The American Dream by Jim Cullen Intro and Chapter 1

NameCourse InstructorDate The American Dream by Jim Cullen Intro and Chapter 1 Question #1) According to Cullen, what is different about the National Identity of the United States compared to other countries? Be specific about what says are the typical ways other countries develop a national identity and why that differs from the U.S. (The answer must be in at least 180 words minimum) Cullen points out that the American Dream is an important element of national identity. The American Dream is enshrined in the US motto and is evoked by politicians, workers, the mass media and entrepreneurs. In the US the belief that one can be anything they want and pursue opportunities to achieve their desires reflects the American Dream. At the same time, Americans define themselves by expressing the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, which guarantee the rights and freedoms to every person regardless of their background. There are various ways through which other countries have developed a national identity, including geography, religion, kinship, language, and shared history. For the US, the American Dream is an instrument of national identity that has evolved meaning over time, but the pursuit of freedom and democracy remains important all times. There is emphasis on explicit allegiance to the US Constitution and defending the American identity requires supporting and respecting the ideal that all men are created equal. Thus, liberty, equality, democracy, freedom, America Dream, the Declaration of Independence, the US flag and the US Constitution are all part of the American identity. Question #2) Cullen writes, "This faith in reform became the central legacy of American Protestantism and the cornerstone of what became the American Dream" (15). What is the reform he is referring to and what does it have to do with the American Dream? ( In Protestantism, there is a be...