1. American Political Culture – Unit 5
AP US Government & Politics
Targets 5.1-4

2. Unit 5 - Intro to Political Culture
What is Political Culture and what makes American political culture unique?
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

3. 5.1 Political Culture – Herzog 3
What is political culture? [Political ideology?]
Political culture: A common set of widely shared values regarding general political & economic principles
[Examples: Commitment to basic human freedoms | democracy | the free market system | etc. ]
[Political ideology: Political beliefs regarding specific issues (i.e. abortion, gay marriage, gun control, etc.)]

4. 5.1 Political Culture – Herzog 3
[What Makes America Political Culture Unique?]
Alexis de Tocqueville (Democracy in America ) recognized Americans have certain unique characteristics
De Tocqueville: Americans have …
… an intense commitment to individual freedom, limited government, & free markets
… vast lands and few governmental restrictions
James Town
… However …
[Americans don’t always practice what they preach …
= American Dilemma:
We preach liberty and freedom, but have had… slavery, segregation, deny women’s suffrage, discrimination, etc. ]

5. 5.1 Political Culture – Herzog 3
Transformation of Political Values
Great Depression … Election of FDR (1932)
New Deal…
Second Bill of Rights …

6. 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

7. 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

8. 5.2 Enduring Core American Values
Watch:
Government v. the American Character
American Values (Prager University)
But Not In…
Believe In…
Political Equality …………………. Economic Equality
Democratic Values
All men are create Equal…
Equality of Opportunity ……..... Equality of Results
Economic Individualism ……….. Complete Hands off
“Rugged Individualism”
Free Markets/Laissez Faire No regulation
Social Darwinism Neglect of the truly needy

9. 5.2 Enduring Core American Values
RESOURCES
America’s peaceful transitions of power are not special (Wash. Post)
Bitter Campaign in Afghan Elections (The Guardian)
Violence after Transition of Power
Peaceful transition of political power
Gore concession speech
Romney concession
Clinton concession
5.2 American Values
One of the most important American values is that of a peaceful transition of power in presidential elections. Though elections can bitter, the loser accepts the outcome of the election and can even work to support their former opponent (though this unlikely in today’s political climate).

10. 5.2 Enduring Core American Values
Pew Research
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
Europe = Safety net v. individualism … religion v secularism
America = Overall political participation is higher & a stronger sense of political efficacy
Recently = drop in external efficacy
2d American Exceptionalism
Political Efficacy is the feeling that people can understand the political process (internal political efficacy) and that they can influence government (external political efficacy)
Americans have a higher sense of political efficacy than their counterparts in Europe
(1) The American Trinity (Prager)

11. 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 can be somewhat exaggerated )

12. 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.

13. 5.3 Culture Wars Orthodox Progressive vs
Orthodox Christian …………..…… Progressive Christian
Chritistian Fundamentalist
Moral Majority …………………………….. Rise of the Religious Right
Orthodox Jews ………………………. Progressive Jew
Orthodox Muslim ………………….. Progressive Muslim
Resource:
Rise of the Religious Right (Youtube – in 2 parts)
Part 1:
Part 2:

14. Religion and the culture war
5.4 In Depth
Religion and the culture war

15. 5.6 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
Political Culture is transmitted from one generation through a process called political socialization. Family is the most important factor in socialization. More will be said of political socialization latter.

16. 5.6 Sources of Political Culture
Americans Distrust in Government
80% of Americans distrust Government (The Atlantic, 2010)
GOP has high level of distrust (CNN, Nov 2015)
5.6 Sources of Political Culture
4b Americans have of tradition of distrust of government
Sharp decline = Vietnam & Watergate era
1990’s…
2003…
Today =
Distrust at an all time high
Libertarians /Republicans
“You pulled a Gruber”
Candidates always run against the “establishment” in D.C.
There is still a strong current of government distrust among the American people.
Trust in Government (Pew)

17. Perfectus
Jump to Public Opinion