American Political Culture

What Makes a Real American? by Race/Ethnicity Percent who believe "Trying to get ahead on your own effort is important in making a person a real American?" 81 79 85 WHITES BLACKS HISPANICS ASIANS 20 40 60 80 100 PERCENT

Definitions What is political culture? What is an ideology? “A distinctive, patterned way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out.” Different from an ideology. What is an ideology? An internally consistent set of beliefs and values about the policies the government ought to pursue.

What Makes an American? Who are Americans? What makes us Americans? Jus Soli – of the soil Jus Sanguinis – of the blood What makes us Americans? Shared beliefs Shared ideology

Alexis de Tocqueville – an early observer of American political culture – came to the United States during the 1830s to investigate why the American democracy seemed to be so successful, especially since his native France seemed to be having so much trouble with it.

Tocqueville recorded his observations in Democracy in America, a book that remains today a classic study of American political values.

American ‘Liberalism’ He identified several factors that he believed to be critical in shaping America’s successful democracy: America “grew up” in 1750-1850 Belief in monarchy was dying Socialism/Marxism not yet born No feudal tradition no brutal repression no violent class revolution result = moderate culture

TWO TYPES OF LIBERALISM CLASSICAL (19th Century) LIBERALISM historical roots in the revolt against feudalism NEW DEAL LIBERALISM historical roots in the Great Depression and Roosevelt presidency

Contrasting Ideologies Classical Liberalism: >opposed to government intervention in economy and society American (New Deal) Liberalism: >favors using government to soften the harshness of market economy (capitalism) >opposed to government intervention in individual thought and personal (private) behavior

Contrasting Ideologies American Conservatism >hostile to government intervention in economy and society (similar to classical liberalism) >favors using government to shape individual's thought and behavior (differs from classical liberalism)

Shared Values Freedom / Liberty Understood to mean individual freedom Ability to structure our own lives Sources: Frontier Many chances for success Few Externalities Protestantism

Shared Values Equality A belief that we are all as good as anyone else Sources: Lack of a feudal tradition Protestant Tradition (all souls equal in the eyes of God)

Shared Values Individualism the belief that individuals are responsible for their own well-being and that the strength of our system lies in the ability of individuals to be left alone to compete for success. Sources “Rugged Individualism” Frontier Past

Shared Values Civic Duty Responsibility to participate in government Sources: Distance from England Social contract tradition

Shared Values Capitalism Limited government interference in the market Government is not responsible for citizens’ welfare Sources: Roman Law Frontier Wealth of the country Protestant Work Ethic

Shared Values Tolerance Live and let live attitude Sources: At least in abstract Sources: Frontier distances Settlement patterns

Shared Values Rule of law Stands in opposition to rule by an individual, which to many Americans implies following the whims of a dictator. Sources Greece/Rome Enlightenment English tradition

Shared Values Democracy Most Americans believe that government should be based on the consent of the governed, or that legitimacy ultimately lies in the hands of the people. Sources Greece/Rome Enlightenment English tradition

Shared Values Political tolerance Democracy depends on citizens being reasonably tolerant of the opinions and actions of others, and most Americans believe themselves to be fairly tolerant. As a general rule, people are willing to deny rights to people on the opposite end of the political spectrum. For example, liberals are most likely to deny right-wing groups, such as neo-Nazis or self-styled militia groups their rights, and conservatives are most likely to deny them to groups they may disapprove of, such as gays, atheists, or black militants.

Shared Values Mistrust of the government Trust in government and its officials has declined significantly since the mid-1960s. Many scholars blamed the Vietnam War and Watergate for the initial, dramatic drops, but the trend is persistent into the early 21st century, with Americans in record numbers expressing disgust with politics and politicians.

Shared Values Mistrust of the government Accompanying the mistrust of government has been a drop in political efficacy, a citizen’s capacity to understand and influence political events. Political efficacy has two parts: Internal efficacy – the ability to understand and take part in political affairs External efficacy - the belief of the individual that government will respond to his or her personal needs or beliefs.

Is Faith a Characteristic of American Political Culture? Religious America is a profoundly religious nation, esp in comparison to European counterparts. Politics often fought out in arena of religion. (a) Abolition struggle (b) Civil rights struggle (c) Prohibition struggle