White Ethnic Groups and American Politics, Student Book. The Lavinia and Charles P. Schwartz Citizenship Project.

This student book, one in a series of civic education materials, focuses on white ethnic groups and how they influence the operation of the American political system. The ethnic groups which are investigated include Poles, Irish, Italians, and Jews. An ethnic person is defined as anyone who decides to identify with and live among those who share the same immigrant memories and values. Ethnic origin, ethnic loyalties, and ethnic considerations play an important role in the political process of the United States. A separate chapter focuses on each of the four minority groups and its role in the process of American politics. Jews, labeled as the shaken liberals, have historically been staunch supporters of the liberal tradition as a unified voter block, but apparent conservative trends are showing as a reaction to radical liberalism and its support of the Arab nations. The Irish built and dominated political organizations, known as machines, in several cities and their predominance in city politics continues today. Italians were rather slow in getting into politics, but in general Italians are politically conservative, strong American patriots, disunited due to internal identity conflicts, and assimilating rapidly into U.S. society. Truly a silent majority group, Poles have been inactive as an ethnic group, but they indicate recent growth in ethnic identity and pride. (Author/ND)