Kommunikationsprüfung
USA - still the
USA
American Dream
Definition: The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where
they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version
of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for everyone. The
American Dream is achieved by sacrifice, risk-taking and hard work not by
chance.
-> basic idea: It doesn’t matter where you come from, the main thing is that you
can achieve anything when you work hard. That means your race, class, gender
or nationality can’t prevent you from living the American Dream.
-> the term American Dream was first used by James Truslow Adams who
described it as "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer
and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or
achievement.” (a nation with unlimited opportunities)
Interpretation:
- personal dream: reach and preserve personal aims such as family, property,
freedom, happiness, health but also materialistic wishes for self-fulfilment
- economic dream: prosperity and success, newness, desire to get continually
better
- social dream: equality and opportunity, classless society, belief in the melting
pot (multicultural society)
- political dream: democracy and justice, basic human rights
Is the American Dream still alive? American Dream or Nightmare?
promised land in 2022?
Pro:
- people can still achieve their goals if they work hard
-> success stories: Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mark
Zuckerberg, Barack Obama (first black president)
Oprah Winfrey is a good example for a success story because she pursued her
American Dream despite her humble background. She was an orphan who was
raised by her grandmother in poverty. Her story is really one of going from rags
to riches.
Arnold Schwarzenegger achieved his American Dream because he had a
successful career and is a famous politician.
- free education for everyone
- it’s about equality of opportunities not equality of rich and poor
-> equal opportunities still don’t mean that everybody will succeed because you
have your own responsibility and self-reliance
- endless opportunities
- pursuit of happiness (many immigrants came to the USA to have a better life
and future)
- independence (right to wear arms/weapons -> second amendment)
- freedom (freedom of speech)
- equality (equality of opportunity)
- co-existence of many different cultures (melting pot, salad bowl)
- daily immigrants and many people show that the American Dream exists
- American Dream is no promise of success because it depends on effort and
hard work
Contra:
- the thousand who don’t succeed go unnoticed
- not only work matters but also luck and destiny -> Rihanna
- if incapable of working hard (e.g. handicapped/inherent disabilities) you will
not receive as much financial help as you would in Europe
- high quality schools/universities are expensive -> the rich become richer and
the poor stay poor
- limited chances to climb the career ladder when there are not enough well-
paid-jobs
- many ethnic minorities get paid less -> Afro- Americans have a lower median
income than e.g. Asians
- deportation of immigrants (they have to go back to their old land -> border
control)
- many immigrants are separated from their families and are punished an
arrested
- public shootings/much gang violence -> ongoing debate about gun control
- gap between rich and poor (same opportunities but often depends on money)
- is more a dream for people who live in the upper class
- most will not reach their dreams and other reach it but with the risk that you
can lose everything quickly
- not only success stories but failures; limited social mobility in the US
- social inequality; reason: education
- permanent financial risk, worse social insurance
→ The definition and the achievement of the American Dream can’t be
generalized but must be individualized
Critic:
- only accessible to a minority
- lack of social mobility
- not everybody has the same chances (discrimination)
- American Dream makes it look like all poor and needy are self-responsible for
their situation
Barriers:
- Inequality between men and women or blacks and whites
- Racism and discrimination
- Poverty trap -> poor education, poor healthcare, unemployment or disability
- Economic crisis
-> American Dream is still achievable but not everybody has the same
opportunities to become successful
Phrases:
The American Dream is something that most citizens of America want to achieve
in their lives. The dream may include to have a safe country or to find your place
in life but your own American Dream can be different or similar.
Question: Many Americans want to live the Dream but is the American Dream
today still attainable or has the dream been lost or even turned into a
nightmare?
The Declaration of Independence from 1776, created by Thomas Jefferson and
four other Founding Fathers shows the important things like natural rights,
pursuit of happiness, consent of governed people and the unalienable rights.
In the past they didn’t have all the opportunities we have today, mostly because
they were divided in classes that can’t be changed. In contrast to 1931 a social
progress is clearly recognizable because there is more equality than to this time.
Furthermore today America is also much safer from crime and government
protection. Additionally, the educational system is more extensive which is
beneficial for the realization of ones “American Dream”.
Most people think the pursuit of happiness is possible in America, for example
many immigrants came to the USA to have a better life and future.
The American Dream can turn into a nightmare because it’s more a dream for
people who live in an upper income household than for once who get lowed
paid. That’s the reason why it’s almost impossible for poor people to live their
dream because they have to add money.
Some people believe that the American Dream is unattainable because they
suffer from poverty, oppression and discrimination regarding their race, colour,
religion and gender among others.
American Dream over time:
- 19th century: conquering and owning your own land, people were happy with
everything they had because they knew that they made a great future for their
children and everything is alright
- 20th century: homeownership and starting a family -> pursuit of happiness,
people became more materialistic over the time
- nowadays: material dream, people save less money and buy more stuff for
themselves, don´t save money for their children or they don´t even have
children
The American Dream today:
- nowadays: very critical and negative view of the American Dream
- many values are not reflected
- “hard work will pay off/social standard is changeable”: huge gap between rich
and poor, different social classes, no welfare system
- “heritage is irrelevant”: racism is directed against the black population (Black
Lives Matter)
- “education is the key to success”: costs of higher education leave many no
choice but to stay where they are
- the American Dream is projected mainly on material prosperity -> main idea
has changed , mindset is consistent
Historical background:
- America is built on immigration
- after Columbus had discovered America in 1492, the first settlers came to the
first colony Jamestown (Virginia), most people from British Isles, Spain, France
and Holland because they were poor and were looking for work and land
- 1620: Pilgrim Fathers, members of the English Separatist Church (a radical
faction of Puritanism) fled from Great Britain to escape religious persecution,
political oppression and poverty at home
- they sailed across the Atlantic on the Mayflower and found the second
permanent colony, the Plymouth Colony (Massachusetts)
- many others were also sent there for criminal offences and other were given
land there
- many Native Americans lived in America before the pilgrims arrived -> instead
of integrating in the Native’s culture, they stole their land and started to kill
thousands of them -> the Pilgrim Fathers formed a society based on bloody
fights
- they had permission as God’s chosen ones: Americans have the right to guide
the whole world and to overspread it completely
- “e pluribus unum”: people from many colonies, states or ancestries came to
America, lived their together and became a unity
- problem: “no taxation without representation” (only the parliament can charge
taxes)
-> solution: Declaration of Independence:
- the basic democratic idea and the American Dream were summarized in the
Declaration of Independence
- a document created by Thomas Jefferson and 4 other Founding-Fathers
(Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, John Adams and Roger Sherman)
- was published on July 4, 1776
- the Americans were no longer under British rule
- it declared the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain
-> purpose to announce and explain separation from Great Britain
- important phrases: pursuit of happiness (trying to find joy and contentment),
consent of governed (people agree to be governed), unalienable rights (rights
that can’t be taken away like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness)
- “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that
they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among
these, are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
- possibility to pursue your own dream and happiness under an equal and fair
democracy - America gets more attractive to people who hoped for a better life
- 4 parts: Preamble, Declaration of natural rights (government is there to protect
the rights of the people - life, liberty and property), list of grievances, Resolution
of independence
Details:
- proclaims that all men are created equal (not black slaves, woman at first)
- proclaims that their creator gives them rights that can’t be taken away -> rights
to life, freedom (liberty) and pursuit of happiness (poverty/wealth) –
unalienable rights
- proclaims the governments are created to protect these rights
- proclaims that governments have power only if the people they are governing
agree they do
Context of the “Old World”:
Society was separated into different classes:
- King (GB): monarch, powerful, rich (luxurious life), money was important ->
rich people do politics for rich people
- society (GB): upper, middle and lower class -> expensive events, poor people
had to keep up, reality different lifestyle, no movement between classes
-> Declaration of Independence gave hope (especially for lower classes) -> first
American Dream created (lower class often didn't have the money to leave)
-> America as the “New World”: no class system, everyone could live freely
Bill of Rights:
- first ten amendments to the American Constitution
- written because some delegates feared that the new American government
would threaten the main ideas of the Declaration of Independence
- guarantee inalienable rights like freedom of religion, freedom of speech etc. +
right to bear arms (2nd amendment)
The American Frontier (a myth):
- border between the populated country of the European settler (civilization)
and uninhabited land (wilderness)
- the advancing border that marked those lands that were settled by Europeans
- characterized by the West Expansion of European settlers from their original
settlements on the Atlantic coast (17th century) to the Far West (19th century)
- white settlers poured into the territories of the Native Americans and had the
ambition to push this boarder further west
- rough living conditions, dangerous: unknown areas, furious Native Americans
- the more people arrived, the more land was needed -> they turned wilderness
into urbanized, civilized society
- lines of frontier in history: Frontier Spirit in the past:

