1. American Political Culture

2. Who are we and what do we value?
Diversity and Multiculturalism (Immigration)
E Pluribus Unum – Out of Many, One
Melting Pot
Liberalism
Social individualism and Economic (Capitalism)
Equality
Equality of Opportunity vs. Equality of Results
Where do our beliefs come from?
Political Socialization

4. Immigration Before 1882 – Open Immigration
1882 – Chinese Exclusion Act
1907 – “Gentleman’s Agreement”
1921 – Congress passes law encouraging immigration from Western Europe, but not Central or Southern Europe (assimilation)
1929 – National Origins Act (quotas of 150,000 per year)
1952 – Revisions N.O.Act (communists)

5. Immigration Immigration Act of 1965
Abolished quotas discriminating against nationalities
Substituted overall limit of 170,000 immigrants from the Eastern Hemisphere and 120,000 immigrants from the Western Hemisphere
By limiting the number of immigrants from Latin America, the Immigration Act of 1965 touched off a serious illegal immigration problem

6. Immigration Before 9/11
United States admits approximately 900,000 legal immigrants every year
Another 300,000 people who illegally cross the border
Immigration and Naturalization Service estimates that about 5 million illegal aliens currently reside in the United States
Proposition 187 – California’s “Save our State” amendment (1994)
President Bush’s push for amnesty

7. Reaction to 9/11: Immigration
Public opposition to immigration balloons as many Americans
Bush’s call for amnesty disappears from his agenda
Increased security along boarder with Mexico
Strict enforcement of people illegally overstaying their visas

8. E Pluribus Unum

9. Liberalism Social Individualism Economic liberalism (capitalism)
Inherent belief in American society that individuals are responsible for their own lot in life
Belief that government should not interfere with the lives of individuals
Economic liberalism (capitalism)
Laissez-faire economics
Belief that government should not interfere with the private sector

10. Equality Equality of Opportunity Equality of Results
All individuals should have an equal chance to advance through individual talent and hard work
“Soft” affirmative action
Equality of Results
All individuals have a right to more or less equal part of the material goods that society produces
Driving force behind Supreme Court support for affirmative action
Bakke Decision (UC-Davis Med School)

11. Stability and Change
American public policy is characterized by enormous stability
Why is this the case?
Ideological stability
Public opinion
Structure of the system
However, political events can lead to rapid changes
9/11, school shootings, oil spills, Enron