{"id":497,"date":"2015-07-17T19:46:12","date_gmt":"2015-07-17T19:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/masteryusgovernment1x6xmaster\/?post_type=chapter&p=497"},"modified":"2018-08-20T20:46:57","modified_gmt":"2018-08-20T20:46:57","slug":"reading-political-culture","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/spokanecc-americangovernment\/chapter\/reading-political-culture\/","title":{"raw":"Reading: Political Culture","rendered":"Reading: Political Culture"},"content":{"raw":"
\r\n

Learning Objectives<\/h2>\r\n

After reading this section, you should be able to answer the following questions:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n \t
  1. What is a nation\u2019s political culture, and why is it important?<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. What are the characteristics of American political culture?<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. What are the values and beliefs that are most ingrained in American citizens?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    This section defines political culture and identifies the core qualities that distinguish American political culture, including the country\u2019s traditions, folklore, and heroes. The values that Americans embrace, such as individualism and egalitarianism, will be examined as they relate to cultural ideals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n

    What Is Political Culture?<\/h2>\r\n

    Political culture<\/strong> can be thought of as a nation\u2019s political personality<\/strong>. It encompasses the deep-rooted, well-established political traits that are characteristic of a society. Political culture takes into account the attitudes, values,<\/strong> and beliefs<\/strong> that people in a society have about the political system, including standard assumptions about the way that government works. As political scientist W. Lance Bennett notes, the components of political culture can be difficult to analyze. \u201cThey are rather like the lenses in a pair of glasses: they are not the things we see when we look at the world; they are the things we see with.\u201d[footnote]W. Lance Bennett, Public Opinion in American Politics<\/em> (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1980), 368.[\/footnote]<\/span> Political culture helps build community and facilitate communication because people share an understanding of how and why political events, actions, and experiences occur in their country.<\/p>\r\n

    Political culture includes formal rules<\/strong> as well as customs<\/strong> and traditions,<\/strong> sometimes referred to as \u201chabits of the heart,\u201d that are passed on generationally. People agree to abide by certain formal rules, such as the country\u2019s constitution and codified laws. They also live by unstated rules: for example, the willingness in the United States to accept the outcomes of elections without resorting to violence. Political culture sets the boundaries of acceptable political behavior in a society<\/strong>.[footnote]Daniel J. Elazar, The American Mosaic<\/em> (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1994).[\/footnote]<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    While the civic culture in the United States has remained relatively stable over time, shifts have occurred as a result of transforming experiences, such as war, economic crises, and other societal upheavals, that have reshaped attitudes and beliefs.[footnote]Ronald Inglehart, Culture Shift in Advanced Industrial Society<\/em> (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1990).[\/footnote]<\/span> Key events, such as the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Great Depression, the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the terrorist attacks of 9\/11 have influenced the political world views of American citizens, especially young people, whose political values and attitudes are less well established.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    \r\n

    American Political Culture<\/h2>\r\n

    Political culture consists of a variety of different elements. Some aspects of culture are abstract, such as political beliefs and values. Other elements are visible and readily identifiable, such as rituals, traditions, symbols, folklore, and heroes. These aspects of political culture can generate feelings of national pride that form a bond between people and their country. Political culture is not monolithic. It consists of diverse subcultures based on group characteristics such as race, ethnicity, and social circumstances, including living in a particular place or in a certain part of the country. We will now examine these aspects of political culture in the American context.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n

    Beliefs<\/h3>\r\n

    Beliefs<\/span> are ideas that are considered to be true by a society. Founders of the American republic endorsed both equality, most notably in the Declaration of Independence, and liberty, most prominently in the Constitution. These political theories have become incorporated into the political culture of the United States in the central beliefs of egalitarianism and individualism.<\/p>\r\n

