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American Identity & Values: Diversity, Equality, & Change in Political Culture

Explore the evolution of American political culture, from early immigration policies to modern debates on diversity, equality, and liberalism. Understand the impacts of immigration acts, affirmative action, and societal beliefs. Delve into the concept of E Pluribus Unum, liberalism, equality, and the balance between stability and change in American public policy.

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American Identity & Values: Diversity, Equality, & Change in 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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