AP US GOVERNMENT & POLITICS TARGETS 5.1- American Political Culture – Unit 5

5.1 Political Culture What is Political Culture and what makes American political culture unique? 1a. American success cannot be explained by our constitutional system and physical resources alone  Many countries have tried to copy our constitutional system with minimal success. (democracy, bicameralism, separation of powers, federalism etc. )  Russia has vast natural resources, not as much success  How can we explain American success?  = American Political Culture 1b. What is political culture? Political ideology?  Political culture: A common set of values regarding general political & economic principles  Examples: Basic human freedoms, commitment to democracy and the free market system  Political ideology: Political beliefs regarding specific issues (i.e. abortion, gay marriage, gun control, etc.)

5.1c Unique American Political Culture 1c. What Makes America Political Culture Unique?  Alexis de Tocqueville (Democracy in America ) recognized Americans have certain characteristics of the heart and mind  De Tocqueville: Americans have …  … an intense commitment to individual freedom, limited government, & free markets  … vast lands and few governmental restrictions  … However … 1c. Americans don’t always practice what they preach … = American Dilemma:  We preach liberty and freedom, but have had… slavery, segregation, no women’s suffrage, discrimination, etc.

5.1c Unique American Political Culture Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.  Alexis de Tocqueville I often wonder whether we do not rest our hopes too much upon constitutions, upon laws and courts. These are false hopes; believe me these are false hopes. Liberty lies in the hearts of men; when it dies there; no constitution, no law, no court can save it...  Justice Learned Hand

5.1c Unique American Political Culture The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do for themselves in their separate and individual capacities. But in all that people can individually do for themselves, government ought not to interfere.  Abraham Lincoln, 1854 “Now that I am drawing to the close of this work, in which I have spoken of so many important things done by the Americans, to what the singular prosperity and growing strength of that people ought mainly to be attributed, I should reply: To the superiority of their women.” ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE

Political Equality …………………. Economic Equality Equality of Opportunity ……..... Equality of Results Economic Individualism ……….. Complete Hands off  Free Markets/Laissez Faire No regulation  Social Darwinism Neglect of truly needy 5.2 Enduring Core American Values Believe In… But Not In… Watch: Government v. the American Character the-american-character the-american-character American Values (Prager University)

5.2 Enduring Core American Values Peaceful transition of political power  Gore Concession speech Gore Concession speech  Romney concession Romney concession RESOURCES America’s peaceful transitions of power are not special (Wash. Post) peaceful-transitions-of-power-are-not-special/ Bitter Campaign in Afghan Elections (The Guardian) ghani-inaugurated Violence after Transition of Power continues_n_ html

5.2 Enduring Core American Values Religious tradition  De Tocqueville amazed at how religious Americans were No privilege based on birth  No class consciousness (in contrast to Europe ) 2b-c. America vs. …  Scandinavia = equality more than liberty Scandinavia  Europe = Safety net v. individualism … religion v secularism Europe  America = Overall political participation is higher & a stronger sense of political efficacy  American Exceptionalism Pew Research european-values-gap/ The American Trinity The American Trinity (Prager)

5.3 Culture Wars 3a If such an enduring culture, then why do Americans have so much conflict over issues ?  Difference between culture and ideology!!  Culture = general beliefs (abstract principles)  Ideology = specific policies ( details of policy)  … In other words …  Agree on abstract principles, but disagree on how to achieve these…  Examples: Civil War, Abortion, War on terrorism Both sides = fighting for something bigger than themselves | Rights, but whose? | Broad agreement - disagree over tactics  Also: disagreement is often between vocal minorities on each side ( thus conflict is thus somewhat exaggerated )

5.3 Culture Wars 3b Intense conflict over ideology has produced the culture wars …  Intense conflict over deeply held beliefs (esp. moral issues, right and wrong). Usually divided along ideological lines (i.e. conservatives v. liberals)  Moral relativism: truth and morals are relative depending on historical time and culture. Therefore, few truths are absolute.  As a political conflict, the culture war is unique. Usually does not involve money, very intense, and often tied to religious beliefs.  Thus, very little compromise.

5.3 Culture Wars Orthodox  vs Progressive  Orthodox Christian …………..…… Progressive Christian  Fundamentalist  Orthodox Jews ………………………. Progressive Jew  Orthodox Muslim ………………….. Progressive Muslim

RELIGION AND THE CULTURE WAR 5.3 In Depth

5.4 Sources of Political Culture 4a How is political culture transmitted ?  political socialization = Process by which political beliefs are passed down from generation to generation  One of the most important is Family

5.4 Sources of Political Culture 4b Americans have of tradition of distrust of government  Sharp decline = Vietnam & Watergate era  Candidates always run against the “establishment” in D.C.  Distrust at an all time high Distrust at an all time high  Libertarians /Republicans  “You pulled a Gruber” “You pulled a Gruber” Trust in Government Trust in Government (Pew) Americans Distrust in Government 80% of Americans distrust Government (The Atlantic, 2010) archive/2010/04/80-percent-of- americans-dont-trust-the- government-heres-why/39148/

JUMP TO PUBLIC OPINION Fini