Chapter 1 The Political Landscape Your first lecture should warm up your students to what they can expect for the rest of the semester. A fun and interesting activity is to set up some surveys to see where your students stand on the issues. How many favor the current president? How many oppose the health care bill? What about the war in Afghanistan? What do they think of the BP oil spill? Tax cuts? Hit all the current topics. Have your students write down their responses and hand them in. Display the final counts; e.g., 12 votes for Obama, 15 against, etc. Ask if any would like to discuss their answers. Your students will learn a little about each other, and you will get a feel for where your students stand on the issues. Chapter 1 The Political Landscape

The earliest inhabitants of the Americas The first colonists Roots of American Government: We the People LO 1.1: Trace the origins of American government. Photo caption: How did Roger Williams establish Providence? Providence was established on land previously owned by the Narragansett Indians. Here, Williams meets with members of the tribe. The earliest inhabitants of the Americas The first colonists A religious tradition takes root Calvin and Newton Protestant Puritans Religious tolerance grows Becoming Americans To Learning Objectives

In which state did the Puritans first settle? LO 1.1 In which state did the Puritans first settle? Massachusetts Virginia New York Rhode Island New Hampshire To Learning Objectives

In which state did the Puritans first settle? LO 1.1 In which state did the Puritans first settle? Massachusetts Virginia New York Rhode Island New Hampshire To Learning Objectives 4

Social contract theory The Theoretical Foundations of American Government LO 1.2: Show how European political thought provided the theoretical. foundations of American government. Social contract theory Devising a national government in the American colonies Types of government To Learning Objectives

Social Contract Theory LO 1.2 Photo Caption: Why did Hobbes support a single ruler? Hobbes favored a single ruler to protect the weak from the strong. The title page from Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan (1651) depicts a giant ruler whose body consists of the bodies of his subjects. This is symbolic of the people coming together under one ruler. Social Contract Theory The Mayflower Compact Hobbes’s Leviathan Locke’s Second Treatise on Civil Government Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws Rousseau’s Social Contract To Learning Objectives 6

Direct democracy versus indirect democracy Republics Monarchy LO 1.2 Devising a National Government in the American Colonies and Types of Government Direct democracy versus indirect democracy Republics Monarchy Totalitarianism Oligarchy To Learning Objectives 7

LO 1.2 Which political philosopher had the greatest influence on the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Hobbes Charles Montesquieu Jean Jacques Rousseau John Locke Jesus To Learning Objectives

LO 1.2 Which political philosopher had the greatest influence on the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Hobbes Charles Montesquieu Jean Jacques Rousseau John Locke Jesus To Learning Objectives 9

Popular consent, majority rule, and popular sovereignty American Political Culture and the Basic Tenets of American Democracy LO 1.3: Describe American political culture, and identify the basic tenets of American democracy. Photo Caption: Why is religious freedom a tenet of American democracy? Many of the first settlers came to the United States to escape religious persecution. Here, American Catholics greet Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the United States. Liberty and equality Popular consent, majority rule, and popular sovereignty Natural law Individualism Religious faith and religious freedom To Learning Objectives

LO 1.3 What is the idea that society should be governed by certain ethical principals that are part of nature and, as such, can be understood by reason? Biblical law Natural law Majority rule Oligarchy Both B and D To Learning Objectives

LO 1.3 What is the idea that society should be governed by certain ethical principals that are part of nature and, as such, can be understood by reason? Biblical law Natural law Majority rule Oligarchy Both B and D To Learning Objectives 12

Insuring domestic tranquility Providing for the common defense Functions of American Government LO 1.4: Explain the functions of American government. Establishing justice Insuring domestic tranquility Providing for the common defense Promoting the general welfare Securing the blessings of liberty To Learning Objectives

LO 1.4 Which function of government is most concerned with economic well being? Establishing justice Insuring domestic tranquility Providing for the common defense Promoting the general welfare Securing the blessings of liberty To Learning Objectives

LO 1.4 Which function of government is most concerned with economic well being? Establishing justice Insuring domestic tranquility Providing for the common defense Promoting the general welfare Securing the blessings of liberty To Learning Objectives 15

Racial and ethnic composition Aging Religious beliefs The Changing American Public LO 1.5: Analyze the changing characteristics of the American public. Photo Caption: What does the typical American family look like? As the demographics of American society change over time, the composition of American families has become increasingly heterogeneous. Here, the characters in the sitcom Modern Family exemplify the age, ethnic, and sexual diversity in families today, making the “typical American family” difficult to describe. Racial and ethnic composition Aging Baby boomers Religious beliefs Regional growth and expansion Family and family size To Learning Objectives

LO 1.5 In 2010, the Texas Board of Education required textbooks to do which of the following? Stress the positive effects of capitalism Question the Framers’ concept of a purely secular government Present conservative beliefs in a much more positive light All of the above None of the above To Learning Objectives

LO 1.5 In 2010, the Texas Board of Education required textbooks to do which of the following? Stress the positive effects of capitalism Question the Framers’ concept of a purely secular government Present conservative beliefs in a much more positive light All of the above None of the above To Learning Objectives 18

Functions of ideologies Political Ideology LO 1.6: Assess the role of political ideology in shaping American politics. Functions of ideologies Explanation – provide reasons for why things are the way they are Evaluation – provide standards for evaluating conditions, institutions, and events Orientation – provide individuals with an orientation toward issues Political program – guide individuals in choices and political actions To Learning Objectives

Finding a Political Ideology and Problems with Ideological Labels Conservative Liberal Moderate Libertarian To Learning Objectives 20

LO 1.6 Which ideology seeks to change the political, economic, and social status quo to foster the development of equality and the well-being of individuals? Conservative Liberal Libertarian Social conservative Moderate To Learning Objectives

LO 1.6 Which ideology seeks to change the political, economic, and social status quo to foster the development of equality and the well-being of individuals? Conservative Liberal Libertarian Social conservative Moderate To Learning Objectives 22

LO 1.7 What has happened to faith in public institutions over the last half century? It has stayed the same. It has risen. It has risen dramatically. It has declined. It has ceased to exist. To Learning Objectives

LO 1.7 What has happened to faith in public institutions over the last half century? It has stayed the same. It has risen. It has risen dramatically. It has declined. It has ceased to exist. To Learning Objectives 24

Figure 1.1: What did colonial settlement look like before 1700? To Learning Objectives

Figure 1.2: How has the U.S. population grown over time? To Learning Objectives

Figure 1.3: How does the racial and ethnic composition of America now differ from that of 1967? Back To Learning Objectives

Figure 1.4: Is America getting older? Back To Learning Objectives

Figure 1.5: What are Americans’ political ideologies? Back To Learning Objectives

Table 1.1: What were Aristotle’s classifications of government? To Learning Objectives