    Egalitarianism<\/span> is the doctrine emphasizing the natural equality of humans, or at least the absence of a preexisting superiority of one set of humans above another. This core American belief is found in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, which states that \u201call men are created equal\u201d and that people are endowed with the unalienable rights to \u201clife, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.\u201d Americans endorse the intrinsic equal worth of all people. Survey data consistently indicate that between 80 percent and 90 percent of Americans believe that it is essential to treat all people equally, regardless of race or ethnic background.[footnote]James Davison Hunter and Carl Bowman, The State of Disunion<\/em> (Charlottesville, VA: In Media Res Educational Foundation, 1996); Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, Values Survey<\/em> (Washington, DC: Pew Research Center, March 2009).[\/footnote]<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The principle of individualism<\/span><\/a> (Be sure to review the charts for potential exam questions) <\/strong>stresses the centrality and dignity of individual people. It privileges free action and people\u2019s ability to take the initiative in making their own lives as well as those of others more prosperous and satisfying. In keeping with the Constitution\u2019s preoccupation with liberty, Americans feel that children should be taught to believe that individuals can better themselves through self-reliance, hard work, and perseverance<\/strong>.[footnote]James Davison Hunter and Carl Bowman, The State of Disunion<\/em> (Charlottesville, VA: In Media Res Educational Foundation, 1996).[\/footnote]<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The beliefs of egalitarianism and individualism are in tension with one another.<\/strong> For Americans today, this contradiction tends to be resolved by an expectation of equality of opportunity<\/span>,<\/strong> the belief that each individual has the same chance to get ahead in society. Americans tend to feel that most people who want to get ahead can make it if they\u2019re willing to work hard.[footnote]Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, Retro-Politics: The Political Typology<\/em> (Washington, DC: Pew Research Center, November 11, 1999).[\/footnote]<\/span> Americans are more likely to promote equal political rights, such as the Voting Rights Act\u2019s stipulation of equal participation for all qualified voters, than economic equality, which would redistribute income from the wealthy to the poor.[footnote]Richard W. Wilson, \u201cAmerican Political Culture in Comparative Perspective,\u201d Political Psychology<\/em>, 18, no. 2 (1997): 483\u2013502.[\/footnote]<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    \r\n

    Values<\/h3>\r\n

    Beliefs form the foundation for values<\/span>, which represent a society\u2019s shared convictions about what is just and good. Americans claim to be committed to the core values of individualism and egalitarianism. Yet there is sometimes a significant disconnect between what Americans are willing to uphold in principle and how they behave in practice. People may say that they support the Constitutional right to free speech but then balk when they are confronted with a political extremist or a racist speaking in public.<\/p>\r\n

    Core American political values are vested in what is often called the American creed<\/span>.<\/strong> The creed, which was composed by New York State Commissioner of Education Henry Sterling Chapin in 1918, refers to the belief that the United States is a government \u201cby the people, for the people, whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed.\u201d The nation consists of sovereign states united as \u201ca perfect Union\u201d based on \u201cthe principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity.\u201d<\/p>\r\n \r\n

    American exceptionalism<\/span><\/strong> is the view that America\u2019s exceptional development as a nation has contributed to its special place is the world. It is the conviction that the country\u2019s vast frontier offered boundless and equal opportunities for individuals to achieve their goals. Americans feel strongly that their nation is destined to serve as an example to other countries.[footnote]James Davison Hunter and Carl Bowman, The State of Disunion<\/em> (Charlottesville, VA: In Media Res Educational Foundation, 1996).[\/footnote]<\/span> They believe that the political and economic systems that have evolved in this country are perfectly suited in principle to permit both individualism and egalitarianism.<\/p>\r\n

    Consequently, the American creed also includes patriotism<\/span><\/strong>: the love of one\u2019s country and respect for its symbols and principles. The events of 9\/11 ignited Americans\u2019 patriotic values, resulting in many public displays of support for the country, its democratic form of government, and authority figures in public-service jobs, such as police and firefighters. The press has scrutinized politicians for actions that are perceived to indicate a lack of patriotism, and the perception that a political leader is not patriotic can generate controversy. In the 2008 presidential election, a minor media frenzy developed over Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama\u2019s \u201cpatriotism problem.\u201d The news media debated the significance of Obama\u2019s not wearing a flag lapel pin on the campaign trail and his failure to place his hand over his heart during the playing of the national anthem.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n

