magleby chapter4 ppt

4American Political Landscape

Copyright © 2015 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

4Learning Objectives

4.1

4.2

Understand the origins and effects of American exceptionalism

Assess the role of geography in building a national identity



4.3

4.4

Evaluate the importance of where we live on American politics

Analyze how such social and demographic factors as race and ethnicity, religion, gender, family structures, education, and age affect American politics



Describe the importance of income,wealth, occupation, and social classin American politics

Evaluate the degree to which America has achieved a measure of unity in a land of diversity

4.5

4.6


An Exceptional America

What is exceptional about America? Tocqueville’s definition Moral superiority

4.1


a. Its wealth

b. Its ethnic diversity

c. Its origins and history

d. All of the above

4.14.1 Why is America considered unique among the nations of the world?


4.14.1 Why is America considered unique among the nations of the world?

a. Its wealth

b. Its ethnic diversity

c. Its origins and history

d. All of the above


Geography and National Identity

Large and isolated country No powers on its borders Size confers advantage

Population spread out Natural resources

Manifest destiny – a sense of entitlement to take land from

its previous inhabitants

4.2


4.2 What is the concept of manifest destiny?

a. The U.S. is meant to be a leading colonial power.

b. The U.S. is meant to be the world’s largest exporter of food.

c. The U.S. is meant to occupy the continent from coast to coast.

d. The U.S. is meant to be the world’s policeman.

4.2


4.24.2 What is the concept of manifest destiny?

a. The U.S. is meant to be a leading colonial power.

b. The U.S. is meant to be the world’s largest exporter of food.

c. The U.S. is meant to occupy the continent from coast to coast.

d. The U.S. is meant to be the world’s policeman.


Where We Live

Regional Differences State and Local Identity Urban and Rural Populations

4.3


Regional Differences

The South – agriculturally based, dominated by

Republicans Sun Belt – growing population helps Republican Party with

more seats in the House (New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Southern California and Florida)

Bible Belt – wants to end separation of church and state (the former Confederate states + Kentucky, Oklahoma,

and West Virginia)

4.3


Martin Luther King, Jr. 4.3


Regional Differences

Midwest – former manufacturing sector Rust Belt – Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, and

New York

4.3


State and Local Identity 4.3

Like regions, states have identities State citizenship Elections state-centered Differing state laws

California Largest state – 1 out of 8 Americans live here Economically and politically important


FIGURE 4.1: Percentage change in resident population, 2000-2010

4.3


Urban and Rural Populations 4.3

Three types of areas: Urban – 4 out of 5 Americans live here, mostly in the West

and Northeast Suburban Rural

White flight – white residents left cities for suburbs in

search of better schools and safer environment. This resulted in urban areas becoming more poor, African American and Democratic.


4.3 Most Americans live in which type of area?

a. Urban

b. Suburban

c. Rural

d. None of the above

4.3


4.34.3 Most Americans live in which type of area?

a. Urban

b. Suburban

c. Rural

d. None of the above


Who We Are

Race and Ethnicity

Religion

Gender

Sexual Orientation

Family Structure

Education

Age

4.4


Race and Ethnicity

Race versus Ethnicity – race refers to physical

characteristics; ethnicity refers to nation of origin, religion, and language.

Native Americans – only 0.2% of Americans

African Americans – representation in southern state

legislatures is increasing

Hispanics – mixed political views

4.4


Justice Sonia Sotomayor 4.4


Race and Ethnicity

Asian Americans – diverse group with median income

above the national average

Ties of Ethnicity • 1st wave of immigration was mostly from Europe in early

1900s

• 2nd wave was in the 1990s and 2000s and was mostly from Mexico, Asia, and the Caribbean.

Illegal Immigration – Possibly 10 million illegal

immigrants in the U.S.

4.4


Religion

Religious violence – Jews vs. Muslims, etc.

Religious liberty was U.S. foundation No official religion Religion of political candidates matters

Fundamentalists – important force in the Republican

Party

Diverse, but dominated by Protestants –

over half the population is Protestant.

4.4


FIGURE 4.2: Religious groups in the United States

4.4


Gender

Voting and political representation Lower and higher rates of voting Gender gap in representation Women lean Democratic

4.4


FIGURE 4.3: Gender and the vote for president

4.4


Gender

Income gap 77 cents for every dollar men earn

4.4


Sexual Orientation

Legal rights for LGBT Stonewall 1969 – beginning of the gay rights movement 2-10% of population Winning elective offices

Political agenda Same-sex marriage “Don’t ask, don’t tell” – military policy on discharging gay and

lesbian soldiers ended in 2010.

4.4


Annise Parker 4.4


Family Structure and Education

Family demographics changing Later marriage Fewer children Divorce more common

Education predicts political participation Democratic values 70% graduate high school 50% graduate college

4.4


FIGURE 4.4: Educational attainment in the United States

4.4


Age

Graying of America Americans living longer Increasing health care costs

4.4


FIGURE 4.5: Percentage of population over the age of 65, 1900-2050

4.4


Age

Political participation Older citizens more likely to vote Lifecycle effects Generational effects

4.4


4.4 Which age group is more likely to vote?

a. 18-24 year olds

b. 25-64 year olds

c. 65 and older

d. All age groups vote about equally

c

4.4


4.44.4 Which age group is more likely to vote?

a. 18-24 year olds

b. 25-64 year olds

c. 65 and older

d. All age groups vote about equally

c


How Much We Own

Wealth and Income

Occupation

Social class

4.5


Wealth and Income

Wealth versus income

Link to political views – wealthy are more likely to

be Republican, poor tend to be Democrats.

Income trends 50s-70s average income grew

Poor people lack political power – less likely to

vote, therefore are often ignored

4.5


4.5America Reads program


FIGURE 4.6: Percentage of Americans living in poverty, by age, 1967-2010

4.5


Occupation

Industrialization – caused movement from farms to

cities

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - the total market

value of goods and services produced, rose rapidly

Technology and the post-industrial economy should be more affluent and less divided by class

White-collar, blue-collar, and public sector

workers

4.5


FIGURE 4.7: Employment by occupational groups, 2010

4.5


Social Class

Social class and political life Proletariat versus bourgeoisie Socioeconomic status is politically relevant Why does everyone want to be middle class?

4.5


4.5Salary and social class


4.5 Since the 1980s, income has grown most for which wealth sector?

a. The top 10%

b. The middle 50%

c. The top 1%

d. The bottom 25%

4.5


4.54.5 Since the 1980s, income has grown most for which wealth sector?

a. The top 10%

b. The middle 50%

c. The top 1%

d. The bottom 25%


Unity in a Land of Diversity

Shared sense of national identity

Education and nationalization

Melting pot or salad bowl?

4.6


How do regional, educational, racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, and age-related differences affect American political culture? Explore the effects of each individually, and also consider how several factors may work together to shape political identity.

Discussion Question 4