1. American Ideology and Culture Part 1
Textbook Alignment: Wilson
Most of Chapters 4 and 7

2. Intro to Political Ideologies
What do these word below truly mean? Let’s find out…
Radical
Liberal
Moderate
Conservative
Libertarian
Reactionary

3. The Political Spectrum
As you move away from the center of the political spectrum, your want of change becomes greater
Traditional Liberals and Conservatives want minimal change
Reactionaries and Radicals want maximum change
RAD
L C
REACT

4. Two Directions on the Spectrum
As you move to the right on the political spectrum, you become more retrogressive in the type of change desired (have more traditional views and desires)
As you move to the left on the political spectrum, you become more progressive in the type of change desired (have more of a modern view and desires)
This also goes with the ideas of one being “left wing / right wing”
Progressive
Retrogressive

5. Important Points to Remember
Those further away from the center of the spectrum will use revolutionary methods to institute their changes
As you move away from the center, the method of change can become more violent
Conservatives see the individual as the major instrument of change
Liberals see government as the major instrument of change

6. The Political Spectrum
The different political ideologies will be evaluated on the following important factors… HUMAN NATURE LAW & ORDER WORLD VIEW ECONOMICS GENERAL VIEWPOINTS

7. The Conservative
HUMAN NATURE Conservatives tend to be pessimistic about human nature
LAW & ORDER Conservatives stress law & order over personal civil rights and liberties; believe morality needs to be regulated to ensure safety; pro death penalty; mandatory sentences for certain crimes; prison=punitive
WORLD VIEW Conservatives tend to be isolationists; worry about home front before anyone else; anti U.N.; strong military and defense (“peace thru strength”)
ECONOMICS Conservatives support economic freedoms, laissez faire policies, pro business, and supply side economics; minimal taxes; LESS GOVERNMENT
GENERAL VIEWPOINTS Conservatives stress traditional family values, supports private schools, supports INDIVIDUAL rights over group rights

8. The Liberal
HUMAN NATURE Liberals tend to be optimistic about human nature and its potential
LAW & ORDER Liberals promote GROUP civil rights and GROUP liberties over order in society; affirmative action; against government regulating morality; anti death penalty; PRISON=REHABILITATE
WORLD VIEW Liberals tend to be internationalists, working to aid human suffering globally; pro U.N.; NEGOIATE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS
ECONOMICS Liberals support government intervention in economic affairs to ensure equality, pro laborer; taxation used to support programs and redistribute wealth; MORE GOVERNMENT
GENERAL VIEWPOINTS Liberals support environmental programs; separation of church/state; supports government intervention

9. Why does this matter today?
Left/Liberal = Democratic Party
Right/Conservative = Republican Party

10. The Moderate The Moderate takes no definitive position on any issue
Moderates pick and choose their viewpoints
Tend to be independent in their political perspectives
Located in the CENTER of the political spectrum

11. The Radical
Desires immediate, progressive (new) change (violent if necessary)
Desires ultimate sense of equality (everyone is the same)
Government can be the instrument that ensures that equality among all
A good example is a pure communist

12. Libertarian Believes in ultimate individualism
Believes in minimal government intervention-
Minimal taxes, minimal govt regulation
Government control of the economy should be minimal.
As long as actions do not harm others, they should be legal.  Freedom and rights cannot be compromised

13. The Reactionary
Desires immediate, retrogressive change (violent if necessary)
Extremely racist, xenophobic, and isolationist
An example would be the KKK or Nazis

14. Where would you be?

15. Politics and Economics
COMMUNISM
SOCIALISM
MIXED CAPITALISM
Pure Capitalism

16. Question #1 GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE A MAJOR ROLE IN CIVIL SOCIETY.
Which ideology would strongly agree with the above statement?
Conservatives
Liberals
Libertarians
Moderates

17. Question #2 Fill in the rest of the statement……
On the political spectrum, as you move away from the center, __________________
The amount of change you seek becomes greater
The amount of change you seek becomes less
The amount of change you seek is the same throughout the spectrum

18. Question #3 Fill in the rest of the statement……
On the political spectrum, as you move away from the center, __________________
The method of change can become more violent
The method of change will become less violent
The method of change is equally violent throughout the spectrum
No violence is ever used to seek change

19. Question #4
Which of the following descriptions best describes a CONSERVATIVE.
Internationalist, environment friendly, more taxes, more government
Isolationist, crime and law follower, pro business, government enforced morality
Ultimate equality (government enforced)
Racist policies followed

20. Think: What does it mean to be American?

21. What is political culture?
It is defined as a universally accepted way of thinking about how politics and government ought to be carried out

22. Core Values and Attitudes
Citizens attitudes toward government and toward one another are influenced by the way citizens interpret core American values. American citizens, coming form a range of backgrounds and experiences, have widely different views of how government ought to govern….

23. Core Value 1
Individualism: a belief in the fundamental worth and importance of the individual
Rooted in the Enlightenment philosophy that helped shape American government such as the use of “inalienable rights”
John Locke famous English philosopher

24. Core Value 2 Equality of Opportunity “All Men are Created Equal”
14th amendment equal protection clause

25. Core Value 3
Free Enterprise: also referred to as the free market economy, favoring little to no government regulation or interference. Producers and consumers would “naturally” regulate/correct the market.

26. Core Value 4
Rule of Law: principle that establishes laws that apply equally to all members of society and prevents the rules and whim of leaders who see themselves as above the law
Cornerstone of Enlightenment philosophy
A republic should be governed by laws and not of men

27. Core Value 5
Limited Government: government kept under the control of checks and balances and separation of powers
Especially enshrined in the Bill of Rights

28. Moving on…
In order to understand the political beliefs and behaviors of the American people, we need to first understand the importance of political socialization on individuals and communities.