History Notes
core values- Ideals that forge a common culture and bind a
people together
Manufacturing Belt- Region in the American Northwest
and Great Lakes regions where manufacturing was
concentrated until the 1960s
Sunbelt Region- in the South and Southwest that
manufacturing moved to during the 1960s
Individualism- Is the belief that every individual is unique and self-reliant, often at
the expense of the group or society
Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD)- The acceptance of
the existence of God as Creator and the belief that He wants people to be
good, wants them to be happy, is available if needed but is not involved
in our daily lives, and takes good people to heaven upon death.
Top 3 Major Religions in the USA- Prostants at 46.5%, Roman Catholic at 20.8%, and Jewish at 1.9%, but 22.8% are unaffiliated
Evangelicalism- the belief in justification by faith alone, salvation
through Christ alone, and the final authority of Scripture.
Mormonism- A made-in-America religion, founded by Joseph Smith in New York in 1830. Smith claimed to have been visited by an angel named Moroni, who revealed that all churches of the time were false. It claims that the Bible has been corrupted, has errors, and is missing some passages. It says that everybody will be saved by grace alone.
Free Enterprise Capitalism- A system in which
private individuals own most of the factors of production and make
most of the economic decisions.
Declaration of Independence- Ideas centered on the right of the people to govern themselves
US Constitution- This Means the Law of the land, but just applies to the US.
Describe the US form of government. : The American government functions as a federal republic, which means the majority of the power goes to the people. The people have voting rights to make decisions and the right to elect who they want as their representatives.
How would you describe America’s economic health?- America runs on the free enterprise capitalism system. This means that the people can run their own companies/businesses and have their own say in the industry and economy without government interference. Although the nation might be making a lot of money, the national debt is still a problem, but the American economy is healthy otherwise.
What percentage of Americans live outside urban areas?- About 17.3% of Americans live outside urban areas.
How do demographers predict the population of the United
States will change by 2050?- They predict that more than half of the population will consist of mainly minorities.
How has America changed over time?- Previously the US birth rate was 12.6 and the average life expectancy was 80.1 years. With new discoveries in technology and medicine, it is predicted that by 2050 the number of Americans that are 65 and older will double.
What are the four core values that traditionally bind
Americans together?- Liberty, equality, individualism, and growth
How do many Americans define freedom or liberty? How
does that view differ from the Puritan concept of liberty?- Many Americans view liberty as freedom from the law and freedom to do whatever one wants. On the other hand, the Puritans viewed liberty as a way to be free to submit to Christ and his law.
Does equality of opportunity guarantee that all Americans
will have an equal amount of the nation’s wealth or an
equality of outcome? Why?- Equality of opportunity does not guarantee equality in wealth or income. If people want equality they should also get equal labor. Those who get a higher income work for what they have. It wouldn’t be considered equality for those who work way more than others and still be the same pay.
Why do Americans disagree about which kinds of equality
are good or bad? - Some Americans claim that there should be equality in wages, while some argue that if there is equality in wages there should also be equality in the effort put into getting those wages. In a free society, it is a given that some people will work harder and naturally get the pay that they deserve.