1. Defense of unified, coherent political culture
Compare political beliefs of American citizens to beliefs of citizens from other nations
This shows there is a clear commonality of beliefs that distinguishes us from other nations, including other advanced industrial democracies

2. U.S. 29% Australia 44% West Germany 61% U.K. 64% Netherlands 65%
Percentage who agree: “Government should provide everyone with a guaranteed basic income.”
U.S. 29%
Australia 44%
West Germany 61%
U.K. 64%
Netherlands 65%
Italy 81%
Percentage who agree: “Government should provide everyone with a guaranteed basic income.”

3. Percent who agree that “government should provide a decent standard of living for the unemployed”
U.S. 21%
Australia 38%
Netherlands 50%
U.K. 65%
West Germany 66%
Italy 68%
Percent who agree: “Government should provide a decent standard of living for the unemployed.”

4. U.S. 72% Australia 61% Italy 45% Germany 40% Britain 37%
Percent who agree “The way things are in my country, people like me and my family have a good chance of improving our standard of living.”
U.S. 72%
Australia 61%
Italy 45%
Germany 40%
Britain 37%
Percent who agree “The way things are in my country, people like me and my family have a good chance of improving our standard of living.”

5. Sources of liberal political culture
Political socialization
Self selection of immigrants
Institutions create culture (Government designed by Founding Fathers to be inefficient - this makes people distrust government. Government not as “generous” here as in some other countries – people have to make it more on their own – fosters individualism.

6. Background to U.S. Constitution
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation: Why Replace – Why Inadequate?

7. Weaknesses in Articles of Confederation
Congress can’t tax
States can limit commerce among themselves
States could issue own currency
Exec not independent of Cong.
Changing Articles is onerous process – unanimous vote

8. Constitutional Convention: called to rewrite Articles Different Proposals
Virginia Plan (plan of Federalists)
New Jersey Plan
Connecticut Compromise