1. Essential Question: What is a political culture?

2. Bell ringer
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility--I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it--and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.
- “Inaugural Address,” President John F. Kennedy, 1961
To which of these responsibilities of citizenship does this excerpt speak?
A) voting one’s conscience
B) running for political office
C) engaging in community activism
D) volunteering for a worthy cause

3. Political culture Every country has one
A set of widely shared beliefs, values, and norms concerning the ways that political and economic life out to be carried out
Defines the relationship of citizens to government, to one another, and to the economy
A good understanding of a country’s of country’s political culture can help you make sense of the way a country’s government is set up, as well as the political decision its leaders make

4. American culture
May share beliefs, values, and norms with other countries but each countries political culture is unique
Conflictual political culture
Is one in which different groups (or subcultures) clash with opposing beliefs and ides
Example: ????? 1970s-Punk Rock ideology of rebellion
Consensual political culture
Experiences less conflict
Example: ???? Bipartisan politics
All cultures contain values that overlap and conflict
Which are we? Why?

7. Alexis De Tocqueville An early observer of American political culture
Came to US during 1830s to investigate why American democracy seemed so successful
He is French and well…..France just could not seem to get handle on democracy

8. Democracy in America
He identified several factors he believed critical to American success
Abundant and fertile land
Countless opportunities for people to acquire land and make a living
Lack of a feudal system that blocked others’ ambitions
An independent spirit encouraged by frontier living
Many years have passed but these factors helped shape our basic values of liberty, individualism, equal opportunity, democracy, rule of law, and civic duty

9. Shared values of Americans
Grounded in 18th century enlightenment philosophy
Other values have been added
Some support original ones, some conflict

10. 1. Liberty Probably most important inspiration to Am Rev
Remains core value today
Based on John Locke idea of
Life, Liberty. Pursuit of happiness

11. equality Jefferson refers to this in Declaration of Independence
“all men are created equal”
Most Americans do not believe every is equal in a sense of the word, basic beliefs in equality of opportunity and equal treatment before the law

12. Individualism
Values of equality and liberty are complimented by a commitment to the importance and dignity of the individual
Individuals have both the rights and responsibilities
Rugged Individualism
A 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
The “common sense” of people and their ability to not only take care of themselves but choose their government leaders as well

13. democracy Government should be based on consent of governed
Legitimacy lies in the hands of the people
Majority rule
But emphasis on liberty and individualism causes us to believe that rights of minority should be protected as well

14. Rule of law
Belief that government is based on a body of law applied equally, impartially, and justly
Central to American political culture
Stands in opposition to Rule by an Individual
To many Americans this means following the whims of a dictator

15. Civic duty
Tocqueville noted that Americans of early 19th century had a well-developed sense of community and individual responsibility to support community efforts
Is this same today?

16. Changing American Values
Industrial Revolution
Radically changed early American values
Most radical was economic change with increase in the inequality in distribution of wealth and income
By end of century most wealth lay in hands of few “robber barons”
Brought out inherent conflicts between core values already established
Capitalism
Before 1880s
Personal wealth based on land ownership
Capitalism-wealth based on money and other capital goods
Becomes an additional shared political value that compliments individualism and freedom
Free enterprise
Economic competition without restraint from government
Same time period

17. New values
Reinforced the older emphasis on individualism
Early Americans sought their fortune by claiming and farming new land by their own individual effort entrepreneurs of the late 19th century were doing same thing
Conflicts arise
New commitment conflicted and tensions arose
Equality
Example
Robber barons were accused of exploiting workers and limiting competition in order to get ahead themselves
Liberty
Mine owners paid workers in script which they could only use at company stores and only for rent of company houses

18. Equality of opportunity
Monopolies made it hard for others to break into industry
Resolution
Legislate new government regulations to ensure fair treatment in the marketplace
Another belief was added: government responsibility for the general welfare

19. Value changes since the 1930s
Preamble of Constitution
Promotion of the General Welfare” takes on new meaning in 1930s Why?

