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