-> First Frontier: old Britain colonies, people took the first step of becoming an - feeling of unlimited opportunities (self-reliance/Individualism, Optimism,
American by the continent Simplicity, pursuit of happiness, ethnic background did not matter (in the most
cases), equality, social mobility, prosperity for (almost) all
-> Second Frontier: reached deep into the inland, new states were founded
- self-image of brave people conquering the Wild West
-> Third Frontier: complete Extension until the Pacific Ocean, first come-first-
served ideology - success depended on how much effort you put into your work -> Californian
“Gold rush”
- Frontier Spirit:
Influence on the modern society:
-> formed by the simple life at the Frontier
- widespread optimism and urge for freedom
-> new beginnings brought complete life changes
- unleashed Capitalism -> do not want the state of interfere
-> spirit that everything is possible (living a complete free life in every way)
- pioneer spirit of immigrants (willingness to endure hardship in order to explore
European colonization:
new places or try out new things) pouring into the country -> lack of opportunity
- 1492: Christopher Columbus reached North America in the “old country”

- 1607: predominantly English people went to Virginia interested in gold and
adventure -> West Expansion started
- 1621: Puritans and Pilgrims came interested in establishing a better society
West Expansion:
- basis of the “American Way” and the “American Dream”
- birthplace of western democracy
but: waste of natural resources, fierce competition and greed, widespread
injustice -> state does little to improve the situation, almost no welfare state

Ambiguity of belonging:
1776: Declaration of population growth -> 1803: Lousiana
started to prosper
Independence Immigration Purchase - independent national identity was formed (Wild West experience,
independent from European culture, equality, freedom, democracy and
optimism)
expansion of the admission of the last
transport system Gold Rush 1848/49 in few western territories
- Americans identify with these values and lifestyle and Frontier spirit deeply
Homestead Act 1862
(railway, river California -> End of the Expansion rooted in the American society
navigation) (1890)

