Chapter 4 THE STRUCTURAL FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

American Society: How it Has Changed and Why it Matters The opening vignette in the text points to several of the structural factors that provide the context or environment for politics and governing. The opening vignette in the text points to several of the structural factors that provide the context or environment for politics and governing. –Society –Economy –Political culture –International system

Population Change and Diversity in the United States A racially diverse society that is becoming more so every year A racially diverse society that is becoming more so every year Changing patterns of immigration Changing patterns of immigration Effects of ethnic, religious, and racial diversity Effects of ethnic, religious, and racial diversity Political and social tensions Political and social tensions

Changing Location The United States has changed from a society in which the largest percentage of the population lived in rural areas to one in which the largest percentage lives in suburbs. The United States has changed from a society in which the largest percentage of the population lived in rural areas to one in which the largest percentage lives in suburbs. From urbanization to suburbanization From urbanization to suburbanization Effects of population movement from rural areas to cities and from cities to suburbs Effects of population movement from rural areas to cities and from cities to suburbs Steady population movement to the west and south as employment opportunities shifted Steady population movement to the west and south as employment opportunities shifted

Changing Jobs and Occupations Changes in American occupational structure Changes in American occupational structure Political implications stemming from changes in the American occupational structure Political implications stemming from changes in the American occupational structure

The Aging of the American Population Median age was just under 16 in 1800; today it is about 33; estimated to be about 38 by 2030 Median age was just under 16 in 1800; today it is about 33; estimated to be about 38 by 2030 Increasing proportion of the population over age 65 Increasing proportion of the population over age 65 Decreasing proportion of the population between the ages of 18 and 64 Decreasing proportion of the population between the ages of 18 and 64 Rapid growth of the very old as a proportion of the population Rapid growth of the very old as a proportion of the population

The American Standard of Living Stagnation in living standards Stagnation in living standards Rising inequality in income and wealth Rising inequality in income and wealth The angry middle class The angry middle class The fall and rise of poverty The fall and rise of poverty Rising inequality Rising inequality

The American Economy The American economic system is based on capitalism, sometimes called a market economy or a free enterprise system. The American economic system is based on capitalism, sometimes called a market economy or a free enterprise system. A capitalist economy has two defining features: A capitalist economy has two defining features: –Private ownership of the means of production –Markets to coordinate economic activity

The Industrial Revolution and the Rise of the Corporation Numerous small enterprises before the Civil War, originally linked to agriculture Numerous small enterprises before the Civil War, originally linked to agriculture Economy became increasingly industrialized after the Civil War Economy became increasingly industrialized after the Civil War The Civil War helped spur the Industrial Revolution and allowed the North to enact government policies that favored free enterprise. The Civil War helped spur the Industrial Revolution and allowed the North to enact government policies that favored free enterprise.

By the turn of the twentieth century, the United States was the leading industrial power. By the turn of the twentieth century, the United States was the leading industrial power. Industrial enterprises grew to unprecedented size in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Industrial enterprises grew to unprecedented size in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Industrial growth was accompanied by transformations in technology, corporate law, and industrial organization. Industrial growth was accompanied by transformations in technology, corporate law, and industrial organization.

The Post World War II Boom Steady growth in the size, health, and economic importance of corporations continued (except for the period of the Great Depression) until the early 1970s. Steady growth in the size, health, and economic importance of corporations continued (except for the period of the Great Depression) until the early 1970s. Post World War II economy Post World War II economy The fall from grace The fall from grace Globalization and the American economy Globalization and the American economy

The United States in the International System For most of the nineteenth century, American attention was focused on the North American continent. For most of the nineteenth century, American attention was focused on the North American continent. –We concentrated on filling a vast, continental-scale nation-state and on building an industrial economy. –Our foreign policy was isolationist. –By the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, American attentions began to turn abroad. –Our growing economic power brought influence with the world’s most important nations.

The United States as a superpower The United States as a superpower –World War II propelled the United States into a position of leadership. –Within a decade of World War II, the United States stood as the unchallenged economic, political, and military power among the Western nations. –Conflicts with the Soviet Union –Implications of America’s superpower status

The United States as a Superpower II The United States as a Superpower II –Dramatic changes in the world political, military, and economic systems occurred in 1980s and 1990s. –The collapse of the Soviet Union left the United States as the world’s only military superpower. –Presidents sometimes have difficulty translating these changes into diplomatic preeminence.

The Foundation Beliefs of American Political Culture Fundamental beliefs that have political consequences make up the American political culture. Fundamental beliefs that have political consequences make up the American political culture. A broad consensus seems to exist among Americans on many of the fundamental beliefs that shape our political life. A broad consensus seems to exist among Americans on many of the fundamental beliefs that shape our political life. Foundation beliefs are beliefs that shape how people classify, think about, and resolve particular issues. Foundation beliefs are beliefs that shape how people classify, think about, and resolve particular issues.

Competitive individualism means that people are naturally competitive, always striving to better themselves in relation to others Competitive individualism means that people are naturally competitive, always striving to better themselves in relation to others –Americans tend to believe that an individual’s fate is tied to his or her own efforts. –Americans endorse the idea of equality of opportunity, but reject the idea that people should have equal rewards. –Competitive individualism is not common in most other modern capitalist nations.

Limited government — the belief that government must be limited in its power and responsibilities Limited government — the belief that government must be limited in its power and responsibilities –Closely associated with the idea of individualism –Concern that a powerful government is likely to threaten individual rights –Reflected in the words of the Declaration of Independence and in the ideas of Adam Smith and John Locke

Free enterprise Free enterprise –Americans tend to support the basic precepts of free enterprise capitalism. –This set of ideas about individualism, limited government, and the free market (referred to by some as classical liberalism) influences many aspects of public policy. –Americans simultaneously show strong popular support for free enterprise while expressing negative feelings about corporations and corporate leaders.

Citizenship and the Nature of the Political Order The behavior of citizens and political decision makers are influenced by certain beliefs about what kind of political order is appropriate and what role citizens should play. The behavior of citizens and political decision makers are influenced by certain beliefs about what kind of political order is appropriate and what role citizens should play. Democracy — one of the foundations of the American belief system Democracy — one of the foundations of the American belief system Freedom and liberty — freedom (also called liberty) is at the top of the list of American beliefs Freedom and liberty — freedom (also called liberty) is at the top of the list of American beliefs Populism — refers to the hostility of the common person to power and the powerful Populism — refers to the hostility of the common person to power and the powerful

Structural Influences on American Politics Chapter 4 of The Struggle for Democracy deals with the main features of American society, the economy, political culture, and the international system. Chapter 4 of The Struggle for Democracy deals with the main features of American society, the economy, political culture, and the international system. One of the recurring themes that appears throughout the book is the substantial growth in the size, reach, and responsibilities of the federal government. One of the recurring themes that appears throughout the book is the substantial growth in the size, reach, and responsibilities of the federal government. Much of this growth is related to changes in the structural factors. Much of this growth is related to changes in the structural factors.