American Political Landscape

2. American PoliticalLandscape 3

3. Video: The Big Picture 3 http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/Magleby_Ch04_American_Political_Landscape_Seg1_v2.html

4. 3 Learning Objectives Understand the origins and impacts of American exceptionalism 3.1 Assess the role of geography in building a national identity 3.2

5. 3 Learning Objectives Evaluate the importance of where we live on American politics 3.3 Analyze how such social and demographic factors as race and ethnicity, religion, gender, family structures, education, and age affect American politics 3.4

6. 3 Learning Objectives Describe the importance of income, wealth, occupation, and social class in American politics 3.5 Evaluate the degree to which America has achieved a measure of unity in a land of diversity 3.6

7. Video: The Basics 3 http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg2_PoliticalCulture_v2.html

8. An Exceptional America 3.1 • What is exceptional about America? • Tocqueville’s definition • Moral superiority

9. 3.1 3.1 Why is America considered unique among the nations of the world? • Its wealth • Its ethnic diversity • Its origins and history • All of the above

10. 3.1 3.1 Why is America considered unique among the nations of the world? • Its wealth • Its ethnic diversity • Its origins and history • All of the above

11. Video: In Context 3.1 http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg3_PoliticalCulture_v2.html

12. Geography and National Identity 3.2 • Large and isolated country • No powers on its borders • Size confers advantage • Population spread out • Natural resources • Manifest destiny

13. 3.2 3.2What is the concept of manifest destiny? • The U.S. is meant to be a leading colonial power. • The U.S. is meant to be the world’s largest exporter of food. • The U.S. is meant to occupy the continent from coast to coast. • The U.S. is meant to be the world’s policeman.

14. 3.2 3.2What is the concept of manifest destiny? • The U.S. is meant to be a leading colonial power. • The U.S. is meant to be the world’s largest exporter of food. • The U.S. is meant to occupy the continent from coast to coast. • The U.S. is meant to be the world’s policeman.

15. Video: Thinking Like a Political Scientist 3.2 http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg4_PoliticalCulture_v2.html

16. Where We Live 3.3 • Regional Differences • State and Local Identity • Urban and Rural Populations

17. Regional Differences 3.3 • The South • Sun Belt • Bible Belt

18. 3.3 Martin Luther King, Jr.

19. Regional Differences 3.3 • Midwest • Rust Belt

20. State and Local Identity 3.3 • Like regions, states have identities • State citizenship • Elections state-centered • Differing state laws • California • Largest state

21. 3.3 FIGURE 3.1: Percentage change in resident population, 2000-2010

22. Urban and Rural Populations 3.3 • Three types of areas: • Urban • Suburban • Rural • White flight

23. 3.3 3.3Most Americans live in which type of area? • Urban • Suburban • Rural • None of the above

24. 3.3 3.3Most Americans live in which type of area? • Urban • Suburban • Rural • None of the above

25. Who We Are 3.4 • Race and Ethnicity • Religion • Gender • Sexual Orientation • Family Structure • Education • Age

26. Race and Ethnicity 3.4 • Race versus Ethnicity • Native Americans • African Americans • Hispanics

27. 3.4 Justice Sonia Sotomayor

28. Race and Ethnicity 3.4 • Asian Americans • Ties of Ethnicity

29. Religion 3.4 • Religious violence • Religious liberty • No official religion • Religion of political candidates matters • Fundamentalists • Diverse, but dominated by Protestants

30. 3.4 FIGURE 3.2: Religious groups in the United States

31. Gender 3.4 • Voting and political representation • Lower and higher rates of voting • Gender gap in representation • Women lean Democratic

32. 3.4 FIGURE 3.3: Gender and the vote for president

33. Gender 3.4 • Income gap • 77 cents for every dollar men earn

34. Sexual Orientation 3.4 • Legal rights for LGBT • Stonewall 1969 • 2-10% of population • Winning elective offices • Political agenda • Same-sex marriage • “Don’t ask, don’t tell”

35. 3.4 Annise Parker

36. Family Structure and Education 3.4 • Family demographics changing • Later marriage • Fewer children • Divorce more common • Education predicts political participation • Democratic values • 70% graduate high school • 50% graduate college

37. 3.4 FIGURE 3.4: Educational attainment in the United States

38. Age 3.4 • Graying of America • Americans living longer • Increasing health care costs

39. 3.4 FIGURE 3.5: Percentage of population over the age of 65, 1900-2050

40. Age 3.4 • Political participation • Older citizens more likely to vote • Lifecycle effects • Generational effects

41. 3.4 3.4Which age group is more likely to vote? • 18-24 year olds • 25-64 year olds • 65 and older • All age groups vote about equally • c

42. 3.4 3.4Which age group is more likely to vote? • 18-24 year olds • 25-64 year olds • 65 and older • All age groups vote about equally • c

43. How Much We Own 3.5 • Wealth and Income • Occupation • Social class

44. Wealth and Income 3.5 • Wealth versus income • Link to political views • Income trends • 50s-70s average income grew • Poor people lack political power

45. 3.5

46. Video: In the Real World 3.5 http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg5_PoliticalCulture_v2.html

47. 3.5 FIGURE 3.6: Percentage of Americans living in poverty, by age, 1967-2010

48. Occupation 3.5 • Industrialization • Gross Domestic Product (GDP) • Technology and the postindustrial economy • White-collar, blue-collar, and public sector • workers

49. 3.5 FIGURE 3.7: Employment by occupational groups, 2010

50. Social Class 3.5 • Social class and political life • Proletariat versus bourgeoisie • Socioeconomic status is politically relevant • Why does everyone want to be middle class?