Chap 2: American traditional beliefs and values

1.The context of traditional American values

- From the beginning of the history of the US, there has been diversity:

§         Native Americans throughout the North American continent

§         Spanish settlers in the Southwest and in Florida

§         French missionaries and fur traders along the Mississippi River

§         Black slaves brought from African countries

§         Dutch settlers in New York,

§         Germans in Pennsylvania

§         The British colonists, whose culture eventually provided the language and the foundation for the political and economic systems that developed in the US

- Most early Americans recognized this diversity or pluralism as a fact if life. The large variety of ethnic, cultural, religious groups meant that accepting diversity was the only practical choice.However, in time, many Americans came to see strength in their country’s diversity.

=> Today, there is more recognition of the value of cultural pluralism than at any other time in the history of the US

- Historically, the US has been viewed as “ the land of opportunity”, attracting immigrants from all over the world.The opportunites they believed they would find in America and the experiences they actually had when they arrived nurtured this set of values

3 represent traditional reasons:

The chance for individual freedon

Equality of opportunity

Material wealth

3 represent the prices to be paid

Self-reliance

Competition

Hardwork

2. Individual freedom and self-reliance

Individual freedom

Historical context:

Early colonists came to America to escape the controls placed on their lives (Europe) by kings and governments, churches and priests,noblemen and aristocrats

1776: Bristish colonists declared independence

1789: In the Constitution, church and state were separated. Titles of nobility (Lord, Duke, Sir) were forbidden to ensure an aristocratic society would not develop.

ð     had a profound effect on the shaping of the American character

ð     created a climate of freedom where the emphasis was on the individual

ð     the concept of individual freedom were associated in Americans’minds – the most basic of all the American values

ð     Freedom: the desire and the ability of all individuals to control their own destiny without outside interference from the government, a ruling noble class, the church, or any other organized authority.

ð     Attract immigrants

Self-reliance

- Individuals must learn to rely on themslves on risk losing freedom.

ð     This means achieving both financial and emotional independence from their parents as early as possible, usually by age 18 or 21.

ð     They should take care of themselves and solve their own problems.

- It is one of the most difficult aspects of the American character to understand but is is profoundly important.

Most people believe that they must be self-reliance to keep their freedom

If not, they risk losing freedom as well as the respect of their peers

ð     even if they are not truly self-reliance, they believe they must at least appear to be so

ð     receiving financial support from families, charity or government is allowed but it is never admired.

3. Equality of opportunity and competition

Equality of opportunity

- Immigrants believed that everyone has a chance to succeed in the US for 3 following reasons:

§         Individuals are free from excessive political, religious, and social controls

§         Titles of nobility were forbidden in the Constitution => no class system => lack of a hereditary aristocracy

§         Million of these immigrants succeeded

- Equality of opportunity may be thought of as an ethical rule.

Americans see much of life as a race for success and people have an euail equal chance for success. => ensure that the race for success is a fair one and that a person does not win just because he or she was born into a wealthy family or lose because of race or religion.

Competition

- It is a price to be paid for this equality of opportunity.

§         It is every persom’s duty to try Americans match their energy and intelligence against that of others in a competitive contest for success => People who like to compete and more successful than others are honored by being called winners.On the contrary, they are called losers.

§         The pressures of competition begin in childhood and continue until retirement from work

§         Is encouraged by strong programs of competitive sports provides by the public schools and community groups

- However, there are consequences of competition

§         Make Americans energetic but places a constant emotional strain on them until retirement

§         People may feel useless and unwanted when retired

§         Compete unsuccessfully => won’t fit into the mainstream of American life

4. Material wealth and hardwork

Material wealth

- US appeared to be a “ land of plenty” where millions could come to seek their fortunes => Immigrants came to US to have a better life or to raise their living standards.

- It became a value to American people

§         “Going from rags to riches” became a slogan for the great American Dream.

§         Many achieved material success =>they became very attached to material things. However, to say that a person is materlialistic is an insult because to an American, this means that this person values material possessions above all else.

- It became an accepted measure of success and social status

Because Americans rejecte the European system of hereditary aristocracy and titles of nobility => had to find a substitute for judgin social status

Hardwork

- Americans have paid a price for their material wealth: hard work

Because North American continent was rich in natural resources when the first settlers arrived but all these resources were undeveloped => only by hard work could convert them into material possessions, allowing a more confortable standard of living.

- Hard work has been both necessary and rewarding for most Americans

Because they came to see material possessions were seen not only as tangible evidence of people’s work but also of their abilities. A famous saying or Jame Madison: “the difference in material possessions reflected a difference in personal abilities”

- However, US has shifted from an industry-based economy to service or information-based => a decline in high paying jobs for factory workers.=> They have become the “working poor” workers with a low standard of living

In conclusion:

It is important to distinguish between idealism and reality.Some values is not always put in to practice such as equality of opportunity. The fact that American ideals are only partly carried out in  real life does not diminish their importance.Many Americans still believe in them and are strongly affected by them in everyday lives. The 6 values do not tell the whole story of American character but should be thought as themes that will be developed in our discussions on religion, family life, education, business and politics.