Public Opinion and Political Behaviors

Unit IIA

American Political Culture

Political Culture

A set of basic values and beliefs How political and economic life ought to

be carried out Shared by most citizens Subcultures– Distinctions and patterns based on region,

religion, ethnicity, culture

Basic American Values

Liberty - individual freedoms guaranteed Equality - each citizen treated equally Majority Rule - democracy, but minority rights assured Limited Government - prohibitions on government to

ensure will of the people Civic Duty - a citizen’s responsibility to the government

and community Private Property - capitalist system and guaranteed

ownership

Political Socialization

The process which a citizen acquires one’s sense of political identity

Learning and becoming aware of the values and beliefs the political system is based

Influences shape political identity from childhood to adulthood

Influences on Political Identity

Family and Home Education and Schools Group Affiliations Demographic Factors Mass Media Opinion Leaders Events

The Family and Home Arguably the strongest

and lasting influence on one’s political identity

Strongest when both parents identify with same political party

60% of adults still had party affiliation of parents

Education and Schools

Schools and colleges tend to make citizens more liberal

More access to information

Atmosphere conducive for exploration of new ideas

Religion

Social Status– Catholics and Jews

suffered discrimination– Democrats appealed to

them and gained their support

Religious Tradition– Evangelical protestants

emphasize personal salvation therefore more conservative in social policies

Gender

Gender Gap - difference in political views between men and women

Women tend to vote Democrat; pro-choice issues

Men more conservative; voting more Republican

2000 Election– 55% women voted Gore (D)– 54% men voted Bush (R)

Social Class

Lower-class– Limited education– Tend to vote Democrat, but low

voter turnout

Working-class (blue-collar)– Tend to vote Democrat, but

subject to other influences

Middle-class (white-collar)– Tend to be split and dependent

on other influences

Upper-class– Tend to vote Republican with

pro-business policies

Race and Ethnicity

Whites vote more Republican– Pro-business

Blacks vote more Democrat– Affirmative action

Hispanics vote more Democrat– immigration

Asians vote more Republican– Conservative culture

Region New England - more liberal Southeast/Bible Belt - more

conservative Midwest - more

conservative Pacific - more liberal Urban - more

liberal/Democratic Rural - more

conservative/Republican

Media

Opinion Leaders

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on civil rights

The Dalai Lama on human rights

Norman Braman launched largest municipal recall election

Barack Obama became first black president

Events

President Lyndon Johnson signs Civil Rights Act of 1964– Prompts Southern

Democrats to shift Republican

9/11 – Americans become

more patriotic and more willing to limit freedoms for sake of security

Cleavages in Public Opinion

Public opinions are never absolute and always overlap

Examples:– Blacks vote Democrat due to support on

affirmative action and equality policies, but most blacks are against gay marriage

– Cubans vote Republican despite majority of Hispanics voting Democrat for immigration policies

– A blue-collar worker would vote Democrat for pro-union policies, but votes Republican due to conservative religious traditions