Progress: open to new
ideas / inventions
individual ways of
realizing one‘s goals
personal / material
success and wealth
Pursuit of Happiness
an open and
dynamic society
personal /
religious
freedom
institutional racism!?
concepts of how to
integrate immigrants
salad bowl
(integration)
equal rights (gender / ethnicity
/ social background)
paradoxes
violence
Equality
Life
Liberty
Fundamental, inalienable
and God-given rights
problems
melting
pot
Patriotism
AMERICAN
BELIEFS &
VALUES
"rags to riches"
pride in being
American
national symbols
The American Dream
the first settlers
shaped “the dream“
JT Adams: Dream of a better,
richer and happier life for all our
citizens of every rank.
Nightmares
20th Century: A dream of
being able to grow to the
fullest development as
man and woman.
Puritanism /
Protestant work
ethic
beliefs: hard work /
thrift / self-discipline /
self-improvement /
responsibility
Manifest Destiny: a member of
„God‘s chosen people“