    Another core American value is political tolerance<\/span><\/strong>, the willingness to allow groups with whom one disagrees to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, such as free speech. While many people strongly support the ideal of tolerance, they often are unwilling to extend political freedoms to groups they dislike. People acknowledge the constitutional right of racist groups, such as skinheads, to demonstrate in public, but will go to great lengths to prevent them from doing so.[footnote]John L. Sullivan, James Piereson, and George E. Marcus, Political Tolerance and American Democracy<\/em> (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982).[\/footnote]<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    Democratic political values are among the cornerstones of the American creed. Americans believe in the rule of law<\/span><\/strong>: the idea that government is based on a body of law, agreed on by the governed, that is applied equally and justly. The Constitution is the foundation for the rule of law. The creed also encompasses the public\u2019s high degree of respect for the American system of government and the structure of its political institutions.<\/p>\r\n

    Capitalist economic values<\/span><\/strong> are embraced by the American creed. Capitalist economic systems emphasize the need for a free-enterprise economic system<\/strong> that allows for open business competition, private ownership of property<\/strong>, and limited government intervention in business affairs. Underlying these capitalist values is the belief that, through hard work and perseverance, anyone can be financially successful.[footnote]Herbert McClosky and John Zaller, The American Ethos<\/em> (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1987).[\/footnote]<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"450\"]\"Photo Tea Party supporters from across the country staged a \u201cMarch on Washington\u201d to demonstrate their opposition to government spending and to show their patriotism.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    The primacy of individualism may undercut the status quo in politics and economics. The emphasis on the lone, powerful person implies a distrust of collective action and of power structures such as big government, big business, or big labor. The public is leery of having too much power concentrated in the hands of a few large companies. The emergence of the Tea Party, a visible grassroots conservative movement that gained momentum during the 2010 midterm elections, illustrates how some Americans become mobilized in opposition to the \u201ctax and spend\u201d policies of big government.[footnote]Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, Views of Business and Regulation Remain Unchanged\u00a0<\/em>(Washington, DC: Pew Research Center, February 21, 2001).[\/footnote]<\/span> While the Tea Party shunned the mainstream media because of their view that the press had a liberal bias, they received tremendous coverage of their rallies and conventions, as well as their candidates. Tea Party candidates relied heavily on social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to get their anti\u2013big government message out to the public.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    \r\n

    Rituals, Traditions, and Symbols<\/h3>\r\n
    \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"201\"]\"\" President Barack Obama gives the 2010 State of the Union address. The ritual calls for the president to be flanked by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Nancy Pelosi) and the vice president (Joe Biden). Members of Congress and distinguished guests fill the House gallery.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    Rituals, traditions, and symbols are highly visible aspects of political culture, and they are important characteristics of a nation\u2019s identity. Rituals<\/span>, such as singing the national anthem at sporting events and saluting the flag before the start of a school day, are ceremonial acts that are performed by the people of a nation. Some rituals have important symbolic and substantive purposes: Election Night follows a standard script that ends with the vanquished candidate congratulating the opponent on a well-fought battle and urging support and unity behind the victor. Whether they have supported a winning or losing candidate, voters feel better about the outcome as a result of this ritual.[footnote]Benjamin Ginsberg and Herbert Weissberg, \u201cElections and the Mobilization of Popular Support,\u201d American Journal of Political Science<\/em> 22, no.1 (1978): 31\u201355.[\/footnote]<\/span> The State of the Union<\/strong> address that the president makes to Congress every January is a ritual that, in the modern era, has become an opportunity for the president to set his policy agenda, to report on his administration\u2019s accomplishments, and to establish public trust. A more recent addition to the ritual is the practice of having representatives from the president\u2019s party and the opposition give formal, televised reactions to the address.<\/p>\r\n

    Political traditions<\/span> are customs and festivities that are passed on from generation to generation, such as celebrating America\u2019s founding on the Fourth of July with parades, picnics, and fireworks. Symbols<\/span> are objects or emblems that stand for a nation. The flag is perhaps the most significant national symbol, especially as it can take on enhanced meaning when a country experiences difficult times. The bald eagle was officially adopted as the country\u2019s emblem in 1787, as it is considered a symbol of America\u2019s \u201csupreme power and authority.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_503\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"450\"]\"Photo<\/a> The Statue of Liberty stands in New York Harbor, an 1844 gift from France that is a symbol welcoming people from foreign lands to America\u2019s shores.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    \r\n

