C

Individualism，which is the very core of American culture and the main value in America，has long been a very important principle in American society.In the 1960s，a new phase of individualism emerged in which restraints on individual intuitions and feelings were greatly reduced by the various rights revolutions such as the new women’s movement，the youth movement，and the sexual revolution.For the young generation，self⁃fulfillment and self⁃expression became very important.As a result，they joined the Civil Rights Movement to overturn racial segregation，rebelled against authority，and later experimented with drugs and practiced in free love.

Individualism also meant self⁃reliance，independence and responsibility.People became more active in fighting for their rights and interests.They formed various interest groups to force the government to adopt policies they supported.There are many interest groups in the United States，such as the National Organization for Women（NOW），trade and labor unions，the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force a great number of environmental organizations and many others.Various racial groups，religious groups and industries all have their own organizations.These groups are known as interest groups because they lobby the government and politicians for policies that favor their interests.

Interest groups actively participate in the political process.They form Political Action Committees（PACs）which donate to campaigns，run political advertising and organize voters to vote for candidates supporting their causes in all kinds of elections.However，people from the middle and upper classes are more active in social and political activities than people from the working class.Politics in America are no longer controlled by political parties as much as in the past，although the parties are the main players in the political arena.Both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party have to pay attention to the demands of the major interest groups in order to win elections.