9/2/2014 AP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. American Political Culture and Ideology. American Political Culture and Ideology. Unit One Part 3

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1 AP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT Unit One Part 3 Political Culture, Ideology, and Structure 2 1 American Political Culture and Ideology Objectives: Defining the American Political Culture LO 7.1 Identify the most important elements of and sources for the American political culture. Political Attitudes and Ideology LO 7.2 Compare and contrast political ideologies and evaluate the critiques of each ideology. Political Ideology and the American People LO 7.3 Assess the importance of political ideology and contemporary American politics. American Political Culture and Ideology Defining the American Political Culture Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Government Political Ideology and the American People 1

2 Political Ideology Political ideology: a consistent pattern of ideas or beliefs about political values and the role of government Go to the World s Shortest Political Quiz at: php Copyright 7 4 Political Spectrum 100% Freedom 100% Personal Freedom 100% Economic Freedom 0% Freedom Defining the American Political Culture LO 7.1 LO 7.1 Identify the most important elements of and sources for the American political culture. Copyright 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman Back to learning objectives 2

3 Political Culture Political Culture: shared beliefs and values citizens hold about their relationship to government and to one another. What are Americans common political values? Copyright 4 7 The Declaration of Independence 1776 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Political Culture Political Culture: shared beliefs and values citizens hold about their relationship to government and to one another. What are Americans common political values? Copyright 4 9 3

4 American Political Values Liberty/Freedom Individualism Equality Opportunity Natural Rights Popular Sovereignty Copyright 4 10 American Political Culture Assertion of individual rights Emphasis on fairness and competition A shared commitment to individualism Belief that government is responsible to the citizens Strong belief in equality Copyright 4 11 Equality, but... Americans generally believe more strongly in political than in economic equality Americans believe in equality of opportunity but not necessarily equality of results Americans support the free market, but do believe in some limits Copyright

5 Defining the American Political Culture LO 4.1 What is The American Dream? Back to learning objectives Read The New American Dream: It s not What You Think. at Figure 4.1: Trust in the Federal Government, University of Michigan, The National Election Studies. Copyright

6 Mistrust of Government Increased mistrust since the 1960s Causes: Watergate, Vietnam War, Clinton impeachment, Iraq War Confidence in government changes, but not confidence in American System Copyright 4 16 Civic Duty Civic Duty: a belief that citizens SHOULD participate in government Copyright 4 17 Civic Competence Civic competence: a belief that citizens CAN affect government policies Copyright

7 Political Efficacy Political efficacy: citizen s belief in their UNDERSTANDING of political issues Copyright 4 19 Figure 4.3: Changes in Political Efficacy, University of Michigan, The National Election Studies. Copyright 4 20 Results of American Political Culture: Low voter turnout Blind or misinformed/uninformed voting Single-issue voting Image/personality voting 7

8 2000 Presidential Voting 100% Personal Freedom Political Spectrum* READ THE TITLE! READ THE AXES! 100% Freedom 0% Freedom 100% Economic Freedom *rotate the graph to read it more clearly! 8

9 Two Main Camps Liberal: Economic Regulation: a belief that government should achieve justice and equality of opportunity Social Freedom: personal freedom is as, or more, important than tradition; rules change based on circumstances of modern life and individual preferences Copyright 4 26 Two Main Camps LO 4.2 Conservative: Economic Freedom: a belief that limited government ensures order, competitive markets, and personal opportunity Social Regulation: morality is as, or more, important than self-expression; morality derives from fixed rules Back to learning objectives 9

10 Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Government LO 4.2 Criticisms of Liberalism It relies too much on government, higher taxes, and bureaucracy to solve the nation s problems. Reliance on government can destroy individualism. Back to learning objectives Political Ideology and Attitudes Toward Government LO 4.2 Criticisms of Conservatism Focus on deregulation and lower taxes has not always worked: economic collapse in Conservatives tend to favor more government action on their issues but not on the issues of others. Some conservatives fail to recognize the existence of racism and sexism. Back to learning objectives 10