AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE: MAIN FEATURES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The American way of life, also called the American way, is an idealized way of life that is based on the attractiveness that the United States represents, the capacity for advancement and the exceptional qualities of its population.

It can be said that the American way of life is an interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, where it is said that all human beings were made equal and that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights by their creator: life, freedom and right to seek happiness.

This is the core of American life: the pursuit of happiness, the fulfillment of dreams and personal goals.

This way of life is characterized by being individualistic, exalting the value of "self" and dignity. Likewise, he is optimistic because he indicates that anyone has the capacity to progress.

It takes effort and hard work. It is also dynamic because it requires mobility in order to meet goals.

Definition

The best definition of the American way of life was exposed by Thomas Jefferson and is embodied in the Constitution of the United States of America.

According to Jefferson, every human being is endowed with freedom, the right to life and the right to be happy. This is the basis that sustains the behavior of Americans.

In this regard, Norman Lear (1981) pointed out that the American way is a pluralistic, individualistic ideology, characterized by freedom of thought, religion and expression, and by the faith that the future always holds better conditions.

It should be noted that you must be willing to work diligently to build this future.

Added to this, Lear indicated that the American way of life promotes an attitude of cooperation, acceptance and compassion towards others.

Constitution of the United States and the American Way of Life

The Constitution of the United States of America states that all human beings are equal and that they possess a series of rights that were given by the Creator.

These basic rights are the right to life, the right to liberty, and the right to the pursuit of happiness.

Taking these aspects into account, a way of life has been developed that proposes that any American is free to pursue and act according to what he considers happiness.

The Constitution also recognizes that human beings must fight for these rights and defend them from others who want to take them away.

8 main characteristics of the American way of life

1- Progressive

The American way of life is characterized by being progressive. This means that the human being must lead a life in which he can advance in position.

In this sense, this way of life promotes positive changes.

2- Dynamic

The American way of life is dynamic. This dynamism is related to the progressive quality of human beings: for there to be progress there must be movement.

This movement must be accompanied by a purpose. So, dynamism is translated into work and effort carried out to meet certain goals.

3- Individualist

The American way of life is individualistic, as it emphasizes activity on the part of the "I". It accentuates the person's ability to move forward.

There is talk of individualism because progress must come from the same individual, however, it does not reject the help of third parties to achieve the objectives.

Also, speaking of being an individualist does not mean that the achievements will be only for your own good.

4- Humanist

The American way of life is marked by humanism, especially by generosity, love for other people and cooperation.

This is seen in the help that United States organizations provide to other countries in time of need.

For example, when other nations have been affected by natural disasters, the United States sends batches of food and medicine to those affected.

5- Optimistic

The American way of life is said to be optimistic, as it indicates that anyone can progress and excel, no matter what condition they are in.

6- Antimaterialist

By progressing, the human being usually obtains monetary gain or recognition for good work.

However, the end of the American way of life is not the desire to earn money or fame. Such actions are materialistic and are contrary to the idea of ​​this way of life.

On the contrary, the American way of life indicates that the person must orient his actions towards service, towards cooperation and towards the common good. At this point, this characteristic relates to humanism and philanthropy.

7- Moralist

The American way of life is based on ethics and morals.

Due to these characteristics, practitioners of this way of life tend to simplify actions and classify them into two categories: black and white, good or bad.

8- Utopian

In some respects, the American way of life is utopian, idealized, and impossible to achieve.

Not all aspects are unattainable; it is the set of these elements that constitutes a utopia.

The American Dream

The American way of life is related to the American Dream (the American dream). Generally speaking, the American dream is about starting at the bottom, working hard, and working your way up to success.

The American dream not only applies to Americans, but also to people who migrate to the United States in search of better living conditions.

The American Way of Life and popular culture

Popular culture has served to convey many aspects of the American way of life. For example, the Superman comics touted him as "the defender of truth, justice, and the American way of life."

Another example of this is The Simpsons, which, while a satire on contemporary societies, promotes progress, humanism, and optimism (three of the essential characteristics of the American way of life).

References

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4. Key Elements to the American Way of Life. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from shelteringwings.org
5. The American Way of Life and Death. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from thecrimson.com
6. The American Way of Life. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from ucl.ac.uk
7. 8 Unsustainable Delusions of the American Way of Life. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from juancole.com