1990s – mistrust on the rise again – why?
Aim: How is American political
culture unique?
POLITICAL EFFICACY
• Internal efficacy
• External efficacy
• Which has been declining since the
1960s? Why?
Aim: How is American political
culture unique?
• What is the trend in regard to Americans and
trust in their government? Explain.
• What is the trend in regard to Americans and
their sense of political efficacy? (both internal
and external efficacy) Explain.
• Should the growth of mistrust and the decline
in external efficacy be matters of concern? (If
yes, should it be a major concern?)
• Who has greater trust in its institutions – U.S.
citizens or Europeans counterparts?
• Who has a greater sense of political efficacy –
U.S. citizens or European counterparts?
• Go over foreign policy poll results (reading)
Aim: How is American political
culture unique?
DO NOW:
• What is political efficacy?
• What is internal efficacy?
• What is external efficacy?
• Review polling results (Figure 4.2)
CHANGES IN POLITICAL EFFICACY
Aim: How is American political
culture unique?
• Political tolerance is necessary to democracy.
Even though most Americans support the
notion of tolerance in theory, many would
want to deny political rights to one group or
another. (Examples?)
• If that is the case, why aren’t more groups
oppressed in our system?
• Civic Auditorium Example from textbook
(surveys, chart)
TOLERATION AND MORALITY
Changes in Levels of Political
Tolerance, 1930-1999
Changes in Levels of Political
Tolerance
Most Americans say that they would vote for a
qualified woman, African-American, Jew, or
homosexual from their party for President.
• Do you think this is true?
• Have Americans really become more tolerant?
• Or is the display of greater tolerance in polls
an example of people saying what is politically
correct to pollsters?