TheAmerican

Political Landscape

Albert Albert Einstein once Einstein once said few said few people are people are capable of capable of expressing expressing opinions that opinions that differ much differ much from the from the prejudices of prejudices of their social their social upbringing.upbringing.

ETHNOCENTRISMETHNOCENTRISM

Selective Selective perception based on perception based on individual individual background, background, attitudes and attitudes and biasesbiases

A Land of DiversityA Land of Diversity

People want to come to the United States because it holds a promise of religious, political, and economic freedom. Our economic system has provided widespread, but not universal opportunity, for individuals to improve their economic standing.Question:Question:

What was the issue passed in California with Proposition 187?

Answer:Answer:It restricted public services and education to immigrants.

A Land of DiversityA Land of Diversity

Some elements of our diversity have political significance.

Political Political SocializatSocializat

ionionThe process by which parents and others teach children about political values, beliefs, and attitudes.

DemographiDemographicscs

The study of characteristics of populations.

PoliticalPoliticalPredisposiPredisposi

tiontionA characteristic of individuals that is predictive of political behavior.

+ =

CleavagesCleavagesReinforcing Cleavages

Divisions within society that reinforce one another, making groups more homogeneous or similar.When social and economic conditions coincide, they reinforce each other and make the differences between groups more important.

Cross-Cutting CleavagesDivisions within society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups more heterogeneous or different.Members of religions or social and civil groups.

A Land of DiversityA Land of DiversityDespite the fact that America has been most hospitable to people from different religions, classes or races than almost any other nation in the world, we often prefer to associate only with people “like us” and are suspicious of people “like them.”Hostility toward

different religions in colonial America.Anti-immigration movements in the late 19th & early 20th century.

Anti-immigration and Anti-civil rights ballot initiatives of the 1990s.

Anti-woman’s rights movement of the 19th century.

Geography and National Identity

Geographic isolations from Geographic isolations from the major powers of the the major powers of the world during our world during our government’s formative government’s formative period helps explain period helps explain American politics.American politics.

Geography and National Identity

Because the United States is Because the United States is so large, it provided so large, it provided Americans with the Americans with the opportunity to diffuse opportunity to diffuse differences over religion, differences over religion, social class and national social class and national origin because they could origin because they could isolate themselves from one isolate themselves from one another.another.What was the belief called that held that the United States was destined to rule the continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans? Manifest Destiny

Geography and National Identity

Geography helps to explain Geography helps to explain our diversityour diversity

Industrial Interests

Agricultural Interests

Agricultural Interests

Timber Interests

Shipping

Interests

Shipping Interests

Geography and National Identity

What is the most What is the most distinct section of distinct section of the United States?the United States?

SouthSouth

From the beginning, the From the beginning, the South was basically South was basically agricultural. agricultural.

It differed from the It differed from the North especially over North especially over slavery.slavery.

Sectional differences Sectional differences have moderated in the have moderated in the last few decades.last few decades.

Geography and National Identity

Although the South is Although the South is changing and resembling the changing and resembling the nation at large, they still nation at large, they still are distinct on what issues.are distinct on what issues.

Moral and Religious Moral and Religious ConservatismConservatism

Before the 1970s, what gave Before the 1970s, what gave the South the term the the South the term the “solid South”?“solid South”?They voted solid Democratic They voted solid Democratic

at all levels.at all levels.

Geography and National Identity

What explains the reversal What explains the reversal of the “Solid South” from of the “Solid South” from Democratic to Republican?Democratic to Republican?

The Civil Rights The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s Movement of the 1960s and Richard Nixon’s and Richard Nixon’s Southern Strategy of Southern Strategy of

the 1970s.the 1970s.Republican presidential Republican presidential candidates have more candidates have more recently emphasized family recently emphasized family values, opposition to taxes, values, opposition to taxes, and law-and-order issues and law-and-order issues that appeal to conservative that appeal to conservative southern voters.southern voters.

Geography and National Identity

The Sun Belt is the fastest The Sun Belt is the fastest growing region in the United growing region in the United States since 1990.States since 1990.

SUN BELTSUN BELT

Largest growth is with a younger population.

