Lernzettel American Dream PDF

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Impact of the American Dream - then and now / myths and reality Immigration in th the e US USA A The land of opportunity has always attracted immigrants from around the world → as a result, the population of the USA is made up of a wide variety of different races (people came in the hope of making better life for themselves in America) Symbol Symbolss of freedom for immigrants: • • • • •

New immigrants entering the United States for the first time via ship were greeted by the Statue o off Liberty. It was a symbol of the freedom they hoped to enjoy in their new country. The statue was a gift from France to celebrate 100 years of American independence. It was installed on Liberty Island, in Upper New York Bay, in 1886 Statue= stands for freedom and independence

Elli Elliss Island: • • • •

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=Symbol of the start for the immigrants => loc located ated nea nearr Liberty Isl Island and in the bay beside New York City New immigrants were taken for medical checks and the examination of their documents before they were allowed to set foot on mainland USA. It was a symbol of hope => the immigrants had finally/almost reached the end of their long journey and were about to start a new life For some, however, the experience was not very pleasant => they were detained (festgenommen) on the island if they did not pass the medical test, or for legal reasons The unlucky ones were even sent back to their country of origin.

Uncle Sam: -

He is a national personification of the United States. He is usually portrayed as an old man with white beard dressed in the stars, stripes, and colors of the American flag. From the 20th century he was used as a national figure => the< said he would greet the immigrants when they arrive He is a well-known advertising character and is associated with the American Dream.

MANI MANIF FEST DESTINY • •

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idea of the role of the US as global mediator in political conflicts The government wanted the whole country to be settled, to secure the USA´s status as a nation →They believed that God was calling on them to establish a great nation, and it was therefore their “manifest”, or clear destiny to push back the frontier, until it reached the Pacific Ocean sticks to the idea that it was America’s mission to democratize the world 1839: declared the US the “nation of the future” whose fate was “to manifest to mankind the excellence of divine principles, to establish on earth the noblest temple to the worship of the Highest – The Sacred and the True” America used this belief in its manifest destiny to justify its territorial expansion ( e.g., into Texas) as well as imperialism (in Latin America)

Impact of the American Dream - then and now / myths and reality Immigration today •

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Until the end of the 19th century there were no restrictions on immigration to the States => From the 20th century onwards, various laws and policies were introduced to control immigration= open door policy was not sustainable => number of unskilled migrants was reduced There are around 11 million undocumented, or illegal, immigrants in the US, over half of which come from Mexico. Millions of US citizens have undocumented family members => these documented immigrants could apply for a family green card, but the law states that to do so, they would have to leave the country for 10 years and then apply =>due to this, most remain in the country illegally so that they can stay with their families A large number of undocumented people have children who were born in the US => so the children are US citizens but their parents not => they could end up in foster care if their parents are sent to prison for being illegal, or are even adopted

Some politicians believe that undocumented immigrants who have lived in the US for a significant period of time and who have made their life there should be granted residency

Many others disagree => Donald Trump wanted to crack down on illegal immigration and reform the green card system => he caused to build up the Mexico-United States barrier, a border wall to reduce illegal immigration

Patriotism • o o o

Expanding its territory to the west helped to fulfil America´s destiny< of becoming the world`s greatest nation. Its citizens believe American values are the best and should b spread around the world. Donald Trump exploited patriotic feelings during his 2016 presidential campaign by pledging to “make America great again.” America is the world most patriotic country, believing their nation is the best.

Impact of the American Dream - then and now / myths and reality Politics in the USA The political system in the United States is made up of three parts: The Legislative Bran Branch ch ch, the Executi Executive ve Bra Branch, nch, and the Judicial Branch Branch. Legislative Branch→Divided in two chambers: House of Representatives:

Senate:

-435 members

-100 members

-each member represents a congressional district of about 600,000 people

-each state elects two senators Senators serve for six years

-Representatives serve for two years -All House seats are re-elected every two years

-one third of the Senate is re-elected every two years

Both chambers :have equal power, are elected directly by the citizens of the USA, must agree before a bill can become law •

Congress can make laws, to impose and collect taxes, to control trade, to print money and regulate its value, to promote science, to oversee and check the activities of the Executive Branch Executive Branch Consist of the President and Vice President of the United States and organisation of approximately four million people, including one million military staff !

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Both were elected by the Electoral College=they are not elected directly by the people → cause some uneducated citizens did not have the skilled judgement necessary for choosing a good presiden → today the votes cast in each state are collected, and then the candidate with the most votes receives all of the electors votes for that state = “majority” system President = head of state, he suggesting new laws to Congress, appoints members of the Cabinet, appoints federal judges, influences foreign policy,…

Judicial Branch→Divided in two courts State Courts:

Federal system – the Supreme Court:

-Each state has its own laws and legal

-highest court in the land, where the final

procedures – they deal with civil cases

judgements are given regarding

involving private individuals or between

constitutional and legal matters – nine

citizens and local or state governments –

judges nominate by the president – rule

each state is independent to run its own

whether certain laws or government

affairs -

policies are constitutional or not...