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American Political Culture

American Political Culture. 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

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American Political Culture

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  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

  3. 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)

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. E Pluribus Unum

  8. Liberalism • Social Individualism • 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

  9. Equality • Equality of Opportunity • 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)

  10. 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

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