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what we LEARNED
THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE
the wealthiest. Families headed by
women are worse off than are other
families.
1.1 How is the population of the United
States described in terms of age
distribution, diversity, income distribution,
and poverty?
The population of the United
States stood at 310 million in 2010.
The population grew rapidly in the
post–World War II years with the birth
of the baby-boom generation. Population growth rates subsequently fell before increasing in the 1990s, primarily
because of immigration. In the first
decade of the twenty-first century,
population growth was 1 percent. Immigration, both legal and illegal, has
added substantially to the nation’s
growth rate and to its diversity. In
2010, the population of the United
States was 65 percent white, with
Latinos representing the largest and
fastest growing minority group. A
majority of Americans live in the
Sunbelt. As a result, Sunbelt states
now hold a majority of seats in the
U.S. House of Representatives.
Although the United States is a
wealthy country, many Americans
live in poverty. Whites and Asian
Americans/Pacific Islanders are better off than are Latinos and African
Americans. They earn higher incomes and are less likely to be poor.
People living in metropolitan areas
earn more than do people outside
metro areas. Suburban residents are
more affluent than are people living
in the inner city. The South is the
poorest region; the Northeast is
CHAPTER 1 | a changing america
THE UNITED STATES
AND THE WORLD
1.2 How does the United States
compare with other nations of the
world, and how does the global economy
affect the economy of the United States?
The United States is third among
nations in land area and population,
but it is the world’s foremost military
and economic power. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the
United States has emerged as the
world’s lone military superpower. It
has the world’s largest economy by
far and, among large nations, the
world’s highest standard of living.
Meanwhile, American cultural influences are pervasive.
The global economy is the integration of national economies
into a world economic system in
which companies compete worldwide for suppliers and markets. It
increases competition for companies and workers. Companies that
are able to compete effectively
do very well because their potential
market has increased, whereas inefficient companies risk losing out to
international competitors. Meanwhile, creative managers and highly
skilled workers do well because
their services are in demand,
whereas low-skill American workers suffer a loss in wages in
competition with low-skill workers
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AMERICAN POLITICAL
CULTURE
1.3 What are the most important
elements of the political culture of
the United States?
Attitudes toward democracy and
capitalism constitute the core of
America’s political culture. A democracy is a system of government in
which ultimate political authority is
vested in the people. Professor
Robert Dahl identifies eight criteria
of democracy that focus on voting
rights, fair election procedures, and
freedom of expression and association.
Capitalism is an economic system
characterized by individual and corporate ownership of the means of
production, and a market economy
based on the supply and demand of
goods and services. The primary alternative to capitalism is socialism,
which is an economic system characterized by governmental ownership of the means of production and
control of the distribution of goods
and services.
The economy of the United
States and that of other capitalist nations is best described as a mixed
economy, which is an economic system that combines private ownership
with extensive governmental intervention. Although most business and
industry are in private hands, the
government owns and operates some
sectors of the economy and closely
regulates other.
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TEST yourself
c. The average income for people living
in metropolitan areas is lower than it is
for people living outside metropolitan
areas.
d. None of the above
1.1 How is the population of the United
States described in terms of age
distribution, diversity, income distribution,
and poverty?
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Which of the following statements is true
about the baby-boom generation?
a. The baby-boom generation is smaller
than preceding or succeeding generations.
b. The baby-boom generation retired just
before 2000.
c. The baby-boom generation was born
after World War II.
d. None of the above
Demographers expect which of the following racial/ethnic group will grow most
rapidly in the years ahead?
a. Latinos
b. Whites
c. African Americans
d. Asian Americans
After the 2010 Census, Texas gained seats
in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Knowing that fact, which of the following
statements must therefore be true?
a. Texas is the most populous state in the
nation.
b. The population of Texas increased at a
faster rate in the 2000s than did the
population of the United States as a
whole.
c. Texas is in the Sunbelt.
d. All of the above
Which of the following statements is true
about income distribution in the United
States?
a. Since 1980, the proportion of national
income received by the wealthiest fifth
of the population has increased.
b. Since 1980, the proportion of income
received by the poorest fifth of the
population has fallen.
c. The income gap between the
wealthiest and poorest families has
been increasing.
d. All of the above
Median household income in the United
States is highest for which of the following
groups?
a. Asian Americans
b. Whites
c. African Americans
d. Latinos
Which of the following statements is
true?
a. Household income is higher in the
South than it is in any other region.
b. On average, women earn more than
men.
7.
How is the official poverty threshold determined?
a. The poverty threshold is set at 30 percent of average household income.
Anyone earning less than 30 percent
of the average is considered poor.
b. The official poverty rate was set in
1950 at $8,000 and changes each year
based on the inflation rate.
c. The poverty threshold is based on
the amount of money an individual
or family needs to purchase basic
necessities.
d. People declare whether they are poor
based on their perception of their a
bility to buy the things they need.
1.2 How does the United States
compare with other nations of the
world, and how does the global economy
affect the economy of the United States?
8.
The term superpower accurately
describes which of the following
nations today?
a. Russia
b. China
c. United States
d. All of the above
9.
Which of the following nations spends the
most money on its military?
a. United States
b. China
c. Russia
d. India
10. Which of the following nations has the
largest economy?
a. China
b. Russia
c. India
d. United States
11. How have low-skilled workers been
affected by the global economy?
a. They have been harmed because
global competition has led to price
increases for many of the products
that they purchase.
b. They have been harmed because
American companies cannot afford to
pay high wages to low-skill workers
and still compete effectively against
foreign competitors with lower
wage costs.
1.3 What are the most important
elements of the political culture of
the United States?
12. Which of the following terms is defined as
“the widely held, deeply rooted political
values of a society?”
a. Socialism
b. Political culture
c. Democracy
d. Capitalism
13. According to Robert A. Dahl, which of the
following is a criterion of democracy?
a. Citizens have the right to form political
parties and organize groups.
b. All businesses and industry are
privately owned.
c. All citizens enjoy a minimum standard
of living, including access to
healthcare.
d. All of the above
14. In Country A, the government owns and
operates business and industry. It makes
decisions about the production and distribution of goods and services in the public
interest without regard for the profit motive. Which of the following terms best
describes Country A?
a. Democracy
b. Mixed economy
c. Socialism
d. Capitalism
15. In Country B, most business and industry
are privately owned, but they are subject to
extensive regulation. Which of the following terms best describes Country B?
a. Mixed economy
b. Socialism
c. Constitutional monarchy
d. Democracy
KNOW the
score
14–15 correct: Congratulations—you know
your Arican government!
12–13 correct: Your understanding of this
chapter is weak—be sure to
review the key terms and visit
TheThinkSpot.
<12 correct:
Reread the chapter more
thoroughly.
Answers: 1) c, 2) a, 3) b, 4) d, 5) a, 6) d, 7) c, 8) c, 9) a, 10) d, 11) b, 12) b, 13) a, 14) c, 15) a
1.
c. They have been helped because the
number of good jobs available to lowskill workers has increased.
d. All of the above
test yourself