American Political Culture Wilson Chapter 4 AP Government.

9
American Political Culture Wilson Chapter 4 AP Government

Transcript of American Political Culture Wilson Chapter 4 AP Government.

Page 1: American Political Culture Wilson Chapter 4 AP Government.

American Political Culture

Wilson Chapter 4

AP Government

Page 2: American Political Culture Wilson Chapter 4 AP Government.

What is Political Culture?

• The widely-shared beliefs, values, and norms that citizens share about their government

• A distinctive and patterned way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out.

Page 3: American Political Culture Wilson Chapter 4 AP Government.

CHARACTERISTICS• Liberty• Rugged individualism (is this always the case?)• Equality

– Opportunity more than result– Political more than economic equality– American Dream– FDR’s second bill of rights– Conflict between liberty ( capitalism) and equality

(democracy): Progressive Era; New Deal; Great Society

Page 4: American Political Culture Wilson Chapter 4 AP Government.

CHARACTERISTICS• Democracy• Civic Duty (but we don’t know much about

political affairs)• Mistrust of Government (since 1960s)• Political Efficacy-capacity to understand

(individual) and influence (external) political events.

• Political tolerance- in the abstract vs. concrete• Pragmatism - we’re less ideological• Justice- “government of laws, not men”

Page 5: American Political Culture Wilson Chapter 4 AP Government.

More on Justice…

• Policies and laws that adhere to the rule of law must adhere to these rules:– Generality– Prospectivity (apply to the future)– Publicity (cannot be secret)– Authority– Due Process

Page 6: American Political Culture Wilson Chapter 4 AP Government.

Sources of Political Culture• History• Religion• Family

What has shaped your political identity and culture?

Page 7: American Political Culture Wilson Chapter 4 AP Government.

Culture War• Cultural clash over values vs. economic clash over

wealth– Orthodox (morality)– Progressive (personal freedom)– Clash over: abortion, gay rights, drug use, school

prayer and pornography.

How is this war different than political disputes?Why has this war grown in recent years?

Page 8: American Political Culture Wilson Chapter 4 AP Government.

Mistrust of Government• The “American Malaise” - crisis of

confidence evident in Americans’ growing disrespect for government, schools, churches, and institutions.– Jimmy Carter

Why don’t we trust our government? What don’t we trust about it?

Page 9: American Political Culture Wilson Chapter 4 AP Government.

America vs. the World• Swedes - deferential in nature; harmony; equality

in results more important than equality in opportunity

• Japanese - Respect authority; group decisions• British- sense of civic duty; rectify unjust laws• Americans- strong sense of religion in politics

IS THE U.S. REALLY APATHETIC?