20. Values change since 1930s Preamble of Constitution
Promotion of the General Welfare” takes on new meaning in 1930s Why?
October 29, Wall Street Crash “Black Tuesday”-Great Depression begins
Government answer
Hoover-Leave it alone market will right itself-Hoovervilles get him pushed out of office
Roosevelt’s New Deal
Affirmation of the government’s responsibility for the welfare of its people
1944 inaugural address
2nd Bill of Rights
Reflected his firm commitment to “economic security and independence”
Example: everyone’s right to a useful job, food, clothing, a decent home, adequate medical care, and good education

21. 1960s
Beliefs from 1944 inaugural speed play role in
Creation of civil rights and social welfare legislation
1990s
President Clinton
Referenced speech when he said “Health care is a basic right all should have”
His health care plan was defeated indication of how we don’t always agree to meaning of this value

22. Tension
Over value of individualism (individual’s responsibility to take care of self)
2000 election campaign
George W. Bush and Al Gore debated merits of government-sponsored prescription plan for the elderly
2004
President Bush supported privatization of Social Security programs
John Kerry did not
2008
President Obama and John McCain both presented health care reform proposals

23. Political tolerance Easily misunderstood
Democracy depends on citizens being reasonably tolerant of the opinions and actions of others
Most Americans believe themselves to be fairly tolerant

24. Studies show that political tolerance much more complex
Findings
Overwhelming majority agree with freedom speech, religion, and right to petition-in abstract
Overwhelming majority agree with freedom of speech and religion, and people are not as politically tolerant as they claim
Agree with freedoms of speech and religions, and are willing to allow many people with whom they disagree to do a great deal politically
Agree with freedoms of speech and religion, and have become more tolerant in last few decade

25. Findings
Agree with freedoms of speech and religion, and most people dislike one or another group strongly enough to deny it certain political rights, although people are not always inclined to act on their beliefs.
General rule people are willing to deny rights to people on the opposite end of political spectrum
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 disapprove of, such as gays, atheists, or black militants
In conflict with popular opinion
Research does not show that liberals are more tolerant then conservatives

26. Mistrust of government
Recent trend
1950s-1960s trust of government was artificially high
Mid 1960s
Trust really begins to drop
Blame is laid at Vietnam War and Watergate for initial drops
LBJ lied about causalities and American involvement in war
Nixon was “not a crook”
Today
Americans in record numbers display distrust with politics and politicians

31. Along with mistrust of government has been a drop in political efficacy
A citizens capacity to understand and influence political events
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
Studies show
Little difference over last half century in levels of internal efficacy
Large change in external efficacy
Most Americans believing that government is not very responsive to the electorate

32. External efficacy
Levels dropped steadily during the 1960s and 70s
Many political scientists blaming Vietnam War and Watergate for growing belief that government officials operate without much concern for beliefs and concerns of ordinary people
Pattern continues today
May be one reason incumbent presidents have difficult time getting reelected

33. International studies
Conclusion
Government is too big and pervasive to be sensitive to individual citizens
International studies
Americans feel significantly higher levels of political efficacy that do citizens of many European nations
Americans are less likely to vote than most Europeans, but they are more likely to sign petitions, work to solve community problems, and regularly discuss politics

34. Culture wars
Despite fact that Americans share broad cultural and political values
Many believe conflict has increased since mid-20th century
2 cultural camps at war with each other

35. Culture wars Unchanging standards Abortion Gay rights drug use
School prayer
Terrorism
U.S. role in world affairs
Unchanging standards
Belief in God
Laws of nature
U.S. is a force for good in the world
Other side
There are legitimate alternatives to these standards
U.S. has at times had a negative (or maybe neutral) effect on world affairs

36. Culture wars Question is
Whether or not these differences of opinion actually amount to a big divide in the broad American political culture?

37. Culture wars One view Other view
They do because they strike at the very heart of the meaning of our democracy
Other view
We are doing what we have always done-arguing about how our core values should be implemented