1. Alexis de Tocqueville’s Reasons for U.S. Democracy No feudal aristocracy, minimal taxes, few legal restraints No feudal aristocracy, minimal taxes, few legal restraints Westward movement provided vast, cheap land and opportunity Westward movement provided vast, cheap land and opportunity Nation of small independent farmers Nation of small independent farmers Political culture Political culture

2. American Political Culture Def’n: A patterned set of ways of thinking about how politics and governing ought to be carried out Def’n: A patterned set of ways of thinking about how politics and governing ought to be carried out We take it for granted—ex. Peaceful transfer of power We take it for granted—ex. Peaceful transfer of power Not the same as political IDEOLOGY—consistent sets of views as to the policies government ought to pursue Not the same as political IDEOLOGY—consistent sets of views as to the policies government ought to pursue 5 important elements: Liberty, Equality, Democracy, Civic Duty, Individual responsibility 5 important elements: Liberty, Equality, Democracy, Civic Duty, Individual responsibility Americans are more willing to tolerate economic inequality than political inequality Americans are more willing to tolerate economic inequality than political inequality Regions can have subcultures—American South differs from NE…south more conservative Regions can have subcultures—American South differs from NE…south more conservative Political culture can be consensual or conflictual. Consensual cultures come to compromises—conflictual ones come to blows Political culture can be consensual or conflictual. Consensual cultures come to compromises—conflictual ones come to blows

3. Questions of Political Culture How do we know that people share these beliefs? Public opinion polls, speeches, etc. Talk of “un-Americanism” How do we know that people share these beliefs? Public opinion polls, speeches, etc. Talk of “un-Americanism” How can we account for inconsistent behavior? (Civil Rights took a long time)?--beliefs contradict one another and are not consistently prioritized How can we account for inconsistent behavior? (Civil Rights took a long time)?--beliefs contradict one another and are not consistently prioritized Why are Americans eager to claim that they are tolerant and agree in principle with freedom of speech, religion, etc., yet in actual practice they are not as politically tolerant as they claim to be? Priorities change. Why are Americans eager to claim that they are tolerant and agree in principle with freedom of speech, religion, etc., yet in actual practice they are not as politically tolerant as they claim to be? Priorities change. Why so much political conflict? Priorities change; generally very little on foreign policy (Iraq ’03 a big exception). Democracies also value debate. Debate about how “consensual” American politics has been historically Why so much political conflict? Priorities change; generally very little on foreign policy (Iraq ’03 a big exception). Democracies also value debate. Debate about how “consensual” American politics has been historically

4. Comparing American Political Culture to the World Swedes: Favor equal pay, economic equality with earnings cap. Americans: hard work should be rewarded. Swedes also defer to technical experts, don’t sue, believe in “what is best” and value harmony Swedes: Favor equal pay, economic equality with earnings cap. Americans: hard work should be rewarded. Swedes also defer to technical experts, don’t sue, believe in “what is best” and value harmony Japanese favor good relations with colleagues and respect hierarchy Japanese favor good relations with colleagues and respect hierarchy Civic Duty: Almond/Verba study shows US/UK citizens have more sense of civic duty (1959-60), even though Americans don’t vote as regularly as Europeans Civic Duty: Almond/Verba study shows US/UK citizens have more sense of civic duty (1959-60), even though Americans don’t vote as regularly as Europeans Americans more willing to fight for the country Americans more willing to fight for the country Religion: Americans much more religious than Europeans—this shows up in politics Religion: Americans much more religious than Europeans—this shows up in politics Both liberals and conservatives use the pulpit for politics (Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Pat Robertson) Both liberals and conservatives use the pulpit for politics (Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Pat Robertson)

5. Sources of Political Culture Historical roots Historical roots Legal-sociological factors Legal-sociological factors The Culture War The Culture War

6. Historical Sources of Political Culture American Revolution essentially over liberty American Revolution essentially over liberty Long-standing distrust of power Long-standing distrust of power Constitution encourages participation, reconciles personal liberty with need for social control Constitution encourages participation, reconciles personal liberty with need for social control Adversarial culture Adversarial culture Transition of 1800: Reconciled need and suspicion of government, legitimated “loyal opposition” Transition of 1800: Reconciled need and suspicion of government, legitimated “loyal opposition”

