Chapter 2: Traditional American Values And Beliefs

Question 1

Constitution

Answer 1

A set of basic laws and principles that a democratic country is governed by

Question 2

Ethical

Answer 2

Relating to principles of what is right and wrong

Question 3

Welfare

Answer 3

Money paid by the government to people who are very poor, sick, not working, etc

Question 4

Why would the constitution of a country forbid titles of nobility?

Answer 4

To avoid class system

Question 5

If there are no titles of nobility, how does a society recognize people with high social status?

Answer 5

Wealth, connection, cloths

Question 6

Which do you think is more important to Americans, the well-being of the group or the individual?

Answer 6

Independent and self reliance

Question 7

Some natural resources found on the North American continent

Answer 7

Coal, gold, silver, bauxite, iron

Question 8

Early settlers came to the North American continent and established colonies mainly of kings, priests, and noblemen

Answer 8

The power of kings, priests, and noblemen.

Question 9

There are no titles of nobility in the US today because

Answer 9

They are forbidden by the Constitution

Question 10

The American belief in equality of opportunity means that

Answer 10

Everyone should have an equal chance to succeed

Question 11

In the US, learning to compete successfully is

Answer 11

Part of growing

Question 12

Americans see their material possessions as

Answer 12

The natural reward for their hard work

Question 13

A belief in the value of hard work developed because

Answer 13

It was necessary to work hard to convert natural resources into material goods

Question 14

In reality, such American ideals as equality of opportunity and self-reliance

Answer 14

Are only partly carried out in real life, but are still important becuz people believe in them

Question 15

What three types of freedoms were the early settlers seeking

Answer 15

• kings and governments
• priests and churches
• noblemen and aristocrats

Question 16

In 1776

Answer 16

Declaration of Independence

Question 17

In what year was the Constitution of the US written

Answer 17

1787

Question 18

What do Americans mean by the word freedom

Answer 18

Desire and right of all individuals to control their own destiny without government interference

Question 19

Why didn’t a hereditary aristocracy develop in the US?

Answer 19

Forbidden by the Constitution

Question 20

Who was James Madison and what did he say in the late 1700s?

Answer 20

Father of the American Constitution

Differences in material possessions reflect differences in personal abilities

Question 21

Who said, “We… wish to allow the humblest man an equal chance to get rich with everybody else”?

Answer 21

Abraham Lincoln

Question 22

Accumulate

Answer 22

To gradually get more and more money, possessions, or knowledge over a period of time

Question 23

Diminish

Answer 23

To become smaller and less important

Question 24

Ethnic

Answer 24

A general idea or set of moral beliefs that influences people’s behavior and attitudes

Question 25

Promote

Answer 25

To help someone or something advance and be successful

Question 26

In 1776, the British colonial settlers declared their independence from England and established a new nation, the US of America. In so doing, they *defied* the King of England and declared that the power to govern would lie in hands of the people

Answer 26

The openly resisted the king’s power to govern them

Question 27

By freedom, Americans mean the desire and the right of all individuals to control their own *destiny* without outside interference from the government, a ruling class, the church, or any other organized authority.

Answer 27

They wanted to control their own future lives

Question 28

To say that a person is *materialistic* is an insult. To an American, this means that this person values material possessions above all else.

Answer 28

The person loves things

Question 29

John Kenneth White observes that in spite of all the changes in the nation’s population, economy, and culture, the behaviors and values of Americans have remained remarkably *constant*

Answer 29

The behaviors and values have stayed the same