Basic American Values

Historically, the United States was regarded as “theland of opportunity,” attracting immigrants from all over the world. Theopportunities they believed they would find in the new land and the experiencesthey actually had cultivated some basic American values.

Generally speaking, 6 traditional values arealways be mentioned by people. Three of them represent typical reasons whyimmigrants came to America: individual freedom, equality of opportunity, andmaterial wealth. However, in order to achieve these goals, there were prices tobe paid: self-reliance, competition, and hard work. These prices finally becamea part of the traditional values system.

a)      Individual Freedom and Self-Reliance

The earliest European settlers came to the new land to escape the control by kings and governments, priests and churches,noblemen and aristocrats. To a great extent they succeeded. The British colonial settler won the war against their mother country, showing that the power to govern would lie in hands of the people. The Constitution in 1789 limited the powers of the government and aristocracy and created a climate of freedom for individuals. These historic decisions made by those first settlers had a significant effect on shaping the American character. The United States started to be connected with the concept of individual freedom which is probably the most basic of all the American values.

Many American learn to “stand on their own two feet” at an early age. Young adults, usually by age 18 to 21, start to achieve financial and emotional independence from their parents as early as possible. We can also use the word “self-reliance” to describe it. They believe they must beself-reliant in order to keep their freedom. If people are dependent, they maylose their freedom as well as the respect of their peers. In order to be in the mainstream of American life, they have to pay their tuition fees and house loans by themselves. Although receiving financial support from family is allowed, it’s never admired.

b)     Equality of Opportunity and Competition

Because titles of nobility were forbidden in the Constitution, no formal class system developed in the United States. In the early years, many immigrants believed they had a better chance to succeed intheir new country than in the old one. Nowadays, Americans see much of life asa race for success. So when they say they believe in equality of opportunity, itmeans each individual has an equal chance to enter the race and win. It helps ensure that the race for success is a fair game and a person can’t win or losebecause of his/her background, race or religion.

After earning the chance to success, Americansalso have to face up to another issue: competition. The pressures ofcompetition in an American’s life begin in childhood and continue until retirement from work. The pressure to compete cause Americans to be energetic,but it also places a constant emotional anxiety on them. When they retire(traditionally at the age of 65), they are finally free from the pressure. Butthen a new problem arises. Many of them feel useless and unwanted in a societythat gives so much prestige to those who compete well. This may explain whyolder people in the US can’t get much honor and respect compare to otherplaces. In fact, any groups of people who don’t compete successfully may findit’s hard to fit into the mainstream of American life.

c)      Material Wealth and Hard Work

The third reason why immigrants have traditionallycome to the United States is to have a better life. Because of its abundantnatural resources, this land of plenty made many of the immigrants’ dreams cometrue. They achieved material success and became very attached to materialthings. Material wealth became a value to the American people.

Usually, we define the thoughts of placing highvalue on material possessions as materialism. This word usually sounds offensiveas it accuses people of loving merely material things and no other pursuits. Butmaterial wealth indeed has been an accepted measure of social status in the US.That is because American rejected the European system of hereditary aristocracyand titles of nobility, they had to find a substitute for judging socialstatues. So quality and quantity of individual’s material possessions just meetthe condition.

However, Americans have paid a price for theirmaterial wealth. Even though the land was rich in natural resources when thefirst settlers arrived, all these resources were undeveloped. Only by hard workcould these natural resources be converted into material possessions, allowinga more comfortable standard of living. The immigrants believe everyone in theUS has the chance to be successful, rich and happy if they work hard. This isalso the essence of the American Dream. Because of this, hard work has beenboth necessary and rewarding for most Americans throughout their history.

We have already known that the United States isa nation of immense diversity geographically, ethnically and politically.Despite the transformations in American’s life styles, these core values haveendured. And this tiny cluster of values holds Americans together as a singlepeople and nation.