    Folklore<\/h3>\r\n

    Political folklore<\/span>, the legends and stories that are shared by a nation, constitutes another element of culture. Individualism and egalitarianism are central themes in American folklore that are used to reinforce the country\u2019s values. The \u201crags-to-riches\u201d narratives of novelists\u2014the late-nineteenth-century writer Horatio Alger<\/strong> being the quintessential example\u2014celebrate the possibilities of advancement through hard work.<\/p>\r\n

    Much American folklore has grown up around the early presidents and figures from the American Revolution. This folklore creates an image of men, and occasionally women, of character and strength. Most folklore contains elements of truth, but these stories are usually greatly exaggerated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\"]\"Ink There are many folktales about young George Washington, including that he chopped down a cherry tree and threw a silver dollar across the Potomac River. These stories were popularized by engravings like this one by John C. Mccabe depicting Washington working as a land surveyor.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    The first American president, George Washington, is the subject of folklore that has been passed on to school children for more than two hundred years. Young children learn about Washington\u2019s impeccable honesty and, thereby, the importance of telling the truth, from the legend of the cherry tree. When asked by his father if he had chopped down a cherry tree with his new hatchet, Washington confessed to committing the deed by replying, \u201cFather, I cannot tell a lie.\u201d This event never happened and was fabricated by biographer Parson Mason Weems in the late 1700s.[footnote]George Washington\u2019s Mount Vernon, \u201cIs it true that George Washington chopped down a cherry tree when he was a boy?,\u201d accessed February 3, 2011.[\/footnote]<\/span> Legend also has it that, as a boy, Washington threw a silver dollar across the Potomac River, a story meant to illustrate his tremendous physical strength. In fact, Washington was not a gifted athlete, and silver dollars did not exist when he was a youth. The origin of this folklore is an episode related by his step-grandson, who wrote that Washington had once thrown a piece of slate across a very narrow portion of the Rappahannock River in Virginia.[footnote]George Washington\u2019s Mount Vernon, \u201cDid George Washington really throw a silver dollar across the Potomac River?,\u201d accessed February 3, 2011.[\/footnote]<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    <\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    \r\n
    \r\n

    Key Takeaways<\/h2>\r\n

    Political culture is defined by the ideologies, values, beliefs, norms, customs, traditions, and heroes characteristic of a nation. People living in a particular political culture share views about the nature and operation of government. Political culture changes over time in response to dramatic events, such as war, economic collapse, or radical technological developments. The core American values of democracy and capitalism are vested in the American creed. American exceptionalism is the idea that the country has a special place in the world because of the circumstances surrounding its founding and the settling of a vast frontier.<\/p>\r\n

    Rituals, traditions, and symbols bond people to their culture and can stimulate national pride. Folklore consists of stories about a nation\u2019s leaders and heroes; often embellished, these stories highlight the character traits that are desirable in a nation\u2019s citizens.<\/p>\r\n

    America has numerous subcultures based on geographic region; demographic, personal, and social characteristics; religious affiliation, and artistic inclinations. America\u2019s unique multicultural heritage is vested in the various racial and ethnic groups who have settled in the country, but conflicts can arise when subgroups compete for societal resources.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"

    \n

    Learning Objectives<\/h2>\n

    After reading this section, you should be able to answer the following questions:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. What is a nation\u2019s political culture, and why is it important?<\/li>\n
    2. What are the characteristics of American political culture?<\/li>\n
    3. What are the values and beliefs that are most ingrained in American citizens?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

      This section defines political culture and identifies the core qualities that distinguish American political culture, including the country\u2019s traditions, folklore, and heroes. The values that Americans embrace, such as individualism and egalitarianism, will be examined as they relate to cultural ideals.<\/p>\n

