Political Culture in the United States

1
Political Culture in the United States

• Applying the Principles of the Declaration of
  Independence

2
Major Themes of the Declaration of Independence
Self evident truths
We hold these truths to be self-evident
Human equality
All men are created equal
They are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights
Among these rights Life Liberty Pursuit of
happiness
Natural rights
Purpose of govt
To secure rights
Measure of Justice
Consent of the governed
Whenever any form of govt is destructive of the
security of natural rights
Right of revolution
Prudence Long-established govts shouldnt be
overthrown for light and transient
causes Experience Men are more disposed to
suffer while evils are sufferable than to right
themselves
Limits to the right of revolution
3
Political Culture

• A general set of Ideas, attitudes and beliefs
• Shapes a regions politics
• Political Cultures in the US may identify with
  certain principles in the Declaration of
  Independence
• Political culture sometimes confused with
  ideology
• Most communities in the US participate in at
  least one of the following
• Traditionalism
• Individualism
• Moralism

4
Traditionalism
Basic features
Associated region
Advantages
Disadvantages
Stability Predictability Laws and customs tend to
remain constant

• Strong attachment to long-established
  institutions
• Preference for traditional modes and orders
• Suspicion of change
• Family legacies

The Old South South Carolina North
Carolina Virginia Tennessee Georgia Mississippi Al
abama Louisiana Texas
Inflexibility Lack of social mobility Tolerance
of corruption in the public sector Hostility to
reform Fatalism
Examples If it aint broke, dont fix it. You
cant fight city hall. Uncontested
elections Political Dynasties (Bush, Thurmond,
Moncrieff, Kennedy)
5
Individualism
Basic features
Associated region
Advantages
Disadvantages
Opportunity Privacy Recognition of individual
efforts Accountability

• Strong belief in self-reliance
• Preference for individual and independent action
  free enterprise
• Suspicion of public institutions
• Resistance to regulation
• The Self-Made Man

The Old West Wyoming Texas Colorado New
Mexico Arizona Nevada Montana North Dakota South
Dakota
Isolation Lack of community support Intolerance
of public sector involvement Tolerance of
corruption in the private sector, provided one
isnt caught
Examples Youll get my gun when you pry it from
my cold dead hands. Youve got nobody to blame
but yourself. Entrepreneurs, independent
contractors Caveat emptor
6
Moralism
Basic features
Associated region
Advantages
Disadvantages
Community Accountability Active social support
structures safety nets

• Strong belief in community, commonwealth
• Preference for formal community action
• Suspicion of private institutions and interests
• Strong regulatory presence

New England Massachusetts New
Hampshire Connecticut Maine New
York Pennsylvania Also prevalent in the Pacific
NW and in capital cities

• Intrusiveness
• Tolerance of corruption in the public sector if
  it serves the moral duty of serving the
  commonwealth
• Inaction unless initiated by community officials
• High public debt high taxes

Examples Did you bring enough for
everybody? Were from the government and were
here to help you. Social Security, social
welfare programs Public education programs