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American Political Culture. Chapter 4, Module2, Quiz 1. What is political culture?. A distinctive and pattered way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out. Differs from Ideology- what the government should do.
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American Political Culture Chapter 4, Module2, Quiz 1
What is political culture? • A distinctive and pattered way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out. • Differs from Ideology- what the government should do. • Relationship: Political Culture contributes to ideology.
American Political Culture • Democracy • Personal Liberty • Individualism (individual rights and responsibilities) • Civic duty • Equality of opportunity (not economic equality) • free-market economy. • Political equality • How do we know these things are important to Americans? • Slogans we use, speeches we hear, books we read, opinion polls, and observations of outsiders. • What is the main source? *family
What is democracy? • People who believe in democracy, believe that government officials should be accountable to the people. • Aristotle: “rule by many” • Argument for democracy: People who cannot choose for themselves are not really free. • Purpose of limited government: To prevent the majority from infringing on the rights of the minority
What is politics? • Process by which people decide how to structure, organize, and administer government.
Religion and Politics • America is one of the most religious countries in the world! • Dominant religion in early republic was Protestantism/Puritanism. Many believe in the Protestant “work” ethic: work hard, save money, avoid depending on the state. • Religious diversity encourages political diversity. • Religious influences • Break with England “the laws of nature and nature’s God” • Struggle over slavery • Religious leaders led Civil Rights movement • Moral Majority 1980s- prayer in schools and ban of abortion. • Religious beliefs are important part of political decisions.
Cultural Classes in the U.S. • Progressive: • Personal freedom is more important than religion. • Orthodox • Religion is as important or more important than expression or personal freedom. • Conflict in culture war: • Abortion • Prayer in schools • Drug use
Political Efficacy • Definition: a belief that you can take part in politics • Internal: the ability to understand and take part in politics. • External: the ability to make the system respond to the citizenry.
What do unpopular causes survive and why do groups survive political intolerance? • In order for democracy to work you need some level of tolerance so opinion/ideas can be expressed. • We don’t always act on beliefs • People don’t agree on who to suppress. • Groups have protections from courts.