      \n

      What Is Political Culture?<\/h2>\n

      Political culture<\/strong> can be thought of as a nation\u2019s political personality<\/strong>. It encompasses the deep-rooted, well-established political traits that are characteristic of a society. Political culture takes into account the attitudes, values,<\/strong> and beliefs<\/strong> that people in a society have about the political system, including standard assumptions about the way that government works. As political scientist W. Lance Bennett notes, the components of political culture can be difficult to analyze. \u201cThey are rather like the lenses in a pair of glasses: they are not the things we see when we look at the world; they are the things we see with.\u201d[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Political culture helps build community and facilitate communication because people share an understanding of how and why political events, actions, and experiences occur in their country.<\/p>\n

      Political culture includes formal rules<\/strong> as well as customs<\/strong> and traditions,<\/strong> sometimes referred to as \u201chabits of the heart,\u201d that are passed on generationally. People agree to abide by certain formal rules, such as the country\u2019s constitution and codified laws. They also live by unstated rules: for example, the willingness in the United States to accept the outcomes of elections without resorting to violence. Political culture sets the boundaries of acceptable political behavior in a society<\/strong>.[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

      While the civic culture in the United States has remained relatively stable over time, shifts have occurred as a result of transforming experiences, such as war, economic crises, and other societal upheavals, that have reshaped attitudes and beliefs.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Key events, such as the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Great Depression, the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the terrorist attacks of 9\/11 have influenced the political world views of American citizens, especially young people, whose political values and attitudes are less well established.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      American Political Culture<\/h2>\n

      Political culture consists of a variety of different elements. Some aspects of culture are abstract, such as political beliefs and values. Other elements are visible and readily identifiable, such as rituals, traditions, symbols, folklore, and heroes. These aspects of political culture can generate feelings of national pride that form a bond between people and their country. Political culture is not monolithic. It consists of diverse subcultures based on group characteristics such as race, ethnicity, and social circumstances, including living in a particular place or in a certain part of the country. We will now examine these aspects of political culture in the American context.<\/p>\n

      \n

      Beliefs<\/h3>\n

      Beliefs<\/span> are ideas that are considered to be true by a society. Founders of the American republic endorsed both equality, most notably in the Declaration of Independence, and liberty, most prominently in the Constitution. These political theories have become incorporated into the political culture of the United States in the central beliefs of egalitarianism and individualism.<\/p>\n

      Egalitarianism<\/span> is the doctrine emphasizing the natural equality of humans, or at least the absence of a preexisting superiority of one set of humans above another. This core American belief is found in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, which states that \u201call men are created equal\u201d and that people are endowed with the unalienable rights to \u201clife, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.\u201d Americans endorse the intrinsic equal worth of all people. Survey data consistently indicate that between 80 percent and 90 percent of Americans believe that it is essential to treat all people equally, regardless of race or ethnic background.[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

      The principle of individualism<\/span><\/a> (Be sure to review the charts for potential exam questions) <\/strong>stresses the centrality and dignity of individual people. It privileges free action and people\u2019s ability to take the initiative in making their own lives as well as those of others more prosperous and satisfying. In keeping with the Constitution\u2019s preoccupation with liberty, Americans feel that children should be taught to believe that individuals can better themselves through self-reliance, hard work, and perseverance<\/strong>.[5]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

      The beliefs of egalitarianism and individualism are in tension with one another.<\/strong> For Americans today, this contradiction tends to be resolved by an expectation of equality of opportunity<\/span>,<\/strong> the belief that each individual has the same chance to get ahead in society. Americans tend to feel that most people who want to get ahead can make it if they\u2019re willing to work hard.[6]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Americans are more likely to promote equal political rights, such as the Voting Rights Act\u2019s stipulation of equal participation for all qualified voters, than economic equality, which would redistribute income from the wealthy to the poor.[7]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      Values<\/h3>\n

      Beliefs form the foundation for values<\/span>, which represent a society\u2019s shared convictions about what is just and good. Americans claim to be committed to the core values of individualism and egalitarianism. Yet there is sometimes a significant disconnect between what Americans are willing to uphold in principle and how they behave in practice. People may say that they support the Constitutional right to free speech but then balk when they are confronted with a political extremist or a racist speaking in public.<\/p>\n

