1. Bell Ringer
For today, sit wherever you’d like! The set up is for regular government classes…sorry!
What are American values?
Create a list to share with the class
Star ones you believe to be exceptional
Underline values you believe to be universal

2. American Exceptionalism Write Up
American exceptionalism refers to the special character of the United States as a uniquely free nation based on democratic ideals and personal liberty
In your own words, explain what you think that means.
Do you feel this definition accurately describes America?

3. American Exceptionalism Write Up
City upon a hill:
Discussion: What are the views of this video? What part of our list fits with this? What challenges our views?
Newsroom clip clean edit:
Fox: Bill Ayers and Dinesh D’Souza debate: (1:20 -8:30ish)

4. American Political Culture

5. Political Opinion, Culture and Ideology
Political Culture: The widely-shared beliefs, values, and norms that citizens share about their government
Public Opinion: The distribution of the population’s beliefs about politics and policy issues
Differs from Ideology:
Integrated set of beliefs and values that shape a person’s views
Political culture consists of fundamental assumptions about how the political process should operate
Political ideology is a consistent set of views an individual might have regarding governmental policies

6. Basic American Political Culture
Why Americans have basic political culture
Accepted political system with widespread legitimacy amongst people
No mass movement to seriously question desirability of limited government or individualism
Americans share a common political culture that stresses political inclusion, democracy and nonviolent change
Founders shared vision of classical liberalism
Stresses importance of liberty, individualism, equality of opportunity, popular consent, and rule of law
Liberal philosophers (Locke/Montesquieu) claimed people had natural rights and state was primary threat against rights

7. Shared American Values
Liberty & individualism
Bill of Rights
Demand importance of individualism (ex. Pioneer movement – rugged individualism)
Reality check? (time of war = give up individuality for community)
Equality
Equality of opportunity – everyone has opportunity to be reach, happy and involve self in political life
Political equality more than economic equality (free enterprise)
Reality check? (Equality of result never part of founding)

8. Shared American Values
Popular Consent/Popular sovereignty
Should be rules to game of politics – everyone should hav ea right to govern but should listen to people when necessary
EX: Majority rule as long as minority is respected
Ultimate power resides with people, not government
Reality check? (increased levels of cynicism)
Rule of Law
Equal justice under law
Should not be denied fair procedures or due process
Reality check? (death penalty)

9. Opposing Views of Political Culture
National Political Culture
Stress unity, sameness
Everyone should embrace values to retain heritage
Too much diversity breaks down country
Schools/gov’t focus on “what’s right”
Multiculturalism
Have always been a nation of immigrants and culture should reflect this
Culture should not reflect that of an elite
Nothing wrong with different cultures having own heritage while tolerating others
Want schools/gov’t to focus on democracy’s short comings

10. Breakdown!
Do you agree with having more of a national political culture or supporting a multicultural view? RQ #9 next class!! Reading is online “Public opinion and Political Action” Edwards pgs