1. Chapter Five Civic Culture
American Government and Politics: Deliberation, Democracy, and Citizenship

2. Chapter Five: Learning Objectives
Explain the meaning of civic culture and tell how it helps distinguish the United States from other industrial democracies
Define the concept of individualism in American life

3. Chapter Five: Learning Objectives
Explain how religion has so much influence despite the separation of church and state
Analyze how patriotism has both united Americans yet given rise to disputes over free expression

4. Chapter Five: Learning Objectives
Briefly sketch the role of giving and volunteering in American society
STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

5. Introduction to American Civic Culture
What are some values you associate with the American civic culture?
MATTHEW J. LEE/Boston Globe/Landov

6. Introduction to American Civic Culture
Four elements of American civic culture
Individualism
Religion
Patriotism
Civilian community service

7. Power and the Individual: Individualism
Characteristics of American individualism
Self-reliance and individual responsibility
Favor individual rights
Belief that economic competition is good
Modest social programs as compared to other nations

8. Power and the Individual: Reformism
In the 19th century, people were concerned about the increasing power that political party machines, wealthy financiers, and corporations exerted in government. As a result, the Progressive movement grew in opposition to those forces.

9. Power and the Individual: Reformism
Progressive movement ideas
Concentration of power was the threat
Need to reform electoral processes
Award government jobs based on the civil service system, not political appointees

10. Religion and American Politics
With a constitutional guarantee of the separation of church and state, why do you believe religion has been able to be so influential in American politics?

11. Myths and Misinformation
On America, Alexis de Tocqueville has been quoted as stating that he did not “understand the secret of her genius and power” until he visited American churches. Tocqueville was misquoted, but that statement is still used today because of its adaptability to different causes.

12. Religion and American Politics: Born in Mission
The Pilgrims came to America seeking religious freedom and drafted the Mayflower Compact to establish a “civil body politick.” The Puritans soon followed and many religious denominations have their roots in the Puritan reform movement.

13. Religion and American Politics: Revolution and Founding
Religious ideas in early America
First Great Awakening
Enlightenment
Deism

14. Religion and American Politics: Slavery and Civil Rights
Religious beliefs influenced both pro- slavery and anti-slavery movements. The Second Great Awakening focused on issues related to social improvement and moral reform, and abolishing slavery was an important goal of many during this movement.

15. Religion and American Politics: Individual Conduct
Religious beliefs affected opinions on
Prohibition of alcohol
Plural marriage
Abortion rights

16. Religion and Politics

17. Religion and American Politics: Education
How has religion affected education?
Many private universities have religious backgrounds
Northwest Ordinance linked religion with education
Scopes trial brought issues of religion and public education to national political agenda

18. Religion and American Politics: Social Welfare
The Social Gospel movement stressed the role that religion should play in charitable work and solving social problems such as poverty and child labor. The ideas of the Social Gospel movement are still alive in American politics today.

19. Religion and American Politics: Faith and Votes
Have religious beliefs affected voting behavior?
Moral Majority
Christian Coalition
Black churches

20. International Perspectives
Views of American religiosity
Europe has more secular views than America
2006 poll of the British found that 82% believed that religion causes “division and tension”
2005 Pew Global Attitudes Project found that many industrial nations thought that Americans were “too religious”

21. Patriotism
Source: Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, “Trends in Political Values and Core
Attitudes: 1987–2007—Political Landscape More Favorable to Democrats,” March 22, 2007, at

22. Patriotism and Civil Religion
American civil religion
Roots are in Judeo-Christian tradition
Americans should seek a higher power
Nondenominational references to God prevalent

23. Patriotism: Symbols and Rituals
Many symbols and rituals of patriotism have religious traditions
Great Seal of the United States
Liberty Bell
Declaration of Independence display
Opinions on flag desecration and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance

24. The Pledge of Allegiance
Pledges and Promises
The Pledge of Allegiance
First version created in 1892 with minor changes in 1923 and 1924
Congress added phrase “under God” in 1954
For some, the pledge embodies “the relationship of community, religion and military service”

25. Patriotism and Military Service
Throughout history, many Americans have expressed their patriotism through military service.
Other motivations for military service
Job training and employment opportunities
Benefits for veterans

26. Problems of Patriotism
Do you believe that patriotism places greater importance on one nation over another? Do you believe that cosmopolitism is a better approach? Why or why not?

27. Community Service
Why has community service become such an important component of American civic culture? As an American do you feel an obligation to community service? In what ways have citizens served their community?

28. Americans have served in many ways
Community Service
Americans have served in many ways
Participation in civic organizations
Charitable giving and volunteering

29. Community Service: Private Effort and Public Policy
How has the government promoted community service?
White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Peace Corps and AmeriCorps
Tax exempt status to nonprofit organizations

30. Civic Culture and Deliberative Democracy
Issues that have affected civic culture and deliberative democracy
Economic and social change
Growth in size of government
Judeo-Christian religious traditions and emergence of new religious traditions due to immigration

31. Deliberation, Citizenship, and You
Education as responsibility
President Obama has emphasized the importance of higher education to the country
Critics have said that job training may be more important than postsecondary education
Are you pursuing a higher education because of a sense of obligation to the country?

32. Summary
Several characteristics define the American civic culture and have helped make the American experience and history unique
If we understand these characteristics, we will better understand many of the enduring issues and attitudes in American politics