people believed only by hard work could their rich natural resources be converted into material. possessions[r]
(1)Why immigrants are attracted to the US?
-Land
-Resources
(2)I American Dream & Traditional
BeliefsPham Phuong Hoa
(3)What was their dream when they sailed to
(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)Progress / Keep moving
• The desire to progress by making
use of opportunities
• Reflected in family saga
First generation
(9)(10)Practicality
Where did it come from?
• Survival experiences => idealize
whatever is practical
• What works is what counts
e.g First west-ward explorers did not know farming or construction but trusted in their inventiveness!
e.g Great number of do-it-yourself books, self-service
(11)(12)Volunteerism in Community & Political life
• Vietnam: Volunteer = Government • US?
• US:
people helping people through private
rather than government sponsored agencies
Unpaid, highly motivated people,
organize themselves to solve a
community problem/meet a social need rather than waiting for the government
(13)(14)Psychology of abundance
• Historically: Us has been regarded
as a land of limitless wealth
East: fertile, cheap land for everyone
=> exhausted, abandoned
West: farmer, hunters, fur trappers,
gold miners, cattle ranchers
Buffalo almost extinct, forests cut &
burnt, polluted rivers
Changing attitudes & adopt new
(15)(16)Mobility
• Go where resources are
Keep moving & make a fresh start
• Mobility:
NOT aimless, with optimism (better
life, warmer climate)
Take for granted: 4-5 cities / life Buy house:
Not necessarily well-designed high reselling value (practicality)
Does not immobilize them (lessen their
(17)Mobility - Homogeneity
• Very diverse geography & Culture • People keep moving from one
place to another => mutual exchange
=> Cultural differences still exist from region to region but are
(18)Basic traditional American values
1 Individual Freedom 2 Self-Reliance
3 Equality of Opportunity 4 Equality of Competition
(19)(20)Patriotism
• Mobility => little attachment to a
place => national pride > regional pride
• Flag: National flag more common
than state’s flag.
• Patriotism
Other nations: place, landscape, rivers, forests, etc (geographical) US: freedom inspired the nation’s
(21)Basic traditional American values
1 Individual Freedom 2 Self-Reliance
3 Equality of Opportunity 4 Equality of Competition
5 Material Wealth 6 Hard Work
(22)(23)What American mean by Individual Freedom?
• All people are free
• Church and state were separated
• Titles of nobility were forbidden
• Climate of freedom
• Emphasis on the individual
The most basic
Desire and ability of all individuals to control their own destiny
(24)Freedom in reality?
NOT always corresponded to reality •Black slavery (until Civil War)
•Religions •Race
•Sex •Age
Discrimination
– some groups, individuals are
(25)Self-Reliance
Must learn to rely on themselves
risk losing freedom, or respects of the peers
Financial and emotional independence from the parents by 18 or 21
The traditional basic Most difficult to understand
• If not truly self-reliant, they must at least appear to be so
• Receiving financial support from charity, family or government is
(26)Why should not receive help from others?
• If they rely too much on the
support of others, they may lose some of their freedom to what they want!
• Bad examples, society’s burden:
beggars, homeless
People need to take care of themselves
Self first, others come later
(27)Equality of Opportunity
• Free from excessive political,
religious and social controls
• No formal class system
B et te r c h an ce fo r p er s o n al su cc es s Attracts generations of immigrants
Life is a race for success
(28)Equality of Competition
• A person must run the race (compete with each other) in order to succeed • Begin in childhood until retirement • Encouraged by strong programs of
competitive sports Ene
rgeti
c emotional strainConstant
Duty
• May feel useless and unwanted when retired
• Compete unsuccessfully won t fit into the ’
(29)Material wealth
• Abundant natural resources
land of plenty seek the fortunes
• Raise the standard of living having a better life
• If not successful the children
would have the opportunity • “Going from rags to riches”
American Dream
True for ma
ny
(30)(31)Material Wealth
Wealth has been a widely accepted measure of social status, abilities
and success
Materialistic
(32)Hard work
• With industry-based economy, the
people believed only by hard work could their rich natural resources be converted into material
possessions
• With information-based society, many workers no longer believe that hard work necessarily bring great material rewards
Necessary
and rewardi
(33)Values: Idealism vs Reality?
• Equality of opportunity and self-reliance may not be always put into practice Some have better chance for success:
Born into rich families
Many black people have fewer
opportunities than the White
Many women have fewer opportunities
than men
Today immigrants have fewer
(34)(35)(36)(37)