This is the introductory lecture of American civlization classes for 1st year students of English at ISLN. It presents the founding myths and value of the USA

1. 1

2.  On a piece of paper, write down your names
and the 3 first words that come to your mind
when you think of America.
 Turn the paper and write down the three first
words that come to your mind when you think
of Tunisia.
2

3. Word size corresponds to frequency of response3

4. 4

5.  “freedom” (26%)
 “liberty” (16%),
 “democracy”, “patriotism” and “red, white
and blue” (10 %).
(survey conducted by the Pioneer in 2011)
5

6. 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.”
6

7.  A God-given haven
 A Land of opportunities
 A new Promised land
 Equal opportunities
 Prosperity and a better life
 “From rags to riches”
7

8. Started as a farm boy
8

9. Walt Disney was also brought up in a farm – he used to
draw pictures for his neighbors for money.
9

10. Jobs was given away for adoption by his biological father and had to
drop out of college, because his education was costly for his foster
parents 10

11. 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.
11

12. America provides opportunities but,
 Work ethics
 Personal merit
 Hard work (inherited from the early
Puritan settlers)
12

13.  Importance and legitimacy of material
possession for Americans
 Status symbols indicate one’s personal worth
 No shame of being rich (nor showing it)
13

14. 14

15.  Raises flaming torch at the entrance of
NY
 Attracted millions of newcomers
 American dream still alive in minds of
refugees
15

16. 16

17.  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. »
17

18. 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”
18

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

20.  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
20

21.  Those who fail are considered as :
 Responsible for their destiny
 Guilty of unachievement
 Lazy
21

22. 22

23.  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
23

24.  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
24