This is the introductory lecture for 1st year's students of English in American Civilization. It introduces them to the founding values of the American Nation

1. Word size corresponds to frequency of response

2.  “freedom” (26%)
 “liberty” (16%),
 “democracy”, “patriotism” and “red, white
and blue” (10 %).
(survey conducted by the Pioneer in 2011)

3.  An article
published
by a
Mormon
website
www.thefamily.com
January 1st 2016

4. An influential value in founding the
American Nation.
Declaration of Independence (1776)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness.”

5.  A God-given haven
 A Land of opportunities
 A new Promised land
 Equal opportunities
 Prosperity and a better life
 “From rags to riches”

6. Started as a farm boy

7. Walt Disney was also brought up in a farm – he used to
draw pictures for his neighbors for money.

8. Jobs was given away for adoption by his biological and had to drop
out of college, because his education was costly for his foster parents

9. Born to a housemaid and a coalminer, Oprah lived a life of poverty,
where she used to have to wear dresses made out of potato sacks.

10. America provides opportunities but,
 Work ethics
 Personal merit
 Hard work (inherited from the early
Puritan settlers)

11.  Importance and legitimacy of material
possession for Americans
 Status symbols indicate one’s personal worth
 No shame of being rich (nor showing it)

13.  Raises flaming torch at the entrance of
NY
 Attracted millions of newcomers
 American dream still alive in minds of
refugees

15.  US: A country of
immigrants
 American Unity is
born out of
diversity
 E pluribus unum
 « Here individuals
of all nations are
melted into a new
race of man. »

16. However:
 USA was not founded by people of all nations.
 Founded by European Puritan settlers:
WASPS
 WASPS became the norm : Assimilation
 Ethnic groups, minorities
 Pluralism, multiculturalism (languages)
 Separatist movements
 “Salad bowl”

17. 18th and 19th Centuries: The frontier
period
 Movement to the West
Americans developped adaptability to
survive in the wilderness.
Pragmatism, individualism, and Self-
reliance

18.  Power of the individual to control destiny
 Pragmatism: Do-it-yourself mentality
 Opposed to government intervention
 Promoting private initiative
 No reliance on the State in times of crisis
 Volunteer associations & charities

19.  Those who fail are considered as :
 Responsible for their destiny
 Guilty of unachievement
 Lazy

21.  American society very mobile
 Geographically: 13 % of Americans
move every year.
 Socially: Upward mobility is the
expectations of all Americans. Absence
of a rigid class system.
Vast middle class.
The only criteria is income distribution

22.  American dream to be shared by all
mankind
 America has a mission: export its model
civilization abroad
 Westward expansion: Land either bought
or took by force
 Once the continent entirely settled:
American expansionism abroad and
leadership role