      Core American political values are vested in what is often called the American creed<\/span>.<\/strong> The creed, which was composed by New York State Commissioner of Education Henry Sterling Chapin in 1918, refers to the belief that the United States is a government \u201cby the people, for the people, whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed.\u201d The nation consists of sovereign states united as \u201ca perfect Union\u201d based on \u201cthe principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      American exceptionalism<\/span><\/strong> is the view that America\u2019s exceptional development as a nation has contributed to its special place is the world. It is the conviction that the country\u2019s vast frontier offered boundless and equal opportunities for individuals to achieve their goals. Americans feel strongly that their nation is destined to serve as an example to other countries.[8]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> They believe that the political and economic systems that have evolved in this country are perfectly suited in principle to permit both individualism and egalitarianism.<\/p>\n

      Consequently, the American creed also includes patriotism<\/span><\/strong>: the love of one\u2019s country and respect for its symbols and principles. The events of 9\/11 ignited Americans\u2019 patriotic values, resulting in many public displays of support for the country, its democratic form of government, and authority figures in public-service jobs, such as police and firefighters. The press has scrutinized politicians for actions that are perceived to indicate a lack of patriotism, and the perception that a political leader is not patriotic can generate controversy. In the 2008 presidential election, a minor media frenzy developed over Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama\u2019s \u201cpatriotism problem.\u201d The news media debated the significance of Obama\u2019s not wearing a flag lapel pin on the campaign trail and his failure to place his hand over his heart during the playing of the national anthem.<\/p>\n

      \n

      Another core American value is political tolerance<\/span><\/strong>, the willingness to allow groups with whom one disagrees to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, such as free speech. While many people strongly support the ideal of tolerance, they often are unwilling to extend political freedoms to groups they dislike. People acknowledge the constitutional right of racist groups, such as skinheads, to demonstrate in public, but will go to great lengths to prevent them from doing so.[9]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      Democratic political values are among the cornerstones of the American creed. Americans believe in the rule of law<\/span><\/strong>: the idea that government is based on a body of law, agreed on by the governed, that is applied equally and justly. The Constitution is the foundation for the rule of law. The creed also encompasses the public\u2019s high degree of respect for the American system of government and the structure of its political institutions.<\/p>\n

      Capitalist economic values<\/span><\/strong> are embraced by the American creed. Capitalist economic systems emphasize the need for a free-enterprise economic system<\/strong> that allows for open business competition, private ownership of property<\/strong>, and limited government intervention in business affairs. Underlying these capitalist values is the belief that, through hard work and perseverance, anyone can be financially successful.[10]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
      \"Photo<\/p>\n

      Tea Party supporters from across the country staged a \u201cMarch on Washington\u201d to demonstrate their opposition to government spending and to show their patriotism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      The primacy of individualism may undercut the status quo in politics and economics. The emphasis on the lone, powerful person implies a distrust of collective action and of power structures such as big government, big business, or big labor. The public is leery of having too much power concentrated in the hands of a few large companies. The emergence of the Tea Party, a visible grassroots conservative movement that gained momentum during the 2010 midterm elections, illustrates how some Americans become mobilized in opposition to the \u201ctax and spend\u201d policies of big government.[11]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> While the Tea Party shunned the mainstream media because of their view that the press had a liberal bias, they received tremendous coverage of their rallies and conventions, as well as their candidates. Tea Party candidates relied heavily on social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to get their anti\u2013big government message out to the public.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      Rituals, Traditions, and Symbols<\/h3>\n
      \n
      \"\"<\/p>\n