- frightening to see that the USA´s commitment to democracy and freedoms

only applies to its own people, they don’t mind depriving other peoples of these
-> the frontier and people moved more and more forward into the west because
very freedom
of different reasons: Manifest Destiny, Louisiana Purchase, Gold Rush, Oregon
Trail -
Manifest Destiny (God-given-mission)
- definition: the idea that white Americans were divinely ordained to settle the
entire continent of North America -> belief in superiority of white people
- were convinced that they were destined by God to conquer North America
- was coined by the American journalist John L. O’Sullivan in 1839
- stands for the belief that America has been chosen by God to:
-> expand from east coast to west coast (from Atlantic to Pacific Ocean), spread
democracy, American belief and western way of living across the globe
- America = a country that is superior to all other countries as it being the
“promised land”
- “I’m proud to be American” -> strong national pride because they see
themselves as the chosen people
Beliefs and values:
- freedom: everyone can participate, individual freedom, no oppression
- equality: no class distinctions, equality in court
- individualism: idealization of the independent individual
- mobility/flexibility/optimism: social mobility (upward and downward) on the
“ladder of success”
- hard work: heritage is not important if you work hard, key to prosperity
- education and self-improvement: education is the key to individuals realizing
their full economic, social and personal potential
- progress: desire to progress personally by making use of opportunities
- patriotism: patriotic symbols e.g. national holiday (Thanksgiving), a lot of flags
-> main American/ national values: freedom of the individual, self-reliance, self-
discipline, self-sufficiency
National Symbols: are used to represent what is unique about the nation,
reflecting different aspects of its cultural/political life and history
Freedom: The Statue of Liberty
- given to the USA as a gift from France in 1886, to celebrate the first 100 years
of American independence from Britain
- shows Libertas, the Roman goddess of Freedom
- located in New York Harbor
- national monument since 1994, called “Lady Liberty”
- millions of immigrants in the 19th century saw Lady Liberty as first sight
when they arrived in America by sea
- a robed woman holding a lit torch in her right and tablet in her left hand,
showing the date of the Declaration of Independence
- symbolizes enlightenment, independence, liberty and freedom
- torch: symbol of enlightenment -> it lights the way to freedom showing us the
path to liberty
- crown: contains 25 windows that symbolize gemstones and heaven’s rays
shining outward to the world
- tablet: represents the book of law and features the date America declared
independence from Britain (Declaration of Independence)
- robe: wears a stola and palla (gown and cloak) which are common in depiction
of Roman goddess of liberty
- foot/feet: has a broken chain at the feet to remind oppression and slavery
-> liberty: the state of being free from excessive restrictions placed on one's life
by a governing power
-> freedom: the state of not being prisoner or a slave; the power or right to act,
speak
The New Colossus:
- sonnet from Emma Lazarus
- was chosen to be inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty and it remains
a most moving and eloquent expression of an American ideal: “Give me your
tired, your poor”
- first quatrain: contrast to the colossus of Rhode
- second quatrain: welcomes people; symbol of hope
- 2 tercets: appeal to the old world to let poor, homeless people come to the
new world; offers opportunities (“heaven on earth” -> golden door)
-> America as a sanctuary or refuge for immigrants
- symbols: “lighthouse” = guidance; orientation for ships; power, “mother of
exiles” = protects people; cares about them; offers shelter, home and family,
“torch and flame” = freedom and hope; promise for the future -> the statue of
liberty stands for America’s promise of hope; universal message
The Star-Spangled Banner:
- nation anthem written by Francis Scott Key as a poem in 1814 after he
witnessed the British Navy bombarding the ships during the battle of Fort
McHenry in the War of 1812
- the melody was “borrowed” from the tune of a popular British song
- the song became the official national anthem in 1931, replacing several other
songs commonly sung at public events
- controversial because of its war-related imagery and the challenge that the
music poses to singers
Flag of the United States: “Stars and Stripes” or “Old Glory”
- 50 stars: current 50 United States, symbol of the heaven/goals to which
humankind aspires
-> blue signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice
- 13 stripes: original thirteen colonies that declared independence from Great
Britain, symbolic of rays of light from the sun
-> 6 white stripes (purity, innocence)
-> 7 red stripes (valour, bravery)
The Confederate (Battle) Flag:
- in February of 1861 many of the states in the southern part of the United
States decided to form their own country (the Confederate States of America)
- the northern states didn’t agree that these states had the right to leave and
started the Civil War 1861-1865
- they created their own flag, called the Confederate battle flag or “Southern
Cross” or cross of St. Andrew
- described either as a proud emblem of Southern heritage or a shameful
reminder of slavery, a time of terror, torture and oppression
- has also been used by the Ku Klux Klan and other racist hate groups; so the flag
has a bad meaning
The Great Seal:
- bald eagle: national bird of the US and symbolizes power
- eagle is holding an olive branch with 13 leaves and olives in his left crawl which
symbolizes peace and bundle of 13 arrows in his right crawl: representing the
power of war
- shield: shows that the USA is (always) ready to defend themselves , America
stands together in times of peace and war
- 13 stars: representing the 13 founding states
- a scroll with the motto “E pluribus unum”: out of many states (13) a new
united nation (USA) was born /is emerged
-> today the Great Seal refers to the many ethnic groups that make up the
population of the US (diversity)
Liberty bell:
- for the abolitionists the bell was a symbol of their struggle to abolish slavery
Uncle Sam:
- his image appeared during the war of 1812
- old man with a beard & clothes that represent the national flag
- symbol of the U.S. government
- used in political cartoons and advertising
Other symbols: acorns/oak leaf (awarded to holders of certain military
decorations), monarch butterfly (first worm than cocoon and then a beautiful
butterfly -> immigration: they came to the US and became super big), dollar
(currency in USA), fast food (burger, pommes frites, hot dog), football( sports,
Superbowl), national rose (cultivated in all states), rocket (NASA)
National identity and stereotypes
National identity: “a sense of a nation as a cohesive whole, as represented by
distinctive traditions, culture, and language”
The American Creed (Defining element of American identity, first phrased by
Thomas Jefferson)
- visible almost every day in American life through symbols like the flag and
rituals like the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem
- the idea of freedom and to be equal - “Liberty and justice for all”
Barack Obama: “In no other country on Earth is my story even possible”
In the speech he told his story because a lot of people were nervous about the
idea of a black president, he wanted to show that they had nothing to worry
about. America is a nation of immigrants and every story can be possible.
“Out of many we are truly one” -> Approved as „motto” in the United States
1771, points to diversity, everybody should be a part, America is formed of all
the individuals
Americana:
- Things typical of America
- Characteristics of the United States
→ social habits (college sports), traditions (Thanksgiving), Brands (Coca Cola)
Common American Stereotypes:
- American are fat -> a lot of fast food chains
- patriotism -> education system & TV media are US centric, many American
flags
- gun lovers (right to bear arms): debate about stricter gun laws because of
several mass shootings, the control lies with the NRA
- loud people -> think they should be heard, freedom of speech
- wealthy -> powerful global economic standing, many cars, big house
(materialism)
- optimism -> American Dream, pursuit of happiness
- Stereotype of the American Cowboy -> freedom, courage, strong will, Cando
spirit → American Dream
- Stereotypes are represented by Republican voters → Donald Trump
Disadvantages from stereotypes: prejudices, generalizations, racism and sexism
The Cultural Iceberg:
- surface culture (how we do things here): language, eating habits, religious
practices, behaviour, law, politics, traditions
- underlying culture (why we do things this way here): history, religious beliefs,
values and mindset, perceptions and attitude
-> People make assumptions based on what they see without really
understanding the values and beliefs behind the culture or individual
Immigration - History of Immigration: Different groups of immigrants: legal immigrants and illegal immigrants
(unauthorized and immigrating without permission)
First immigrants - colonial period (1607-1776):
- undocumented immigrants, especially from Mexico cross the border by
- British settlers founded the first colony and started growing tobacco
crossing the Rio Grande
- 1620 the second colony was founded by the people called Pilgrim Fathers
- the number of illegal immigrants increases
Old immigration (1790-1890):
- not difficult to find a job because they are cheap workers
- immigrants came from Northern and Western Europe and predominantly from
- they work in agriculture and private homes
Britain, Ireland, Germany and Scandinavia to the USA
- immigrants apply for better paid jobs
Ellis Island: an island of hopes
- the increase worries people
- a federal immigration station from 1892-1954
Problems:
- over 12.000 poor and politically persecuted people or people who were
excluded through their religion arrived there daily and dreamed of a better life - 12 million people live in the shadows
in the USA
- hundreds of people die during their way to the USA
- they had to go through strict controls, medical test and had only 60 seconds to
- general rejection of immigrants, acceptance depends on political party
answer lots of questions -> if they failed they were detained there for legal or
(Democrats: pro, Republicans: con immigration)
even sent back to their home countries; is also called “the isle of tears”
Policy:
New Immigration (1890-1930)
- Trump: restrictive policy, against immigration
-> people from Asia and Latin America entered the country
- Biden: supporting immigration, “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals”,
Internal (Im)migrants (1920-1965):
“Dream Act”
- black and white people migrated from the southern states to the northern
Current situation:
states -> searching for work, for freedom of racial segregation
- terrible circumstances at the Mexican Border, very dangerous to reach the USA
The latest immigrants
- Covid 19: harder for immigrants to gain roots (for example: closed schools),
- revision of the immigrant laws (1965) -> new immigrants enter the country
higher risk of infection because of the poor lifestyle
(e.g. Caribbean)

