Chapter 5Chapter 5

The American Political The American Political LandscapeLandscape

Unlike most nations, the United States has Unlike most nations, the United States has an incredibly varied mix of ethnicities from an incredibly varied mix of ethnicities from every part of the world.every part of the world.

The main reason the U.S. holds so much The main reason the U.S. holds so much appeal is because of the religious, appeal is because of the religious, economic, and political freedom economic, and political freedom experienced here.experienced here.

Many Americans retain an identity with Many Americans retain an identity with their native land, even after three or four their native land, even after three or four generations of living in the U.S.generations of living in the U.S.

Key TermsKey Terms

What is Ethnocentrism?What is Ethnocentrism?

Selective perception based on one’s background, attitudes, and biases. You believe your nation or ethnic group is the best!

VocabularyVocabulary

What is Political Socialization?What is Political Socialization?

The process by which parents and others teach children about political values, beliefs, and attitudes. It occurs in the home, playground, and in the neighborhood.

VocabularyVocabulary

What are demographics?What are demographics?

Where we live and who we are in terms of age, education, religion, and occupation affect how we vote. Persons in certain demographics tend to vote alike.

VocabularyVocabulary

What are Reinforcing What are Reinforcing Cleavages?Cleavages?

Divisions within society that reiforce one another, making groups more similar. Example: North Abolitionists, South Slavery

VocabularyVocabulary

What are Cross-Cutting What are Cross-Cutting Cleavages?Cleavages?

Divisions in society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups that are more similar or different. Example: Sometimes people vote on basis of wealth, and sometimes on religion.

Where we live, our age, education Where we live, our age, education level, religion, and occupation all level, religion, and occupation all affect how we vote. These affect how we vote. These characteristics of population are characteristics of population are called demographics.called demographics.

80% of Americans live in metropolitan 80% of Americans live in metropolitan areas – central cities and their suburbs.areas – central cities and their suburbs.

More than half of all African Americans More than half of all African Americans live in central cities, as opposed to 1/5 live in central cities, as opposed to 1/5 of Caucasians. The proportions are of Caucasians. The proportions are reversed in the suburbs.reversed in the suburbs.

The West and Northeast are the most The West and Northeast are the most urban regions, while the South and urban regions, while the South and Midwest are the most rural.Midwest are the most rural.

Race – a grouping of human beings Race – a grouping of human beings with distinctive physical characteristics with distinctive physical characteristics determined by genetic inheritance.determined by genetic inheritance.

Ethnicity – a social division based on Ethnicity – a social division based on national origin, religion, and language, national origin, religion, and language, often within the same raceoften within the same race

Most race and ethnicity issues focus on Most race and ethnicity issues focus on African Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics.Native Americans, and Hispanics.

Most African Americans came to the U.S. Most African Americans came to the U.S. as slaves and remained so until after the as slaves and remained so until after the Civil War.Civil War.

African Americans typically earn less, African Americans typically earn less, have higher levels of poverty, and lower have higher levels of poverty, and lower levels of education than Caucasians.levels of education than Caucasians.

Most African Americans were originally Most African Americans were originally Republican, but shifted to the Democratic Republican, but shifted to the Democratic side after Franklin D. Roosevelt took side after Franklin D. Roosevelt took office as President.office as President.

Hispanics tend to differ on political Hispanics tend to differ on political opinions depending on their country of opinions depending on their country of origin. Cuban Americans tend to be origin. Cuban Americans tend to be Republican, while Mexican Americans and Republican, while Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans lean towards the Puerto Ricans lean towards the Democrats.Democrats.

A large number of Hispanics are living in A large number of Hispanics are living in the US illegally, giving the Hispanic the US illegally, giving the Hispanic population a bad reputation.population a bad reputation.

Language barriers, and the fact that the Language barriers, and the fact that the Hispanic population is generally younger Hispanic population is generally younger than other ethnic groups, reduce voter than other ethnic groups, reduce voter turnout and participation from this group.turnout and participation from this group.

This group includes people of This group includes people of Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Thai origin.Vietnamese, Filipino, and Thai origin.

Many Asian Americans do well Many Asian Americans do well economically and educationally. economically and educationally. 47% of Asian Americans graduate 47% of Asian Americans graduate from college, compared with 27% of from college, compared with 27% of white Americans and 17% of African white Americans and 17% of African AmericansAmericans

Men have dominated politics, business, and Men have dominated politics, business, and government for most of US history. However, government for most of US history. However, over the past century, women have gained over the past century, women have gained essentially the same rights and are nearly as essentially the same rights and are nearly as active in politics as men.active in politics as men.

Recently, women have tended to vote Recently, women have tended to vote Democratic, while men favor the Republicans.Democratic, while men favor the Republicans.

Women are more likely to oppose violence in Women are more likely to oppose violence in any form, including capital punishment, and gun any form, including capital punishment, and gun possession. They tend to be in favor of health possession. They tend to be in favor of health insurance, family services and women’s rights.insurance, family services and women’s rights.

The Constitution states that no religion The Constitution states that no religion must take precedence over another in must take precedence over another in the eyes of the government.the eyes of the government.

The vast majority of Americans are The vast majority of Americans are described as Christian, most of which are described as Christian, most of which are Protestant.Protestant.

A majority of Protestants vote A majority of Protestants vote Republican, while Catholics and Jews Republican, while Catholics and Jews vote Democratic. The perception of the vote Democratic. The perception of the Jews and Catholics is that the Jews and Catholics is that the Democratic Party is more open to them.Democratic Party is more open to them.

Wealth = total value of possessionsWealth = total value of possessions Income = annual earningsIncome = annual earnings Most college students come from Most college students come from

families that earn $50,000 a year or families that earn $50,000 a year or more. People who go to college tend to more. People who go to college tend to earn more than those who do not.earn more than those who do not.

The poor and less educated tend to be The poor and less educated tend to be less active in politics, although they less active in politics, although they always favor social welfare programs.always favor social welfare programs.

Older Americans tend to be more politically Older Americans tend to be more politically aware than younger ones and vote more aware than younger ones and vote more often.often.

Life-cycle effects have shown that as people Life-cycle effects have shown that as people become middle aged, they become more become middle aged, they become more conservative. As they age further and rely conservative. As they age further and rely on government services, they become liberal.on government services, they become liberal.

Generational effects arise when a particular Generational effects arise when a particular generation has experiences that make it generation has experiences that make it distinct, like baby boomers or those who distinct, like baby boomers or those who lived during the Great Depression.lived during the Great Depression.

The vast majority of citizens are The vast majority of citizens are educated in public schools. Just less educated in public schools. Just less than half attend college.than half attend college.

People who are uneducated in the People who are uneducated in the prevailing norms of American society prevailing norms of American society are more likely to express opposition are more likely to express opposition to democratic and capitalistic ideals to democratic and capitalistic ideals than those who are knowledgeable than those who are knowledgeable and educated.and educated.