Connection Between Politics, Culture in the United States

In the United States, culture and politics have long been intertwined. In "Political Science: An Introduction" by Michael G. Roskin, Robert L. Cord, James A. Medeiros, and Walter S. Jones, the authors state, "Cultural theorists see trouble when the political system gets out of touch with the cultural system, as when the shah of Iran attempted to modernize an Islamic society that did not like Western values and lifestyles" (Roskin). This is evident in the United States, as well. For example, there has been trouble when political leaders have declared or engaged in wars, like when Congress authorized military engagement in the Vietnam in 1964, in Afghanistan in 2001, and in Iraq in 2002. Each of these military engagements in overseas conflict have gone against the political beliefs of a significant amount of Americans, thus also going against the culture of these Americans.

War, however, is not the only time we see a connection between culture and politics in society. We also see the evident relationship between culture and politics in the creation of laws and amendments. One of the most famous examples is the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 (National Archives & Records Administration). According to the National Archives and Records Administration, " Although the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery in the nation, it captured the hearts and imagination of millions of Americans and fundamentally transformed the character of the war" (National Archives & Records Administration). The Emancipation was a step forward to ending slavery in the United States, a very prevalent cultural and political topic at the time, and it also "announced the acceptance of black men into the Union Army and Navy" (National Archives & Records Administration). These are significant advancements in the fight for freedom in United States history. People, generally, want freedom. It is a cultural goal, and politically, many people gained more freedom with President Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Women's suffrage or women's right to vote was another long standing issue in the United States. Considering approximately half the United States' population is women, it is evident that the denial of the right to vote for women would be a significant cultural issue. Congress proposed the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote, in 1919, and between 1919 and 1920, the majority of the continental United States ratified the amendment. Politically, women and men were being granted the same right to vote, while culturally, the gender roles were slightly decreasing. Overall, though, this was another advancement in freedom for the people of the United States as well as move towards a closer connection between the culture and politics of the United States.

Another law greatly depicting the connection between culture and politics in the United States is the Twenty-first Amendment. The Twenty-first Amendment, which was passed in 1933, repealed the Eighteenth Amendment which prohibited alcoholic beverages. The sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages had long been a significant part of United States culture and the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment clearly depicted the importance of the United States government's role in keeping peace with the cultural needs of the citizens it governs. Alcohol has long been a popular beverage in the United States, and numerous people were upset with the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment prohibiting their consumption. It was important that the United States government recognized this issue and aligned the law with the view of the overall cultural acceptance of the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

United States has long been divided on issues that are of both religious and political nature, and one of the continuing issues of this nature is the issue of abortion. Religion and culture have long been connecting - and at times conflicting - issues. The roles of religions and culture have caused a lot of controversy over the legality of abortion in the United States. Since the Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, in 1973, abortion has been legal in the United States, yet state laws on abortion vary. Abortion has been a religiously, culturally, and politically controversial topic for many years. With the topic of abortion, cultural, as well as religious, wants and opinions have attempted or successfully changed the laws, and have become a major political topic among political candidates for years.

Another current topic on the political agenda is the laws for and against same-sex marriage and civil unions. While same-sex unions have become more accepted in recent years, there is still much controversy about whether same-sex marriage or civil unions should be legal in the United States. This is also an example of the current changing culture and political spectrum of the United States. The idea of same-sex relationships is very culturally controversial issue in itself, and with the passing of laws allowing same-sex marriages and civil unions, there has been even more controversy among individuals and groups that are against same-sex relationships altogether.

The issue of same-sex marriages and civil unions is sure to continue to be controversial culturally and politically in the future, yet, by judging the past ratification of laws among states, I think, one day, most likely not too far in the future, same-sex marriages will be legal in all 50 of the United States, or at least civil unions. The changing, yet ever-connected culture and political compass will continue to be present evermore in the United States. It is impossible for these two components of society to separate completely. As the culture is continuously more accepting of various lifestyle and personal choices, those issues will become political issues, thus constantly promoting the connection between politics and culture.

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