Based off of the Wilson textbook, chapter 4
12785761840 | Political culture | Sustained way of thinking about political and economic life (usually applied to a nation) | 0 | |
12785761841 | Alexis de Tocqueville | French political writer noted for writing a defining text on American political culture (Democracy in America) | 1 | |
12785761842 | Elements of American political values | Liberty, equality, democracy, civic duty, & individual responsibility | 2 | |
12785761843 | American belief about liberty | People should be free do to what they please as long as they do not hurt others | 3 | |
12785761844 | American belief about equality | Everybody should have an equal vote, ability to participate in government, and chance to succeed | 4 | |
12785761845 | American belief about democracy | Government officials should be accountable to the people | 5 | |
12785761846 | American belief about civic duty | People should take community affairs seriously and help out when they can | 6 | |
12785761847 | American belief about individual responsibility | Individuals are responsible for their own actions and well-being (unless hampered by some disability) | 7 | |
12785761848 | The "American dilemma" | People act contrary to their professed ideals (ex. Americans denied African Americans full citizenship despite believing in equality) | 8 | |
12785761849 | Preferred economic system of Americans | Free enterprise economic system (AKA free market) | 9 | |
12785761850 | Cause of lack of class-consciousness in America | Ethnic diversity, individualistic philosophy, fragmented political authority, and egalitarian family structure | 10 | |
12785761851 | Class-consciousness | Belief that people are in groups that automatically have economic interests opposed to others (ex. worker interests are always opposed to management interests and vice-versa) | 11 | |
12785761852 | Cultural classes in America | Orthodox and progressive | 12 | |
12785761853 | Orthodox cultural belief | Morality and religion are most important and do not change with time | 13 | |
12785761854 | Progressive cultural belief | Personal freedom and solving social problems are the most important issues | 14 | |
12785761855 | Overall trend in government trust in America | Downward | 15 | |
12785761856 | Civil society | Voluntary organizations outside of the government that allow people to cooperate to advance their interests | 16 | |
12785761857 | Unique aspects of American political culture | Tolerance, respect for orderly procedures and personal rights, acceptance of elected officials, & lack of military intervention | 17 |