American Dream

& A legend

--- Lecture I

American Dream

The Beginning of the Country Mayflower

In December 1620, with snow already flying, Mayflower dropped anchor off Cape Cod. Fifty men, twenty women and thirty-four children driven from England finally came to the new land where they could enjoy their religious freedom to the full.

Basic American BeliefsBasic American Beliefs

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that alWe hold these truths to be self-evident, that al

l men are created equal, that they are endowed l men are created equal, that they are endowed

(( 赋予）赋予） by Creator with certain inalienableby Creator with certain inalienable

（不可剥夺的）（不可剥夺的） rights, that among these are Lifrights, that among these are Lif

e, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.e, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

---The Declaration of Independence

Chinese VersionChinese Version

我们认为下面所说的都是极明显的真理我们认为下面所说的都是极明显的真理 ::

所有的人生而平等所有的人生而平等 ,, 造物者赋予他们若干造物者赋予他们若干不可剥夺的权利不可剥夺的权利 , , 其中包括生命、自由和其中包括生命、自由和对幸福的追求。 对幸福的追求。

------ 《独立宣言》《独立宣言》

Six Basic BeliefsSix Basic Beliefs

1.1. individual freedom individual freedom

2. self-reliance2. self-reliance

3. equality of opportunity 3. equality of opportunity

4. competition4. competition

5. 5. material wealth material wealth

6. hard work6. hard work

What is What is American DreamAmerican Dream??

What Is American What Is American DreamDream

★ ( Improving financial situation)

1. getting out of poverty

2. getting good education for kids

3. opening one’s own business

4. getting very rich

★ ( Improving social status)

5. living upper-class lives

6. becoming a senator or something

7. becoming the President

The Great Depression

---From Prosperity to Poverty

America began the year 1929 flushed with optimism. Business had never been better; the stock market continued to climb; and easy credit helped a free flow of goods, jobs, and money. It seemed that America had found the secret of prolonged prosperity. By autumn, however, clouds appeared unexpectedly. The Wall Street stock market crash on Oct. 21, 1929 resulted in the Great Depression, the worst economic downturn in the Unites States.

America’s RetreatAmerica’s Retreat

• After WWI USA failed to join the League After WWI USA failed to join the League of Nations;of Nations;

• Raised tariffs on European imports;Raised tariffs on European imports;

• Restricted European immigration for the Restricted European immigration for the first time. Quotas already existed for Asian first time. Quotas already existed for Asian migration but European immigration had migration but European immigration had been uncapped.been uncapped.

Prosperity: The Roaring Prosperity: The Roaring 1920s1920s• Mass production developed as business Mass production developed as business strategy to increase output and reduce strategy to increase output and reduce dependence on skilled labor.dependence on skilled labor.

• Mass consumption: New home appliances Mass consumption: New home appliances flooded the market, often offered on credit. flooded the market, often offered on credit. Washing machines, refrigerators, stoves, Washing machines, refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers and irons offered people an dishwashers and irons offered people an irresistible chance to change their lives.irresistible chance to change their lives.

Prelude to a NightmarePrelude to a Nightmare

•As America prospered the gap between rich As America prospered the gap between rich and poor widened.and poor widened.

•Prices on goods rose but wages did not. Prices on goods rose but wages did not. Demand for goods fell, workers were laid off Demand for goods fell, workers were laid off and the downward spiral continued.and the downward spiral continued.

•The economy began to slow by 1928.The economy began to slow by 1928.

Prelude to a NightmarePrelude to a Nightmare

• Fierce speculation in the 1920’s had lifted Fierce speculation in the 1920’s had lifted the stock market to unrealistic heights.the stock market to unrealistic heights.

• Investors borrowed large sums of money on Investors borrowed large sums of money on margin, i.e., without collateral. margin, i.e., without collateral.

• When large numbers of investors began to When large numbers of investors began to sell, believing that stock prices were inflated, sell, believing that stock prices were inflated, loans were called due. Everybody sold and loans were called due. Everybody sold and stocks plummeted.stocks plummeted.

