The American Way of Life: behind these few words lies an expression that is inextricably linked to the very image we have of the land of Uncle Sam. Because your language study trip to the U.S. with us is just around the corner—or has just come to an end— LEC takes a moment to reflect on this American way of life.
An expression that originated in the 1950s
The "American Way of Life" is the commonly accepted term used to describe a national ethos unique to the United States. Originating in the 1950s, this American way of life—for that is its exact translation into the language of Molière—has since taken a large part of the world by storm.
The Pursuit of Happiness
The American Way of Life is based—as you will surely have the opportunity to see during a language study trip to the U.S.—on two fundamental values: abundance and ease. Its origins lie in the very pillars of American identity: the country with the highest GDP in the world was the first to enshrine the “pursuit of happiness” as an inalienable right of all people in its Declaration of Independence, as early as 1776.
A culture of self-made men
In the collective imagination, the “American Way of Life” is synonymous with equal opportunity. For many, the land of Uncle Sam remains the nation of endless possibilities, the home ofthelegendary“American Dream.” There, more than anywhere else, those who started with nothing can reach the highest heights: among these sacrosanct self-made men, John Rockefeller readily comes to mind.
Cars, Coca-Cola, and hamburgers
Today, the American Way of Life is still embodied by powerful symbols, cherished by some and despised by others: the car, the hamburger, Coca-Cola, and even chewing gum. All of these are cult objects you’ll encounter during your language study trip to the U.S.—and elsewhere in the world—and that is the greatest achievement of this country that nothing can stop.