Chapter 4
American Political Culture
Political culture
A. Tocqueville on American democracy
1. No feudal aristocracy; minimal taxes; few
legal restraints
2. Westward movement; vast territory
provided opportunities
3. Nation of small, independent farmers
4. "Moral and intellectual characteristics"-today called "political culture"
Elements of the American political system
A. Liberty -the ability to do as one pleases.
Getting our rights!
B. Equality -politically and with the same
opportunities to succeed.
C. Democracy -govt. officials should be
accountable to the people.
D. Civic duty -Americans should participate in
community affairs.
E. Individual responsibility -barring disability,
we are responsible for ourselves!
Some questions about the U.S. political culture
A. How do we know people share these beliefs?
Answer: (before polls) beliefs inferred from books,
speeches, etc.
B. How do we explain behavior inconsistent with
these beliefs?
Answer: beliefs still important, cause changes in behavior.
C. Why is there so much political conflict in U.S.
history?
Answer: beliefs contradict one another, are not
consistently prioritized.
D. Most consistent evidence of political culture?
Answer: use of terms "Americanism," "un-American"
The Economic System
A. Americans support free enterprise,
but see limits on marketplace
freedom
B. Americans prefer equality of
opportunity over equality of result
C. Americans have a shared
commitment to economic
individualism (1924 and 1977 polls)
Comparing America with other nations:
Religious belief
A. Americans highly religious compared
to Europeans
B. Religious beliefs have played an
important role in American politics
C. Both liberals and conservatives use
the pulpit to promote political change
The source of political culture
A. Historical roots
1. Revolution essentially over liberty;
preoccupied with asserting rights
2. Adversarial culture due to distrust of
authority and a belief that human nature is
depraved
3. Federalist-Jeffersonian transition in 1800
a) Legitimated role of opposition party; liberty and
political change can coexist
A.
B.
C.
D.
The source of political culture:
Legal-sociological factors
Widespread (not universal) participation
permitted by Constitution
Absence of an established national religion
1. Religious diversity a source of division
2. Absence of established religion has
facilitated the absence of a single political
orthodoxy
Puritan heritage (dominant tradition) stress on
personal achievement:
1. Work, Save money, Obey secular laws, Do
good works and Embrace "Protestant ethic"
(work ethic)
Miniature political systems produced by
churches' congregational organization
The source of political culture: Family
A. Family instills the ways we think about
world and politics
1.
Greater freedom of children and equality among
family members leads to belief in rights &
acceptance of diverse views in decision-making
B. High degree of class consciousness
absent
1.
2.
3.
Most consider themselves middle class
Even unemployed do not oppose management
Message of Horatio Alger stories is still popular
Mistrust of government
A. Evidence of increase since mid-1960s
1. Vietnam
2. Watergate
3. Jimmy Carter speech in 1979 on American
malaise
B. Why do we mistrust government
today?
C. What do we not trust?