VALUES AND SKILLS IMPORTANT TO SURVIVAL ON THE FRONTIER
• Emphasis on self- reliance and hard work;
• Practical knowledge and skills;
• Physical strength and good health;
VALUES AND SKILLS IMPORTANT TO SURVIVAL ON THE FRONTIER
• Willingness to experiment and improvise with new ways to do things;
• Optimistic belief in themselves and the future; and
• Willingness to take risks to build a better future.
VALUES AND SKILLS IMPORTANT TO SURVIVAL ON THE FRONTIER
EMPHASIS ON SELF-RELIANCE AND HARDWORK
• Being isolated required
individuals and families to take care of themselves and survival depended on hard work.
EMPHASIS ON SELF-RELIANCE AND HARDWORK
• Hard work continues to
be a strong American value. Americans work long hours, take short vacations, and believe
that hard work should be rewarded.
EMPHASIS ON SELF-RELIANCE AND HARDWORK
• Self-reliance continues to be important. Young Americans want to be independent as soon as possible; all Americans value being able to
take care of themselves and do not want to be dependent on others.
EMPHASIS ON SELF-RELIANCE AND HARDWORK
• Republicans believe that this means small and limited government;
• Democrats believe that the government should help those who cannot help
themselves and that the government should help guarantee that everyone has an
opportunity to succeed.
EMPHASIS ON SELF-RELIANCE AND HARDWORK
PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
• Survival on the frontier depended on individual knowledge and skills.
• However, growing wealth and the need for
specialization in the work place has reduced the
need for such knowledge and skills for survival.
PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
• Nevertheless, Americans continue to value practical knowledge and skills.
• This is reflected in the growth of hobbies, self- improvement programs, and the growth of evening classes and community
colleges.
PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
• Political support is reflected by support for education at all levels.
PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND HEALTH
• Without physical
strength, endurance,
and good health people on the frontier could
not defend themselves and complete all the tasks needed for
survival.
PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND HEALTH
• The emphasis on physical strength
continues in the popular culture with our
admiration of sports
heroes and movie stars who portray these
characteristics.
PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND HEALTH
• This value is reflected by the broad interest in participation in sports, exercise, and outdoor physical activities.
PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND HEALTH
• In President Obama’s new health care law there is an emphasis on prevention and
wellness; Republicans oppose the law and are trying to repeal it.
PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND HEALTH
WILLINGNESS TO EXPERIMENT, TAKE RISKS, AND BEING OPTIMISTIC
• All of these characteristics were necessary to survive on the frontier and continue to be a part of the American culture.
WILLINGNESS TO EXPERIMENT, TAKE RISKS, AND BEING OPTIMISTIC
• The value of “getting it done” is reflected in
the American interest in experimenting; if one approach does not work try something else.
WILLINGNESS TO EXPERIMENT, TAKE RISKS, AND BEING OPTIMISTIC
• President Kennedy defined space as “the last frontier” and
challenged the U.S. in 1961 to go to the
moon within 10 years.
Americans were
optimistic that it could be done.
WILLINGNESS TO EXPERIMENT, TAKE RISKS, AND BEING OPTIMISTIC
• Technology remains an exciting frontier.
• Americans always elect the candidate for
President who shows the most optimism about the future.
WILLINGNESS TO EXPERIMENT, TAKE RISKS, AND BEING OPTIMISTIC