- work and economic, political and religious freedom → war of their home
countries (Vietnam, Iran, Cambodia)
Immigration today Push factors:

- “Nation of immigrants” → has more immigrants than any other county (15% of - not enough jobs
the population)
- poverty and poor medical care
- Citizens: were born in the US or have become “naturalized”
- political fear
- there are still many immigrants coming to the US
- natural disasters
- most immigrants are Asian and Latin American rather than European
- war, crime, violence
- education, culture and economic opportunities attract
Pull factors:
- Residents: have a green card
- better living conditions and less crime
- Non-immigrants: legal immigrants on a temporary basis
- join their families
- Undocumented: illegal immigrants
- political and religious freedom
-> most illegal immigrants come from Mexico
-> not likely to get an asylum or a green card, sent by parents as a child - better education and school system, college, university
-> illegal border crossing, staying after VISA expires
-> fear of getting caught, difficult to find a job and roots - economic opportunities and better jobs

➔ People have immigrated in the past for the same reasons as today
Ethnic groups
1. Hispanics (12,5%) Prejudices/myths
2. Blacks (12,3) - take away jobs/don’t want to work
3. Asians (3,2%)
4. Native Americans (1,6%) - share different values

- foreign culture might be too dominant

- largest origin group is from Mexico with 25% of all US immigrants
- don’t want to integrate
- more Asian than Hispanic immigrants since 2009 → fast population growth
- might be terrorist or bring their problems and crime from their old country to
them

Reality/facts

- do jobs nobody else wants

- make people more open-minded

- some work hard to fulfil their dreams
- don’t commit more crimes than others
- Integration is difficult
-> The majority of Americans have a positive view of immigrants
Still a country of immigration?
Pro:
- long tradition of immigration for over 4 centuries
- still immigrants coming
- immigrants shaped the culture and the country is built up by immigrants
- economic relies on immigrants
- the majority of Americans are originally immigrants
- rich history of diverse immigration
Contra:
- welcomes just well-educated immigrants
- Trump builds a wall at the boarder to Mexico
- attitude towards immigrants has changed
- strong feeling of distrust towards muslim (because of 9/11 the fear of
terrorism got higher)
- America don’t regard themselves immigrants anymore
- becomes less valuable because of less taxes
Naturalization in the US: there are main steps a legal alien takes to become a
citizen of the US through naturalization:
1) Live in the US for five years 2) Apply for Naturalization 3) Interview and
Citizenship Test 4) Oath of Allegiance
Wall to Mexico
- a border of more than 3.000 kilometres separates the USA from Mexico
- it is defined not only by physical barriers made of concrete and steel but by an
immigration policy which is failing to address the issues behind illegal migration
- Democrats are against the border wall and the Republicans are in favour
- problem when people come to the US through the desert: most of the
immigrants haven’t been in the desert and are mentally and physically defeated
- Trump wants Mexico to pay for the wall but in reality America pays for the wall
- his priority was to reduce illegal immigration and drug income
-> the asylum rules have tightened
- wall wasn’t useful because there are still people crossing the border illegal, he
used fake facts and made wrong promises, only used it for his election but after
that nothing really happened
- a wall doesn’t make that problem disappear, instead of it, it gets bigger and
America should be a country which shows possibilities for immigrants and
welcome and not judge (e.g. teach them the language) -> they should also
change something on the Mexican side to make people stay
Donald Trump
- 45th president of the United States
- “Make America Great Again” - slogan for his presidential election of the United
State, often used)
- doesn’t use fair means for the elections, insults rivals and calls journalists’ liars
- stands up against Hillary Clinton of Democrats when he was president
- as a president he spreads fake news
- “America first” - slogan: for him only the interests of the US are counting
- wants to build a wall between US and Mexico Melting pot:

-> he has the opinion that Mexicans are rapists and are people who bring crime - the various ethnic groups (different cultures) melt into one nation (common
and drugs culture)

- he tries to deport everyone who doesn’t have pure American blood - immigrants give up most of their national identity, way of life, language &
culture -> became part of a unified, monocultural American nation (assimilation)
Multiculturalism
- advantages: shared values and customs, united, cohesive community, less
- diversity of ethnic within a community
potential for conflict
- culture: set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices:
- disadvantages: individuality gets lost, no proportional representation of
-> hard factors (language, race, religion), soft factors (social behaviour, different cultures in the resulting culture
interpersonal actions)
Roots
-> culture shapes the sense of belonging and thus also the ambiguity of
Cultural origins of the US:
belonging
- primarily: western origin
Multicultural society (ways of integration): a society where various ethnic
groups and their cultural heritage are accepted in their own right - America’s past with its large-scale immigration, indigenous tribes and cultures
and also Afro-American slavery led to ethnic and racial diversity
Salad bowl:
- influences: African Americans, European Americans, Asian Americans, Latin
- the different cultures form one nation but hold on to their own culture: “unity
Americans, Native Americans
in diversity”
Cultural exclusion – racism:
- mostly strong cultural ties are kept to home countries
- big problem in multicultural societies
- problems: racism, discrimination, ethnic disadvantages
- US have a racist history
-> multiculturalism
- scars of segregation are still present
- advantages: individuality, high acceptance toward different cultures
- deep racial and ethnic inequities as a direct result of structural racism
- disadvantages: risk of isolation, lower degrees of integration (because
immigrants don’t have to assimilate as much as in a melting pot society) Main problem: intentional exclusion and oppression of PoC

-> strengthens ambiguity of belonging - current evidence, why the US have a problem with racism: BLM as a reaction,
border wall to Mexico
- Americana = characteristics for the US and its citizens -> not to mix of with
stereotypes!
- brand (Coca Cola), people, historical events, concepts, social habits, cuisine
(apple pie), traditions (Thanksgiving)
-> US traditionally called a melting pot society because over the time the
different cultures melted together and formed one nation
- nowadays salad bowl is the more appropriate term to describe the situation
because of the different cultures which don’t mix that intensively
-> salad bowl is more politically correct
Slavery
- 1619-1808: Triangle Trade
Europe
US Manufactured
goods
Africa
-> slaves came to America, provide rust material for Europe, Europe shipped
products to Africa in exchange with slaves for America
- started in the 17th hundreds: African slaves were transported on ships over the
Atlantic from Africa to America (South) in horrible conditions and many died on
the way -> being tied together with chains, long walks on the coast, some chose
death rather than to endure the degradation (Erniedrigung)
- slaves were treated like animals and had no rights
- ways to resist: violent rebellion, subtle acts of resistance, e.g. working slowly,
pretending that they didn’t know how to do something, accidentally breaking
equipment
- Northern states: more industrial (slavery was not essential for labour, work
was mostly done with modern machines) -> didn’t support slavery
- Southern States: more agriculture (slaves were needed for plantation work
(harvest sugar, tobacco etc.) -> did support slavery
1775-1783: American Revolutionary War - Abolitionist ideas start to flourish in
the North
1783: the slave population increased with the development of the cotton gin
because they could clean the cotton 5 times faster than with their hands ->
that’s the reason why more slaves were needed to pick and haul the cotton
1789: first free slaves in the North
1861: president Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery law in all states but the
Southern states were unsatisfied because slavery was important for their
economy -> 11 Southern States founded their own nation “Confederate States
of America”
1861-1865: American Civil War:
Northern Union States -> all men are created equal
and Confederate Southern State (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,
Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas) -> right to property
-> lead into war with northern states , southern states lost and had to give up
their nations and slavery law (official end of slavery 1865)
-> lead to economic rise in the whole country and is the reason why America
became a superpower
- Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863): abolished the slavery and
liberated all slaves, guaranteed the freedom of African slaves (13th amendment:
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime
whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United
States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”) -> in theory black and white
people were equal now
- after the 13th amendment in 1865: they soon discovered that life meant more
than just having simple freedom without economic support and that’s the
reason why many were forced to go back to the old plantations and to contract
with their owners for work
-> right to vote, racism continued, separation, brutal abuse, impossible for free
slaves to create a new independent life
- Uncle Tom: is applied to Afro Americans and the character was seen as a
humanistic portrayal of a slave, one who uses nonresistance and gives his life to
protect other who have escaped from slavery

Important things:

underground railroad: was an informal smuggling network consisting of

opponents of slavery (including whites) that organized the escape of enslaves
African Americans from the southern states of the USA to the safer northern
states or to the province of Canada

Harriet Tubman: -> Abolitionist Movement (1830-1860):

- she escaped from Maryland Plantation in 1849 and became familiar with the
roads, hiding places and depots that were used to conduct runaways to freedom
in the north

- she concerned herself about people of all races and her method relied on
secrecy and surprise

- for those who determined that they were going to turn around, she told them
go forward or die

- during her trips to the South, she became known as the Moses of her people
because she successfully conducted over 600 slaves to freedom including her
own family

- case of Dred Scott: He was a black slave who brought suit against his owner on
the grounds that he had legally become emancipated while traveling through
the free soil state of Illinois. The Supreme Court ruled against Dred Scott
declaring that as a black man, he was not a United States citizen and had no
right to bring a suit in a federal court. The court ruled that a slave didn’t
automatically gain his liberty by entering a free state.