Largest growth is with an over 65 population.

RUST BELTRUST BELT

Percent Change of Resident Population, 1990-2000

What are the political interests of the various regions in the country?

80% of the United States’ population 80% of the United States’ population lives in central cities and their lives in central cities and their suburbs.suburbs.

The migration of white Americans to the suburbs after World War II was known as -?-

The migration of white Americans to the suburbs after World War II was known as “white flight.”

Reasons to move from cities to suburbs:1.Better Housing

2.New Transportation Systems

3.Desire for Cleaner Air

4.Safer Streets

5.Avoid school busing to promote integration

Problems facing cities -Problems facing cities -

1. Only those with financial resources could migrate from the city leaving the poor behind.

2. More than half of all African Americans now live in central cities as opposed to one-quarter of whites.

3. More than half of all white Americans live in suburbs.

4. Tax base of cities declines with the growing number of minorities.

5. Tax revenues, legislative representation, zoning laws, and governmental priorities are hotly contested issues in most metropolitan areas.

Race and ethnic differences have Race and ethnic differences have always had political significance.always had political significance.

RaceRaceA grouping of human beings with common characteristics presumed to be transmitted genetically.

EthnicityEthnicityA social division based on national origin, religion, language, and often race.

African Americans - African Americans - 13%13%Native Americans - 1%Native Americans - 1%Hispanic Americans - Hispanic Americans - 10%10%Asian Americans - 4%Asian Americans - 4%

Race & EthnicityRace & Ethnicity

RaceRaceMedian Median Family Family IncomeIncome

Below Below Poverty Poverty LevelLevel

Median Median AgeAge

African American $30,000 +25% 29.5

Native American $25,000 26%

White American $49,000 11% 36.3

Race & EthnicityRace & EthnicityHispanic Americans (Latinos)

Cuban Americans tend to be Republican

Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans tend to be Democratic.

Hispanics

Cubans

Puerto Ricans

Hispanics

Race & EthnicityRace & Ethnicity

Asian Americans• Chinese

• Japanese

• Korean

• Vietnamese

• Filipino

• Thai

More than 2 out of every 5 Asian Americans have graduated from college compared to 1 our of every 4 white Americans and 1 out of every 7 African Americans.

Most of the Asian Americans have done well economically in the United States.

Race & EthnicityRace & Ethnicity

RaceRace 19901990 20002000 20252025 20502050White

American

74.9% 70.7% 60.6% 50.3%

African America

n12.3% 12.9% 14.2% 15.4%

Native America

n.8% .9% 1.0% 1.1%

Asian America

n3.0% 4.1% 6.6% 8.7%

Hispanic

American

9.0% 11.4% 17.6% 24.5%

Gender and Gender and PoliticsPoliticsWhat is the

difference between the political opinions or political behavior of men and women called?

Gender Gender GapGap

1. Women are more likely to oppose any form of violence (death penalty, new weapons systems, handgun possession)

2. Women are more compassionate than men when it comes to providing health insurance and family services

3. Very concerned about women’s rights (enforcement of child support, punishment for sexual abuse and rape, equal treatment in the legal system)

4. Consider work and family issues such as day care, prenatal and postnatal leave and equal treatment in the workplace as important.

What is the “Glass What is the “Glass Ceiling”?Ceiling”?

Sexual OrientationSexual Orientation

Differences in sexual orientation Differences in sexual orientation have become important politically have become important politically in recent years.in recent years.The gay and lesbian community The gay and lesbian community estimate their size at 10% of the estimate their size at 10% of the population; other estimates come population; other estimates come in much lower. Conservative in much lower. Conservative think tanks estimate that 2.8% of think tanks estimate that 2.8% of men and 1.4% of women identify men and 1.4% of women identify themselves as homosexual or themselves as homosexual or bisexual.bisexual.Vermont became the first state to Vermont became the first state to enact “civil union” laws in the enact “civil union” laws in the United States.United States.

Sexual OrientationSexual OrientationPolitical AgendaPolitical Agenda

1.1. Fighting discrimination, Fighting discrimination, especially the “Don’t Ask, especially the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” military policy.Don’t Tell” military policy.