7. Legal-Sociological Sources of Political Culture Widespread, but not universal participation permitted by Constitution Widespread, but not universal participation permitted by Constitution Religious tradition a source of cleavages Religious tradition a source of cleavages Protestant “work ethic”: Work, save money, obey law, do good works Protestant “work ethic”: Work, save money, obey law, do good works Churches are political Churches are political Family unit—greater freedom of children leads t belief in rights/acceptance of diverse views Family unit—greater freedom of children leads t belief in rights/acceptance of diverse views Absence of Class Consciousness: Most Americans consider themselves “middle class” Absence of Class Consciousness: Most Americans consider themselves “middle class” Belief that you can get ahead by working hard Belief that you can get ahead by working hard

8. Culture War Culture War between Orthodox (God gives fixed moral rules) and Progressive (believe personal freedom more important) Culture War between Orthodox (God gives fixed moral rules) and Progressive (believe personal freedom more important) More Progressives than before More Progressives than before Rise of technology (particularly among young) makes mobilization easier Rise of technology (particularly among young) makes mobilization easier Low degree of tolerance for divergent views Low degree of tolerance for divergent views Battle over values, not money Battle over values, not money This makes compromise almost impossible This makes compromise almost impossible Conflict is more profound Conflict is more profound Different standards of public and private morality Different standards of public and private morality Affects people’s trust of government and political efficacy Affects people’s trust of government and political efficacy War between and within religious denominations War between and within religious denominations

9. Political Efficacy Political Efficacy—a citizen’s capacity to understand and influence political events Political Efficacy—a citizen’s capacity to understand and influence political events 2 parts--- 2 parts--- Internal efficacy—confidence in one’s own ability to understand and take part in politics. Remained stable over past few decades. Internal efficacy—confidence in one’s own ability to understand and take part in politics. Remained stable over past few decades. External efficacy—a belief that the system will respond to what individuals do. Sharp decreases over the past few decades External efficacy—a belief that the system will respond to what individuals do. Sharp decreases over the past few decades American efficacy higher than Europeans American efficacy higher than Europeans

10. Mistrust of Government Mistrust of leaders—NOT system. This is historically the norm. Mistrust of leaders—NOT system. This is historically the norm. Evident since 1960s Evident since 1960s Jimmy Carter “Malaise” speech in 1979 Jimmy Carter “Malaise” speech in 1979 Polls showed people trust government less to do “what’s right” Polls showed people trust government less to do “what’s right” Diminished trust in Presidency/Congress, less so in Supreme Court (changing) Diminished trust in Presidency/Congress, less so in Supreme Court (changing) Increased trust in state/local government Increased trust in state/local government Causes: Watergate, Vietnam (but don’t fully explain) Causes: Watergate, Vietnam (but don’t fully explain) Most Americans support rights in principle…but not in concrete situations Most Americans support rights in principle…but not in concrete situations Even so, most willing to tolerate divergent views, allow expression Even so, most willing to tolerate divergent views, allow expression Unpopular groups survive: Most don’t act on beliefs, officeholders more tolerant than general public, Courts insulated from public opinion Unpopular groups survive: Most don’t act on beliefs, officeholders more tolerant than general public, Courts insulated from public opinion

11. Ch. 4 Learning Objectives After reading and reviewing the material in this chapter the student should be able to do each of the following: After reading and reviewing the material in this chapter the student should be able to do each of the following: 1.Define what scholars mean by political culture, and list some of the dominant aspects of political culture in the United States. 1.Define what scholars mean by political culture, and list some of the dominant aspects of political culture in the United States. 2.Discuss how American citizens compare with those of other countries in their political attitudes. 2.Discuss how American citizens compare with those of other countries in their political attitudes. 3.List the contributions to United States political culture made by the Revolution, by the nation’s religious heritages, and by the family. Explain the apparent absence of class consciousness in the U.S. 3.List the contributions to United States political culture made by the Revolution, by the nation’s religious heritages, and by the family. Explain the apparent absence of class consciousness in the U.S. 4.Define internal and external political efficacy, and explain how the level of each of these has varied over the past generations. 4.Define internal and external political efficacy, and explain how the level of each of these has varied over the past generations.