Understanding the American Spirit & the American DreamA 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 America and 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?