Understanding the American Spirit the American Dream A
- Slides: 54
Understanding the American Spirit & the American Dream A Crash Course in U. S. History, Culture and the American Dream
Understanding America • If you want to do business with, make friends with and have a meaningful relationship with someone, you must learn about their past. • To understand Americans, it is necessary to understand the American Spirit and the American Dream. • To understand the American Spirit and the American Dream, we should look back at American history.
Leaving Europe Religious Freedom Exploration and Wealth
Imagine Leaving Everything For The Unknown • Sailing across the oceans • Shoot I left my keys at home! Leaving everything behind • What will you eat when you arrive? Water? • What’s that crazy looking animal? • Can I eat this thing growing here? • Does anyone live there already?
Wanna Go To America? Requirements: • • A sense of adventure A willingness to risk it all Independent and self-reliant Brave and fearless Optimistic (it’ll be awesome!) A can-do attitude Hard-working
Someone Already Lives Here?
Maybe We Can Get Along
Maybe not
Early British Colonies
The Beginnings of Slavery Man, farming is hard work! I’ve got a great idea! Slaves!
Africans Brought as Slaves
Those British Are Getting Annoying!
We’ve had enough!
The Revolutionary War • • Democracy Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness 1776: American leaders sign The Declaration of Independence War with Britain Triumph of the underdog A new nation Westward expansion Small pox, war and the destruction of the Native Americans
The American Dream Why come to America? • You can practice any religion you want • You are guaranteed basic freedoms (as long as you’re not a slave) • Democracy • Endless opportunity (and land) • The streets are paved with gold!
1861 -1865 Civil War Causes: • Cotton gin – The south became dependent on cotton and, therefore, slaves. The north was more industrial. • City life in the North and rural life in the South; In the North people from many cultures learned to work together while the south maintained the old social order. • Disagreement about the size of government • Abraham Lincoln elected president
“Slavery sucks!” “No it doesn’t!”
The North Wins the Civil War Lincoln frees the slaves Equality for all (men)
Here Come The Immigrants!
The Melting Pot • Oppression in European Countries • Stories of American success and opportunity flow to Europe • People from all over the world (mostly Europe) immigrate to America in search of a better life • Anyone can make it if you work hard and never give up! • Take risks, be an entrepreneur! • Different cultures and languages mix – new ideas • America’s economy grows dramatically • The California Gold Rush
Andrew Carnegie: An Example of the American Dream A “Rags to Riches” story. Born in 1835 in Scotland, he immigrated to America in 1848 with his very poor parents. He worked hard and led the expansion of the steel industry. In 1901 he sold Carnegie Steel Company for $480 Million (in 2015, $13. 6 Bllion) He donated about 90% of his fortune.
The Roaring Twenties • America becomes more and more prosperous • Inventions such as radio and cars change life • People have more free time • Music, art and culture flourish • Stock market investing becomes popular
The Stock Market Crash and The Great Depression October 29, 1929 Poverty & Joblessness
The Great Depression • Worldwide economic depression. • Began in 1929 and lasted throughout the 1930’s • Personal income, tax revenue, profits, prices, investment all decresed • International trade decreased my 50% • U. S. unemployment rose to 25% • Construction stopped, farmers suffered as crop prices fell almost 60%, bank runs & bank failures. • “The Dust Bowl” – severe drought in the agricultural states
World War II & The End of The Great Depression • World War II began in Europe and Asia in the 1930’s but America stayed out of the war • Pear Harbor in Hawaii is bombed by the Japanese in 1941 and America enters the war • American industry increases to support the war effort • Women enter the work force in huge numbers
World War II Brings Purpose Roll Up Your Sleeves! Victory!
America emerged as the only superpower after WWII. The 1950’s bring an age of prosperity.
The New American Dream
The 1950’s and early 60’s • After going through The Great Depression and WWII, America becomes the only superpower and leads the way in science, technology and business. • A sense of optimism and progress returns • The baby boomers • New technologies provide excitement and also more free time • Elvis and the rise of Rock and Roll • Credit cards, polio vaccine, interstate highway system, building of schools, baseball, the microwave, color TV, Barbie, moving to the suburbs, public air travel and vacationing.
But, not everyone was happy…
The Civil Rights Movement Demanded Racial Equality and Segregation.
But not everyone liked that…
The Feminist Movement
The Cold War
The Space Race & Nuclear Arms Race
Vietnam War Protests
All over university campuses students protest the war
The Hippie Movement The Hippies were characterized by: • Anti-war, peace-loving (the peace sign: peace, man) • Drug experimentation • Sexual freedom and experimentation • Mystical culture and religion (particularly Asian) • A new style of music • Beauty, nature, long hair • Relaxed and open-minded
Here Come the Hippies!
Flower Power!
More Flower Power
Woodstock – 400, 000 people!
How Did the Hippies Influence America? • Spread a message of love and equality • Changed attitudes towards sex, love & drugs • Help spread the desire to help the poor & starving • They challenged the Protestant work ethic ideas • Encouraged following your dreams, creativity & art
1970’s Gas Shortage & Inflation
The Boom Years • The 1980’s, 90’s and early 2000’s were a time of prosperity and excitement in America. • New technology • A time of peace • A return of the American Dream • Entrepreneurism, Individualism & Optimism • New immigrants, new ideas, the new land of opportunity
The Year 2000 and Beyond • A sense of fear begins to spread in America • “Everyone should be able to buy a house!” • Easy credit, subprime housing crisis • Economic recession • Rising unemployment • Larger government and increasing anger among the people
American Values • • • Freedom & independence Individualism & self-reliance Pioneers, entrepreneurs & risk-taking Creativity, the ambitious & the fearless The triumph of the underdog Optimism Persistence and hard work (Protestant work ethic) A can-do attitude Equality
The American Dream
The American Spirit
Has it changed?
- Come holy spirit come inflame our souls with love
- Spirit spirit of gentleness
- Type of poem
- To dream the impossible dream poem
- Say goodbye to the american dream
- What is the american dream in death of a salesman
- American dream mall cost to build
- Owl eyes car crash
- American dream powerpoint
- The american dream definition
- The american dream edward albee
- Modernism and the american dream
- Dreaming american
- American literature timeline
- Themes of death of a salesman
- The american dream poem
- American dream mall
- The american dream examples in the great gatsby
- What happens in chapter 4 of the great gatsby
- How to restore the american dream by fareed zakaria
- Death of a salesman plot
- American dream mall
- A streetcar named desire american dream
- Themes in death of a salesman
- American dream cold war
- Modernism and the american dream
- The american dream in the great gatsby chapter 6
- American dream definition
- James truslow adams american dream summary
- Death of a salesman american dream theme
- Bridging questions all my sons
- American dream mall
- Aspects of american dream
- Themes in all my sons
- American dream mall
- Definition american dream
- The american dream of mice and men
- Cách giải mật thư tọa độ
- Bổ thể
- Tư thế ngồi viết
- Thẻ vin
- Thể thơ truyền thống
- Chúa sống lại
- Các châu lục và đại dương trên thế giới
- Sự nuôi và dạy con của hổ
- Từ ngữ thể hiện lòng nhân hậu
- Diễn thế sinh thái là
- Vẽ hình chiếu vuông góc của vật thể sau
- Thế nào là giọng cùng tên? *
- 101012 bằng
- Tỉ lệ cơ thể trẻ em
- Lời thề hippocrates
- đại từ thay thế
- Quá trình desamine hóa có thể tạo ra
- Các môn thể thao bắt đầu bằng tiếng nhảy