      President Barack Obama gives the 2010 State of the Union address. The ritual calls for the president to be flanked by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Nancy Pelosi) and the vice president (Joe Biden). Members of Congress and distinguished guests fill the House gallery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      Rituals, traditions, and symbols are highly visible aspects of political culture, and they are important characteristics of a nation\u2019s identity. Rituals<\/span>, such as singing the national anthem at sporting events and saluting the flag before the start of a school day, are ceremonial acts that are performed by the people of a nation. Some rituals have important symbolic and substantive purposes: Election Night follows a standard script that ends with the vanquished candidate congratulating the opponent on a well-fought battle and urging support and unity behind the victor. Whether they have supported a winning or losing candidate, voters feel better about the outcome as a result of this ritual.[12]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> The State of the Union<\/strong> address that the president makes to Congress every January is a ritual that, in the modern era, has become an opportunity for the president to set his policy agenda, to report on his administration\u2019s accomplishments, and to establish public trust. A more recent addition to the ritual is the practice of having representatives from the president\u2019s party and the opposition give formal, televised reactions to the address.<\/p>\n

      Political traditions<\/span> are customs and festivities that are passed on from generation to generation, such as celebrating America\u2019s founding on the Fourth of July with parades, picnics, and fireworks. Symbols<\/span> are objects or emblems that stand for a nation. The flag is perhaps the most significant national symbol, especially as it can take on enhanced meaning when a country experiences difficult times. The bald eagle was officially adopted as the country\u2019s emblem in 1787, as it is considered a symbol of America\u2019s \u201csupreme power and authority.\u201d<\/p>\n

      \"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

      The Statue of Liberty stands in New York Harbor, an 1844 gift from France that is a symbol welcoming people from foreign lands to America\u2019s shores.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      Folklore<\/h3>\n

      Political folklore<\/span>, the legends and stories that are shared by a nation, constitutes another element of culture. Individualism and egalitarianism are central themes in American folklore that are used to reinforce the country\u2019s values. The \u201crags-to-riches\u201d narratives of novelists\u2014the late-nineteenth-century writer Horatio Alger<\/strong> being the quintessential example\u2014celebrate the possibilities of advancement through hard work.<\/p>\n

      Much American folklore has grown up around the early presidents and figures from the American Revolution. This folklore creates an image of men, and occasionally women, of character and strength. Most folklore contains elements of truth, but these stories are usually greatly exaggerated.<\/p>\n

      \n
      \"Ink<\/p>\n

      There are many folktales about young George Washington, including that he chopped down a cherry tree and threw a silver dollar across the Potomac River. These stories were popularized by engravings like this one by John C. Mccabe depicting Washington working as a land surveyor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      The first American president, George Washington, is the subject of folklore that has been passed on to school children for more than two hundred years. Young children learn about Washington\u2019s impeccable honesty and, thereby, the importance of telling the truth, from the legend of the cherry tree. When asked by his father if he had chopped down a cherry tree with his new hatchet, Washington confessed to committing the deed by replying, \u201cFather, I cannot tell a lie.\u201d This event never happened and was fabricated by biographer Parson Mason Weems in the late 1700s.[13]<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Legend also has it that, as a boy, Washington threw a silver dollar across the Potomac River, a story meant to illustrate his tremendous physical strength. In fact, Washington was not a gifted athlete, and silver dollars did not exist when he was a youth. The origin of this folklore is an episode related by his step-grandson, who wrote that Washington had once thrown a piece of slate across a very narrow portion of the Rappahannock River in Virginia.[14]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

      \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      \n
      \n

      Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

      Political culture is defined by the ideologies, values, beliefs, norms, customs, traditions, and heroes characteristic of a nation. People living in a particular political culture share views about the nature and operation of government. Political culture changes over time in response to dramatic events, such as war, economic collapse, or radical technological developments. The core American values of democracy and capitalism are vested in the American creed. American exceptionalism is the idea that the country has a special place in the world because of the circumstances surrounding its founding and the settling of a vast frontier.<\/p>\n

      Rituals, traditions, and symbols bond people to their culture and can stimulate national pride. Folklore consists of stories about a nation\u2019s leaders and heroes; often embellished, these stories highlight the character traits that are desirable in a nation\u2019s citizens.<\/p>\n

      America has numerous subcultures based on geographic region; demographic, personal, and social characteristics; religious affiliation, and artistic inclinations. America\u2019s unique multicultural heritage is vested in the various racial and ethnic groups who have settled in the country, but conflicts can arise when subgroups compete for societal resources.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t

      \n\t\t\t

      Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div>