US Political Culture, Core Principles, and Ideological Frameworks (copy)

Culture

The shared characteristics, values, practices, and institutions that define a nation.

Subcultures

Distinct cultural groups within a larger culture, existing throughout the United States.

Political Culture

The collective set of beliefs, feelings, and expectations regarding how the United States government should operate.

Classic Liberalism

A political theory that emphasizes individual freedom and autonomy.

Individual Rights

The focus on personal autonomy and choices.

Societal Burden

The collective impact of individual decisions on society, including safety risks and public health.

Prohibition

The period in US history (from the $18\text{th}$ Amendment) that banned alcohol, leading to organized crime and later repealed by the $21\text{st}$ Amendment.

Capitalism

An economic system where the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit.

Rugged Individualism

The ethos of self-reliance and personal responsibility, central to the American Dream.

Ideology

A consistent and integrated system of ideas, values, and beliefs that shapes an individual’s worldview.

Conservatism

An ideology that typically favors more capitalism and fewer individual freedoms except in specific areas like gun ownership.

Liberalism

An ideology that supports more personal freedoms and societal protections, typically advocating for government regulation.

Libertarianism

An ideology that emphasizes individual freedom and minimal government intervention.

Populism

An ideology that often opposes both the elites and the concept of individual freedoms.

Totalitarian Regimes

Governments that exercise absolute control over all aspects of life, as seen in both Communism and Fascism.

The Forbidden Fruit Phenomenon

The tendency for strict prohibitions to increase curiosity and experimentation among individuals.