DepressionDepression

• Massive Bank FailuresMassive Bank Failures

• Deflation (Disaster for those in debt - Deflation (Disaster for those in debt - especially farmers)especially farmers)

• Massive unemploymentMassive unemployment

• Drought - Dust Storms.Drought - Dust Storms.

• The trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange just after the crash of 1929. On Black Tuesday, October twenty-ninth, the market collapsed. In a single day, sixteen million shares were traded----and thirty billion dollars vanished （ disappear ） into thin air. The "Era of Getting Rich Quick" was over. Jack Dempsey, America's first millionaire athlete, lost $3 million. Cynical (suspecting and questioning) New York hotel clerks asked incoming guests, "You want a room for sleeping or jumping?"

I saw and approached the hungry and desperate (feeling that one has no hope and is ready to do anything to change the bad situation one is in) mother, as if drawn by a magnet. I do not remember how I explained my presence or my camera to her, but I do remember she asked me no questions. I made five exposures, working closer and closer from the same direction. I did not ask her name or her history. She told me her age, that she was thirty-two. She said that they had been living on frozen vegetables from the surrounding fields, and birds that the children killed. She had just sold the tires from her car to buy food.

There she sat in that lean- to tent with her children huddled around her, and seemed to know that my pictures might help her, and so she helped me. There was a sort of equality about it.

Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother," destitute (without money, food, a home or possessions) in a pea picker's camp, because of the failure of the early pea crop. These people had just sold their tent in order to buy food. Most of the 2,500 people in this camp were destitute. By the end of the decade there were still 4 million migrants on the road.

Police Guard the Banks

Unemployment Line

They used to tell me I was building a dream.And so I followed the mob.When there was earth to plow or guns to bearI was always there right on the job.

They used to tell me I was building a dreamWith peace and glory ahead.Why should I be standing in lineJust waiting for bread?

Once I built a railroad, I made it runMade it race against time.Once I built a railroad and now it's doneBrother, can you spare a dime?

Once I built a tower way up to the sunWith bricks and mortar and limeOnce I built a railroad and now it's doneBrother, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swellFull of that yankee doodle dee dum.Half a million boots went sloggin' through hellAnd I was the kid with the drum!

Say don't you remember? You called me Al.It was Al all the time.Why don't you remember? I was your pal.Buddy, can you spare a dime?

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Jobs Bureau, L.A.

The Story of Perseverance

• The Great Depression• The Retreat of national economy• The three misplaced men• The misevaluated horse• The unfailing perseverance

Once the owner of a bicycle shop, Charles Howard became the most successful Buick dealer in the West.

But cars that brought him success and fortune ended up stealing the thing he loved most.

A cowboy ， Tom Smith has great insights in horse-raising and horse training.

In love with riding, He seemed obsolete and a walking relic in the New World.

Born in a previously lively and prosperous family, he was not spared during the harsh time of the country. Beaten down and determined, Johnny learned to look out for himself and to trust no one.

Considered as a lazy, under-weighted and untalented loser, Seabiscuit was beaten up and down and had became stubborn and reckless and he was on his way to be discarded.

This is a famous horse, which was seabiscuit’s rival in the famous match race.

The match race became much more than a competition between two champion animals and their riders --- it grew into a contest of two worlds: the east coast establishment of bankers and their beautiful horses versus a nation of downtrodden but spirited have-nots who championed a ragtag team of three displaced men and their unlikely challenger.

Red’s friend and fellow jockey, who rode Seabiscuit after Red’s injury. He was called “Iceman”.

Charles’ second wife and she was the one who started Charles’ interest in horse-riding and horse-racing.

New Words

★ jockey

★ breeze

★ hole

★ border town

★ break

★ lead pony

骑师试骑（马）突破的机会边城冲刺头马

New Words

★ extra

★ colt

★ furlong

★ cart horse

★ draw

马驹，小公马

号外

拉车的马

平手，平局

弗隆，赛马中的长度单位， 220 码或 201 公尺