Chapter 4: American Political CultureChapter 4: American Political Culture

Chapter 4: American Political Culture

Chapter 4: American Political Culture

Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning

Under its sway it is not especially the things accomplished by public administration that are great, but rather those things done without its help and beyond its sphere.

Alexis de Tocqueville


American Civic Culture

American Civic Culture

Individualism

Religion

Patriotism

Civilian community service

Matthew J. Lee/Boston Globe/Landov


Power and theIndividual

Power and theIndividual

Characteristics of American individualism• Self-reliance and individual responsibility

• Favor individual rights

• Belief that economic competition is good

• Modest social programs (compared to other nations)


ReformismReformism

Nineteenth century concerns about the increasing power of political party machines, wealthy financiers and corporations

Progressive Movement resulted


ReformismReformism

Progressive movement ideas• Concentration of power was threat

• Reform electoral processes

• Civil service system, not political appointees


Religion and American Politics

Religion and American Politics

Constitutional guarantee of separation of church and state

Yet religion influential in politics


Myths and Misinformation

Myths and Misinformation

Alexis de Tocqueville has been quoted as stating that he did not “understand the secret of her genius and power” until he visited American churches.

Tocqueville was misquoted, yet that statement is still used today because of its adaptability to different causes.


Born in MissionBorn in Mission

The Pilgrims came to America seeking religious freedom

Drafted the Mayflower Compact to establish a “civil body politick”

Puritans soon followed• Many religious denominations have roots in

Puritan reform movement


Revolution and Founding

Revolution and Founding

First Great Awakening

Enlightenment

Deism

Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division (vc006494)


Slavery and Civil Rights

Slavery and Civil Rights

Religious beliefs influenced both pro-slavery and anti-slavery movements

Second Great Awakening focused on social improvement and moral reform• Abolishing slavery


Individual ConductIndividual Conduct

Religious beliefs affected opinions• Prohibition of alcohol

• Plural marriage

• Abortion rights


EducationEducation

Religion and education• Private universities have religious

backgrounds• Northwest Ordinance linked religion with

education• Scopes Trial brought religion and public

education to national political agenda


Scopes TrialScopes Trial

[LC-USZ62-114986]/The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division


Social WelfareSocial Welfare

Social Gospel movement• Charitable work • Social problems (poverty/child labor)

Ideas still influence modern American politics


Faith and VotesFaith and Votes

Moral Majority

Christian Coalition

Black churches

Should Churches Endorse Candidates?

Should Churches Endorse Candidates?

YES NO DON’T KNOW

August 2008 29% 66% 5%

August 2007 28% 63% 9%

August 2004 25% 65% 10%

March 2002 22% 70% 8%


“More Americans Question Religion’s Role in Politics,” August 21, 2008, www.pewforum.org


International PerspectivesInternational Perspectives

Europe has more secular views than U.S.

Majority of British believe religion causes “division and tension”

2005 Pew Global Attitudes Project found many industrial nations thought that Americans were “too religious”


Patriotism and Civil Religion

Patriotism and Civil Religion

Roots in Judeo-Christian tradition

Americans should seek a higher power

Nondenominational references to God prevalent

\

Jim Ruymen/UPI/Landov


Patriotism and Religion

Patriotism and Religion


Patriotism: Symbols and Rituals

Patriotism: Symbols and Rituals

Many patriotic symbols, rituals have religious traditions• Great Seal of the United States• Liberty Bell • Declaration of Independence display• Opinions on flag desecration, reciting Pledge of

Allegiance


The PledgeThe Pledge

First version created in 1892• Minor changes in 1923 and 1924

Congress added phrase “under God” in 1954

For some, the pledge embodies “the relationship of community, religion and military service”

Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning 23

Pledging AllegiancePledging Allegiance

Click the icon to open the movieVideo Supplied by Motion Gallery


Questions Questions Do you stand when the U.S. flag is first displayed?

Why or why not? Think about what it means to be patriotic. Is a U.S.

citizen who happens to be a Communist patriotic? How about someone who disagrees with the current president? A war protester?

Why were McCarthy’s hearings initially very successful? Was he patriotic?


Patriotism and Military ServicePatriotism and Military Service

Historically, many Americans have expressed patriotism through military service

Other motivations for military service• Job training and employment opportunities• Benefits for veterans


Do We See Ourselves as Patriotic?

Do We See Ourselves as Patriotic?


Problems of Patriotism

Problems of Patriotism

Does patriotism place greater importance on one nation over another?• Espionage Act• Sedition Act

• Japanese internment camps

• McCarthy

Cosmopolitanism


Community ServiceCommunity Service

Civic participation

Charitable giving

Volunteering• Role in campaigns,

elections


Private Effort and Public Policy

Private Effort and Public Policy

Government promotion of community service• White House Office of Faith-Based and

Neighborhood Partnerships• Peace Corps• AmeriCorps• Tax exempt status to nonprofit organizations

Where Americans Volunteer

Where Americans Volunteer

Type of Organization Percentage of Volunteers

Religious 35.7%

Educational 26.7

Social Services 13.3

Health 8.0

Civic 6.0

Sports/arts 3.5

Other 6.8


Corporation for National and Community Service, Volunteering in America, July 28, 2008


Civic Culture and Deliberative Democracy

Civic Culture and Deliberative Democracy

Issues affecting civic culture and deliberative democracy• Economic and social change• Growth in size of government• Judeo-Christian religious traditions• Emergence of new religious traditions due to

immigration


Deliberation,Citizenship, and You

Deliberation,Citizenship, and You

Education as Responsibility• Obama emphasizes importance of higher

education to the country

• Critics say job training may be more important than post secondary education

• Are you pursuing higher education because of sense of obligation to the country?


Proud To Be An American

Proud To Be An American

Click the icon to open the movieVideo Supplied by Motion Gallery


Questions Questions

Governor Palin’s and Mrs. Obama’s comments generated much controversy. Why?

How would you describe a “real American?” Today, what are the most typical ways that

Americans demonstrate their patriotism? Are military members and their families more

patriotic than average Americans? Why or why not?


Civic CultureCivic Culture

American experience and history unique

If we understand these characteristics, we will better understand many enduring issues and attitudes in American politics.

Win McNamee/Getty Images News/Getty Images


Questions for Critical Thinking


How do different cohorts interpret the meaning of individualism?

Why has community service become such an important component of American civic culture?

Do you feel a community service obligation? Why or why not?




Does religion in the U.S. cause division and tension, as the British believe?

Has the meaning of patriotism changed from your parent’s generation? Your grandparent’s?

Did the 2008 presidential election affect civic culture in the United States? How?


Web Links Web Links

The Peace Corps

The White House

Bureau of Labor Statistics-Volunteers

Volunteer.Gov

Chapter 4: American Political CultureChapter 4: American Political Culture

Documents