Why do people want to come to America? Ideology Capitalism Democracy American Dream

1. Explain, in detail, the reasons why people would want to come to live in a world power you have studied. Explain, in detail, the positive/negative impact a world power you have studied has had on other countries.

2. Whydo people want to come to America? • Ideology • Capitalism • Democracy • American Dream • Push/Pull Factors • The impact of USA on the rest of the world • Economic – Credit Crunch • Security – The Worlds Policeman

3. Ideology. • Is the set of ideas that determine how a country is run. • In the United States there are three basic elements to its ideology: • Capitalism, • Democracy and the • American Dream

4. Capitalism • Capitalism is an economic system where individuals have the right to make as much money as they can for themselves: (e.g. Bill Gates and Microsoft) • Encourages individuals to use their skills and talents to earn a living. • They can set up businesses, employ others and make profits. • Profits can be used in whatever way they want - to reinvest in their business or to award themselves higher salaries. • This is also known as free, or private, enterprise.

5. Capitalism • Competition between businesses. • Consumers (customers)freedom of choice in the goods and services they want. • Less government involvement. • Low taxes to encourage people to pay for their own health care and education.

6. Democracy • Americans are very proud of fact that their country is a representative democracy. • The people elect their representatives to make laws. • Americans are free to vote and have a choice of political parties to choose from. • They can stand as candidates in elections. • Elections must be held regularly.

7. The American Dream the notion that the American social, economic, and political system makes success possible for every individual • The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom includes • Opportunity to achieve prosperity through hard work • Opportunity for one's children to grow up and receive a good education and career. • Opportunity to make individual choices without restrictions according to their class, religion, race, or ethnicity.

9. Pull Factors • Pull factors are what make the USA attractive to new immigrants. • The USA offers immigrants more jobs and higher wages than in their own country. • They can send money home to their families, improve their lives and give their children a better future. • Have religious freedom - the government cannot force them to follow a religion they do not believe in. • Freedom of expression – they cannot be forced to think and speak only in ways the government likes and they cannot be told who to vote for.

10. Push Factors • Push factors are what make people leave their own country. • Poverty, war, high unemployment or corrupt government may make people want to seek a better life elsewhere. • For example, many people living in Mexico suffer from high unemployment and low wages, so it is difficult for families to achieve a high standard of living. • Other people have left their country for political reasons – for example, in the past people have come to the USA from Vietnam or China because of the spread of communism.

11. America’s impact • Economic impact – America generates huge amounts of wealth around the world • Cultural impact – Western culture is often heavily influenced by the USA, from the movies we watch to the music we listen to and the clothes we wear • Security – America is often called ‘The World’s Policeman’ as it gets involved in the affairs of other countries in order to protect itself

12. Economic Impact • It’s the world’s largest importer of goods – this makes others lots of money. For example– In November 2013 USA imported $230million in goods and services • Its major companies are multi-national – this means they create jobs and wealth in countries around the world for example– McDonalds (1.7 million employees in 118 countries), Starbucks, Microsoft, Apple etc

13. Its not all good news. The US were largely (although not solely) held responsible for the credit crunch in 2008 from which the world is still recovering from. • Banks sold mortgages to many people who could not afford them. • They then sold these toxic debts onto other banks and companies worldwide. • When interest rates increased people couldn’t repay their debts. • House prices fell (negative equity). • Banks like RBS lost fortunes.

14. The Credit Crunch • What is Debt? • Debt has helped fuel our economy for the past thirty years. We buy things with debt, from houses to a ticket to the theatre • Also before you read the note, watch the short video clip which will give you an introduction to why the credit crunch occurred

15. America – The Worlds Policeman

16. The World’s Policeman – Is this always wanted? • Watch the video clip which is a critique of America’s policy of getting involved in the business of other countries • America is still criticised for (amongst other things): 1) Carrying out drone attacks in countries like Pakistan and Yemen, which continue to kill civilians along with terror suspects 2) Carrying out surveillance on people around the world (and in their own country) including their allies

17. The War on Terror • In 2001, America came under attack. Around 3,000 people were murdered in New York, Washington D.C, and Pennsylvania. • In response, American launched a War on Terror, as can be seen in this speech by George W Bush in 2001 • The ‘War on Terror’ terminology is no longer used by the US, but it doesn’t mean it has stopped

18. Explain, in detail, the reasons why people would want to come to live in a world power you have studied. Explain, in detail, the positive/negative impact a world power you have studied has had on other countries.