- the promised land: Canada is the promised land for the slaves and in Canada
slavery was denounced in 1793 and formally abolished in 1834
Racism in the past and the present KU KLUX KLAN
DEFINITION - didn’t accept that slavery has been abolished -> formed a community that
was based on racism
„Racism means that groups of people are defined by their differences (skin - oldest terrorist organization in the USA including veterans of the
colour, culture, appearance) and that, because of these differences, one group is Confederate Army
seen to be better than the other.“ - 1865: wanted to intimidate the slaves who were set free from slavery
with scary masquerades
-> reason it exists is simply that the prejudice that blacks are dangerous is still
- goal: terrorize the whole population
there
with lynchings on black people or
- 13th - death of civil rights activists
Amendment: Trayvon JIM CROW LAWS
end of racial
illegalization segregation Martin
of slavery - 1870: 15th Amendment – right to vote for everyone
Tulsa Race (John F. - Black Lives - laws made it impossible for blacks to be seem equal and feel accepted
slavery - Ku Klux Klan Riot Kennedy) Matter
- legalized racial segregation and existed for about 100 years
- blacks had to pass math and spelling test in order to vote
1954– 1961– - racial segregation in public facilities (restaurants, cinemas, hotels,
1619 1863 1865 1870 1921 2008 2013 transportation and sport facilities
1968 1963
- defying these laws -> arrest, fines, jail sentences, violence and death

Emancipation - 15th Civil Rights election of

Proclamation: Amendment: Movement the
slave right to vote president:
liberation for all Barack
(Abraham - Jim Crow Obama
Lincoln) Laws
CONSEQUENCES OF RACIAL SEGREGATION
->
segregation - because of injustice and brutal violence -> African Americans moved in
of blacks
the north to get better jobs and more protection for their families
RACISM IN THE PAST - wherever they went, the racism was already there
SLAVERY - more subtle and less violent in the north but still effective
- formation of civil rights organizations with black and white activists
- racism has been around since the 1700s - 1964: Civil Rights Act signed by Lyndon B. Johnson
- black people = properties, not people ➔ Jim Crow Laws were abolished and the racial segregation ended but
- 1865: 13th Amendment – illegalization of slavery racism persists still in people’s minds
➔ there was still a racial segregation - existing ghettos and more black people living in poverty
RACISM IN THE PRESENT
- the situation of the black population in the slums is characterized by
violence and a lack of access to education, jobs and living space
- there are many anti-racism programs and initiatives in the northern
states but racism is still in reality
POLICE BRUTALITY CASES
- increased since the 1980s
examples:
- 1991: African American Rodney King is victim of disproportionate police
violence, he is hit and kicked by a police officer
- 2013: shooting death of Trayvon Martin
➔ Black Lives Matter Movement was founded
- 2020: African American George Floyd was choked to death by a police
officer in the street when it was not necessary
➔ his death sparked protests across the country like the Black Lives
Matter Movement
HAS RACISM IMPROVED ?
- it has improved but there are still many things we need to improve on
society
- we don’t have slavery and there isn’t a separation between black people
and white people anymore
➔ doesn’t mean that racism is gone
- it’s still there but more hidden and still anchored in many people’s minds
- idea of white supremacy and systematic racism is still part of the society
AMBIGUITY OF BELONGING
- not everyone has the feeling of belonging because of unequal educational
opportunities and unequal punishments
- black and white people stand up against racism through protests or
movements
➔ black people are given the feeling of belonging
- can’t feel that they belong when a president like Trump spreads racism
again
Martin Luther King
- 15th January 1929 – 4th April 1968
- leader of the CRM in the 50s and 60s
- he was born in Atlanta which is in the South of the US where they have a
bigger problem with racism than in the North
- he grew up in a society in which segregation was still normal
- his dad started to fight against racism and injustice
- as a teenager he started to preach in his community (most times about racism)
- got priest, had a wife and 4 children
- his main goal was an equal society
- he was the leader of the bus boycott -> the racial segregation ended in buses
because of the boycott
- he gave speeches, organized demonstrations and attended protests
- got often arrested (29 times in total)
- King wanted every action to go nonviolent -> following the example set by
Gandhi
- slowly his actions had success
- King was and still is because of his engagement the face of the movement
- brought diverse groups which are all against racism together -> to negotiate
and demonstrate together
- he exerted pressure on the politics so they had to bring changes
- got the Nobel peace Prize in 1964
- got shot in Memphis while he stood on a balcony to talk to another person on
4th April 1968
 1
Famous speeches: freedom riders tested the Supreme Court´s decision
2
no segregation in public transportation
- 28th August 1963 at the “march on Washington for jobs and freedom”: “I have 3
outlawed discrimination and banned segregation in public places and
a dream…” -> he claimed for justice and freedom, is a vision for blacks and
employment practices
whites 4
increase of Black voters in Mississippi
- September 1964 at the Berlin Wall: during a visit to Germany, he wanted to
Rosa Parks: Montgomery Bus Boycott
bring the people together, tried to give everyone hope again and wanted to
show that everyone has the same value and that a wall couldn’t break that - On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks found a seat on a Montgomery,
Alabama bus after work
Dream: freedom, equality in society and law, justice, a human community, no - she refused to give up her seat for a white woman and gets arrested
judgement - as a reaction to the arrest the National Association for the Advancement
of coloured people called a boycott of the Montgomery City Bus Lines
Reality: prejudices, racism, segregation, violence, restrictions, inequality,
System -> the Boycott lasted 381 days until segregated seating was
discrimination, suppression
declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
Civil Rights Movement: struggle for social injustice that took place during the Emmett Louis Till:
1950s and 1960s for blacks to gain equal rights under the law in the US - while visiting some relatives in Mississippi Emmett talked to a white
Means: non-violent protests, civil disobedience and boycotts woman, when buying candy in an immoral way
- the husband of the woman later kidnapped him
- a national effort to eliminate segregation and to gain equal rights for Black - his body was found in the river connected to a 30 kg heavy object on his
Americans bare neck, he lost one eye and had a broken nose
- the trial against his killer was regulated by 12 white judges, several
1865: 13th witnesses disappeared -> the killer was discharged -> protests of people
1776: 1876: Jim increased
1776-1865: Amendment
Declaration of Crow Laws ->
Slavery in USA (end of The Brown Decision (1954)
Independence segregation
slavery)
- the Supreme Court decided racial segregation in public schools was unequal