2.2. Secure health care and other Secure health care and other benefits for domestic benefits for domestic partners.partners.

3.3. Oppose antidiscrimination Oppose antidiscrimination policies in housing and policies in housing and employment practices.employment practices.

4.4. Support “Hate Crimes” Support “Hate Crimes” legislationlegislation

The Supreme Court ruled The Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts are a that the Boy Scouts are a private association, they private association, they can exclude gays.can exclude gays.

oror

Family StructureFamily Structure

The American family has transformed from the The American family has transformed from the “traditional” to “cohabitational” and “single-“traditional” to “cohabitational” and “single-parent.”parent.”Although contraception is widely used and Although contraception is widely used and accepted, one-third of all births are now accepted, one-third of all births are now illegitimate.illegitimate.People marry later in life (Men at 26 and People marry later in life (Men at 26 and women at 24)women at 24)The average marriage lasts 7.2 years with one-The average marriage lasts 7.2 years with one-half ending in divorce today.half ending in divorce today.

In 1972, one out of every three Americans In 1972, one out of every three Americans thought a woman’s place was in the home, but thought a woman’s place was in the home, but in 1996, only one in six feel this way.in 1996, only one in six feel this way.

Family Structure - ReligionFamily Structure - Religion

In recent elections, a majority of Protestants In recent elections, a majority of Protestants voted Republican while majorities of Catholics voted Republican while majorities of Catholics and Jews voted Democratic.and Jews voted Democratic.Jews have the highest voter turnout rate of Jews have the highest voter turnout rate of 85% in 1996 while those with no religious 85% in 1996 while those with no religious affiliate have the lowest with 65%. Catholics affiliate have the lowest with 65%. Catholics slightly out-vote Republicans.slightly out-vote Republicans.

Family Structure - OccupationFamily Structure - Occupation

The U.S. is in a “post-The U.S. is in a “post-industrial” phase of industrial” phase of development. A post-development. A post-industrial society, being industrial society, being primarily a technical primarily a technical society, awards less on the society, awards less on the bases of inheritance or bases of inheritance or property than on education property than on education and skill.and skill.

KnowledgeKnowledge is the organizing is the organizing device of a post-industrial device of a post-industrial society.society.

White CollarWhite Collar

Managers, accountants, Managers, accountants, lawyers, professionals, lawyers, professionals, technicians, researchers, technicians, researchers, financiers, insurance agents, financiers, insurance agents, communications, and communications, and computers.computers.

Family Structure - Social Class & Family Structure - Social Class & AgeAge

Most Americans do not view themselves as poor Most Americans do not view themselves as poor or rich - just middle class.or rich - just middle class.

The American social structure and values The American social structure and values fosters an emphasis on competitive fosters an emphasis on competitive individualism, an orientation that is not individualism, an orientation that is not congruent with class consciousness, support congruent with class consciousness, support for socialist or social democratic parties or for socialist or social democratic parties or a strong union government.a strong union government.Americans are Americans are living longer, a living longer, a phenomenon called phenomenon called the “graying of the “graying of America.”America.”

Population over Age 65

Family Structure - EducationFamily Structure - EducationThe vast majority of people in the United The vast majority of people in the United States are educated in public schools.States are educated in public schools.

Education is one Education is one of the most of the most important important variables in variables in predicting predicting political political participation, participation, confidence in confidence in dealing with dealing with government, and government, and awareness of awareness of issues.issues.

AgeNot a High School Graduat

e

High School Graduat

e

Bachelor’s

Degree

Advanced

Degree

25 to 34

11.9% 31.9% 21.3% 6.2%

35 to 44

12% 34% 18.3% 8%

45 to 54

13% 32.1% 17.5% 11.3%

55 to 64

20.5% 37.3% 13% 9.2%

65 to 74

28.9% 36.4% 10% 6.6%

75 & older

38% 33.2% 8.1% 4.4%Sex

Not a high school Graduate

High School Graduat

e

Bachelor’s

Degree

Advanced

Degree

Male 17.2& 32.3% 17.1% 9.4%

Female

17.1% 35.2% 15.8% 6.6%