American Political Culture

1. American Political Culture AP US Government & Politics (Wilson chapter 4)

2. American Success • American success cannot be explained with just constitutional system and physical resources • Many countries, some have great physical resources, have tried to copy our constitution system with only varying degrees of success • Russia has vast natural resources, not much economic success • Americans have certain characteristics of heart and mind • Alexis de Tocqueville (Democracy in America) saw America as “fertile soil” for democracy: vast lands and few governmental restrictions

3. Whatever faith I may have in the perfectibility of man, until human nature is altered, and man wholly transformed, I shall refuse to believe in the duration of a government which is called upon to hold a territory equal to one half of Europe in extent, and to direct their independent activity to the accomplishment of the same designs. • Alexis de Tocqueville

4. Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude. • Alexis de Tocqueville

5. I often wonder whether we do not rest our hopes too much upon constitutions, upon laws and courts. These are false hopes; believe me these are false hopes. Liberty lies in the hearts of men; when it dies there; no constitution, no law, no court can save it... • Justice Learned Hand

6. Americans have a unique “ political culture” • A common set of values regarding general political principles • Examples: Basic human freedoms, commitment to democracy and the free market system

7. Enduring features of America political culture: • Equality of opportunity v. equal outcome • Economic individualism • Peaceful transition of political power • No privilege based on birth • No class consciousness (in contrast to Europe )

8. The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do for themselves in their separate and individual capacities. But in all that people can individually do for themselves, government ought not to interfere. • Abraham Lincoln, 1854

9. Religious tradition • De Tocqueville amazed at how religious Americans were • Sweden = equality more than liberty • Japan = Cooperation and social harmony • America = Political participation is higher (also have a stronger sense of political efficacy)

10. If such an enduring culture, then why so much conflict over issues ? • Difference between culture and ideology!! • Culture = General beliefs (abstract principles) • Ideology = specific policies ( details of policy) • Agree on abstract principles, but disagree on how to achieve these… • Examples: Civil War, Abortion, War on terrorism • Also: disagreement is often between vocal minorities on each side ( thus conflict is thus somewhat exaggerated )

11. Conflict over ideology has produced the so called “culture wars” • This is intense conflict over deeply held beliefs. Usually divided along the lines of conservatives v. liberals. • As a political conflict, the culture war is unique. Usually does not involve money, very intense, and often tied to religious beliefs. • Consequently, there is very little compromise.

12. What makes one a conservative is recognition of the human capacity for evil, or for just plain screwing up. That is why rules are important. Not because conservatives expect nobody to break them, but because having rules that are respected makes it harder for people to break them. This is a more subtle-but in the long run more trustworthy-form of compassion than liberals’ softness of heart. • David Horowitz

13. How do we get our beliefs ? • One of the most important is Family = political socialization • Another important one is Religion • Americans have of tradition of distrust of government • Candidates always run against the “establishment” in D.C. • American Dilemma: • Americans don’t always practice what we preach: • We preach liberty and freedom, but… slavery, segregation, denial of women’s suffrage, discrimination