1954: Brown -> supremacist groups as the Ku Klux Klan acted violently
1961: 1960: Sit-ins 1955:
Decision -> no
Freedom Boynton vs. Montgomery Civil Rights Act (1964)
segregation in
Rides 1 Virginia 2 Bus
schools
- Outlawed segregation in public areas

-> “Freedom Summer” blacks try to register for voting

1963: "I have 1965:
a dream" 1964: Civil Freedom Voting Rights -> Voting Rights Act (1965) gave voting rights to Blacks
speech by M.L Rights Act Summer Act (1965)
King (1964) -> more radical and violent groups were formed (Malcom X)
From Slavery to the Black Lives Matter Movement:
1863
dream - abolition of slavery
- realization of freedom
and equality
- equal opportunities
Reality - Southern states:
for the advocates of slavery
black - Northern States:
people opponents of slavery
-> Civil War
- Emancipation
Proclamation: legal
abolition of slavery but
discrimination, segregation
and social exclusion were
still prevalent
key Abraham Lincoln with the
figures Emancipation Proclamation
Police violence
1963 2016-today - police brutality has become one of the biggest problems in the USA
- “inalienable rights - better education
of life, liberty and programs for all - there have been many cases of police brutality in the past and it has increased
the pursuit of - tolerance and enormously since the 1980
happiness” acceptance -> including the death of the African American George Floyd, who was choked to
(Declaration of - execution of
death by a police officer in the street when it was not necessary
independence) existing laws and
- social mobility constitutional -> his death sparked protests across the country like the Black Lives Matter
- justice rights (justice and Movement –
- brotherhood equality)
- segregation: - still unable to > while this was one of the few cases that was filmed, there are daily cases like
white and black by participate in the this.
Jim Crow laws -> American
- another important point is that through the persistence of racism, especially
black people had economy-
the worst jobs and persistent racial Afro-Americans are affected by this brutality.
lowest standard of disparities - #Blacklivesmatter ≠Alllivesmatter -> because more blacks are affecting by
education - poverty -> less police passes and controls, they were hurting and need to life a live in danger
- discrimination home ownerships
and oppression - police brutality -> Racial-confidence gap (racial = black and white, confidence = confidence in
- poverty (George Floyd in police work and police officers )
2020)
-> not much has
changed since
1970
Martin Luther King: Barack Obama:
CRM and I Have A former president
Dream (1963) of US as proof of
Rosa parks: black people’s
Montgomery bus power
Boycott
Social issues (inequality) -> white teachers have lower expectations of black students and different
treatments and
Equality is when individuals are not treated differently because of their race,
gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation and age. Influence of race: still clusters of black and white in
school/ university; unequal distribution
Inequality is an unfair situation in which some people have more rights or better
opportunities than other people. - Welfare gap between blacks and whites since
decades → financial wealth determines chances of
General arguments (Equality)
education
Pro:
Geographic differences
- the nation has progressed because all citizens have the right to vote, the right Rich state – good education: Poor state – bad education:
to many basic freedoms, right to free speech and to get educated example New Jersey example New Mexico

- equality is therefore a big goal that the country is still striving forward
-> especially southern states have problems – many problems get together
Con:
Comparison Germany and USA:
- social equality still hasn’t arrived for many people, especially African-
Americans or Latinos -> they are more often in police custody or have less Universities:
opportunities from the beginning, even though they have the same civil rights -> Germany: free (better chances for everyone)
- there is still racism, discrimination against religion, nationality etc. -> USA: Unaffordable costs
- less foreigners are offered a job and also earn less School types:
Education inequality -> Germany: three different types
Significance of education: responsible for the chances of your personal -> USA: Highschool for everyone
American Dream → important for economic, social and cultural development of
every individuum Ways to prevent: free colleges, more support for poor students, stop
discrimination, invest more in public schools, more support for different levels
Student loans: gap between poor and rich -> 83% from high income families, of thinking ability
63% from low income families (college)

-> better quality schools = better chances

-> schools in low income neighbourhoods: need for financial aid and minority
students live in low income neighbourhoods (worse schools)
Gender inequality: It refers to unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals
based on their gender. It arises from differences in socially constructed gender
roles. Men and women are not viewed as equals and instead discriminated
against each other
Common issues:
- gender stereotypes:
-> women: kind, emotional, passive, supposed to look after their children and do
household
-> men: aggressive, independent, active tough, have to be successful and care
for their family
- the gender wage gap: smaller wages for women
- lack of women in leadership roles (politics, business positions)
- health: safety protection in cars are made for men, women are 3 times more
likely to experience violence in a partnership
- society: smaller participation and representation of women in politics, women
products are more expensive (7% higher), men are more often shown in sports
then women, sexual harassment
Affection: It continues to persist in many forms, including the disparity in
women’s political representation and participation, occupational segregation
and the unequal distribution of household labour
Causes:
Pay gap:
- women have less work experience than men (14% of gender wage inequality)
- 50% can be explained due to gender differences in the industries (17%) and
occupations (33%)
- the man is still regarded as the main provider from the past even if the image is
outdated in society
Solutions:
- the government should make it illegal for companies to pay men more than
women
- give women flexible work, better maternity
- reduction of gender gaps in the labour market
Current situation due COVID-19:
- Covid-19 left millions unemployed → women are more affected
- mothers had more homeschooling and childhood responsibilities → increase of
women in the household
Obamacare and Health System
Health System:
- by the 21st century there were still 48 million Americans without any health
insurance
- access to health care as a free right
Obamacare
- signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010
- gives Americans more rights and protections
- aim: make health care more available and affordable for everyone by lowering
costs
- health care in U.S. extremely expensive
- pro: Obamacare contains many benefits - more Americans have health
insurance, health insurance is more affordable for many people
- cons: some obstacles & higher costs - many people have to pay higher
premiums, uninsured must pay a modest fine, higher taxes, today, 55% of
Americans support the law
Poverty Trap: mechanism that makes it extremely hard to escape poverty What do guns mean to Americans?:

