American Culture
Chapter 2: Traditional
American Values and
Beliefs
The Context of Traditional American Values:
Racial, Ethnic, Religious, and Cultural Diversity
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Today, the US is the most diverse country in the
world
Racially, ethnically, culturally, religously
The US has always had some diversity
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Native Americans
Spanish settlers
French missionaries
Black slaves
British colonists
The Context of Traditional American Values:
Racial, Ethnic, Religious, and Cultural Diversity
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Diversity = Pluralism (more than one)
The high diversity in the US meant that
people had no choice but to accept it
Many Americans see their diversity as their
strength
Pluralism is recognized more today than it
was in the past
The Context of Traditional American Values:
Racial, Ethnic, Religious, and Cultural Diversity
Question:
 How did the American national identity
develop with so much diversity?
The Context of Traditional American Values:
Racial, Ethnic, Religious, and Cultural Diversity
Answer:???
 “we share a common set of values that make
us American…. We are defined by the rights
we have…. Our rights are our history, why
the first European settlers came here and
why millions more have come here since.”
–
John Zogby
The Context of Traditional American Values:
Racial, Ethnic, Religious, and Cultural Diversity
“The land of opportunity”
 The values of the people who went to America
for a new life developed into the traditional
values of American today:
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Individual freedom
Equality of opportunity
Material wealth
Self-reliance
Competition
Hard work
Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance
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Early colonists came to America to escape
oppression at home (Europe) by kings,
governments, churches etc
British colonists declared independence in
1776
In 1789 the constitution was written which
separated church from state
Titles (Lord, Duke, Sir) were forbidden to
prevent an aristocratic society from
developing
Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance
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This created a “climate of freedom” where
the individual was most important.
Individual freedom (i.e. you can do anything
you want to do) is the most basic American
value.
Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance
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Freedom: the desire and the right 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.
This “freedom” has attracted many
immigrants to America
Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance
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However, to achieve “individual freedom” they
needed to be “self-reliant”
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Financial / emotional independence from parents
Americans believe they should take care of
themselves and solve their own problems
They owe nothing to any man, they expect nothing from any
man; they acquire the habit of always considering
themselves as standing alone, and they are apt to imagine
that their whole destiny is in their own hands.
-Tocqueville
Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance
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Most Americans believe they must be selfreliant to keep their individual freedom
i.e. if you rely on someone else, you don’t
have any freedom
Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance
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Sometimes, people are forced to rely on others
This is generally not a long term arrangement
Being too reliant on others means a loss of
freedom, and sometimes a loss of respect
Even when dependent on others, people must
‘appear’ to be self reliant
Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance
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Financial support (charities, welfare) to those
in need is generally for a short time only
It is expected that people will take care of
themselves
Financial support is common, but not
admired
Many believe it is a bad example that will
weaken the American character.
Equality of Opportunity and Competition
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Immigrants to the US believe that everyone
has the chance to succeed
People are free from excessive political,
religious, and social control
One reason is the lack of a hereditary
aristocracy
Equality of Opportunity and Competition
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No formal class system exists in the US
Many people believed that in their native
countries, their social class would determine
how successful they could be
In America, they would not have to compete
with rich and powerful noble families
Equality of Opportunity and Competition
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Many immigrants were very successful in the
US – regardless of their background
This lead to the idea of equality of
opportunity
The more I advanced in the study of American society, the
more I perceived that … equality of condition id the
fundamental fact from which all others seem to be derived.
-Tocqueville
Equality of Opportunity and Competition
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“Equality of opportunity”
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Each individual has an equal opportunity for
success
“Success” is the main goal of American life –
everyone should have the same chance to
be successful
An “ethical” rule (similar to “fair play”)
Equality of Opportunity and Competition
We… wish to allow the humblest man an equal
chance to get rich with everybody else. When one
starts poor, as most do in the race of life, free
society is such that he knows he can better his
condition; he knows that there is no fixed
condition of labor for his whole life.
-Abraham Lincoln
Equality of Opportunity and Competition
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The downside of equality of opportunity is
competition
Americans see life as a race to succeed – with
winners and losers
Americans believe that since they all have the
same opportunity to succeed, they have a duty
to try
Equality of Opportunity and Competition
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Pressure of competition is part of all Americans’
lives
Competition is encouraged at an early age
(especially in sports)
Equality of Opportunity and Competition
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Americans are under a lot of pressure to
compete throughout their working lives
When they retire, many lose their prestige
and respect
People who don’t compete well are seen as
misfits
Material Wealth and Hard Work
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People came to the US to raise their standard
of living
America has very abundant natural resources –
and was seen as a “land of plenty”
Many improved their own lives or the lives of
their children
Material wealth became important to Americans
Material Wealth and Hard Work
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“Materialism” – to place a high value on
material possessions (cars, jewelry, etc)
Americans are perceived to be very
materialistic – even though they may value
other things more highly (family, faith etc)
Why are Americans materialistic?
Material Wealth and Hard Work
Answer:
 Material wealth dictates social status in the
absence of hereditary aristocracy or titles of
nobility.
 Quality and quantity of possessions became
a measure of success.
Material Wealth and Hard Work
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However, to achieve material wealth
Americans must work hard
It took a lot of hard work to develop and profit
from the abundant natural resources of the
US.
Material possessions were seen as a natural
reward for hard work, and as an indicator of
someone’s ability
Material Wealth and Hard Work
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Today, it is more difficult for an average
American to become very wealthy because
of changes in the economy
To compete internationally, many people
must now work longer for less
They have become the “working poor”
workers with a low standard of living
Material Wealth and Hard Work
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Most Americans still value hard work, but it is
becoming more common for people to
receive welfare
Families are limited to how much welfare
they can receive
Many employers no longer provide benefits
(health insurance etc) to their workers
The American Dream
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The behavior and values have remained
constant:
Americans still love their country and believe that they can accomplish
almost anything. A recent poll found 91 percent who agreed with the
statement, “Being an American is a big part of who I am.” Only 11
percent said they would like to emigrate elsewhere…. Frenchman
Clotaire Rapaille captured this unique aspect of American patriotism:
“America is not a place. It is a dream.”