Lack of: education, access to health care systems, well-paid jobs, emotional - a gun is giving them safety and they are less scared because they can defend
attitude (you can‘t change anything) themselves

Causes: most people are born into poverty - they also have the pressure to have one because so many have one and that’s
why they think they also need one
Life shocks:
Problems:
- marriage -> divorce
- gun violence (mass/school shootings)
- unplanned pregnancy -> dropping out of school
- accidental shootings (among kids)
- bankruptcy
- high mortality rate
- foreclosure -> can‘t pay loans
Pro:
Reasons why you can’t escape:
- gun violence is becoming more common
- people would need a certain amount of money
- guns are barely used for self defence
- if you have no savings, you fall back down
- decrease in suicides
- You can‘t afford the most important solutions
- decrease in mass shooting
- Factors: not enough education, teen pregnancies, emotional bias
- guns in families can end up being accidentally used by children
Ways to break the cycle:
- violence is reduced
Help the people obtain: education, health services, child care, emotional and
financial support, better paid jobs -> for this you need: external help/financing - Bill of Rights - is written there don't change it

Gun Control - politics try to make safer rights and decisions

Gun Control is the regulation of the sale and use of weapons. It’s used to protect - crime happenings increase -> protection and safety
our fellow Americans from any violent crime. But it can come up the question if
- safety for crime -> make them insecure
the control of weapons can solve the problem of violence or if it even creates a
problem? In the following I would like to explain why gun control is affective/not - 2nd Amendment: old history, needs to be adapted to modern life
affective.
Con:
- guns are used for self defence
- guns cannot be controlled
- impossible to prevent criminals from getting guns because many would be
stolen
- impossible to confiscate all the existing guns
- cultural and traditional tradition to own a gun
- the death rate isn’t higher because of the gun
Guns don't kill people - people kill people.
- militia is a trained and armed group of people outside the army of the state
and they also can do good or bad things to people
-> Does the word militia limit the right to keep and bear arms to military or is
every citizen allowed? Does the mention of militias result in a purpose? Which
weapons are meant?
While the federal government is therefore subject to restrictions on legislation
regulating the carrying and possession of weapons, legislation can be passed at
the state and local levels without restrictions.
In summary it can be said that gun control is affective/not affective… The
solution to gun control is to have good gun laws that are not strict but flexible.

Bans on guns won't keep criminals from committing crimes. Criminals will
always find access to weapons, legal or illegal. banning guns might give criminals
new business models (gun trafficking etc.)

“ The right to own a gun must not be infringed.” (= Das Recht eine Waffe zu
besitzen, darf nicht verletzt werden.“)

Bill of Rights: articles in addition to, and Amendment of Constitution of the

United States

The Second Amendment grants: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the
security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not
be infringed” -> Americans have the right to protect themselves, their families
and property

2nd amendment:

- doesn't apply to individuals, only the state has the right to have
weapons
- only applies to some individuals, every soldier has the right to keep arms
during the soldier carrier, they only keep arms if the government fails to
provide firearms
- all individuals are allowed to carry and buy a weapon
- things that aren't in the Constitution could be interpret from people
Great Britain (United Kingdom) -> Chicken Tikka: originally Indian, Masala sauce: British taste

Should the UK dissolve? independence is rather detrimental than beneficial, no
complete independence but also no total unity!
- flag: Union Jack – three flags in one
-> British society has integrated external cultural/typical habits in their
lives/routine, so this adaption enriches the Origen community, also: integration
of new communities ≠ loss of the original community and values
British character: open-minded, polite and friendly, sociable and tolerant

British humour: strange, silly, dry, dark, love to see people fail, like puns and
quiz nights

England: a red cross on British stereotypes:

white background - Fiction: emotionless, rainy weather all the time, top hats and tails (English) or
kilts (Scottish), Nannies (Mary Poppins) and Au pair

Scotland: a white (diagonal)
cross on blue background
- Facts: love tea (Afternoon Tea), love talking about the weather, pale skin (pale
is the new tan)
MR/MRS AVERAGE
- drinks three Cups of tea and talks about the weather

- believes in God and says “sorry” million times on a lifetime

- own home + two children and drives Ford Fiesta

Ireland: a red (diagonal) - are wearing an England football shirt and knows every word of “God save the
cross on white background Queen”
Britishness - humour
Britishness (by Robin Cook): British is not a race, but a gathering of diverse John Bull (= personify Englishness)
people and communities (-> 30 ethnic communities)
Briton = a citizen of the UK
United Kingdom (UK) = England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland
surnames = for instance McCarthy, O´Brien, Jones, Smith
Great Britain (GB) = England, Wales, Scotland
Ethnic diversity:
Multicultural Britain:
- different religions: Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindus
- Chicken Tikka Masala: a true British national dish -> perfect illustration for the
way Britain absorbs and adapts external influence - ethnic groups: white British; Asian; Mixed black/African
Multiculturalism in the UK (-> British Empire)
Roots:
- the British began trading African slaves in 1562 and slavery in the UK was
abolished in 1833
- the whites benefited from slavery and it became part of British society
- Africans were transported to work unpaid on sugar cane and cotton
plantations
- being a slave in the UK meant that you will also die as a slave and that you will
never experience freedom because you get treated like an animal
- “We are here because you were there” -> it meant War and should remind
Britain of its historical economic and social ties
History of Immigration in Great Britain:
- people from the colonies immigrate to GB, trying to become a part of British
society
- during World War II people flew because of the Nazis -> especially Jews
immigrate to GB after WW2
- after WW2 there was a big growth of industry and many workers were needed
- because of the EU many people came especially from eastern Europe as
workers to GB, high salaries
Example of Multiculturalism: Liverpool
- different ethnics
-> big black community: Liverpool was one of the main harbours, many slaves
entered GB
-> big Asian community: good trade relations to Shanghai
Problems: religious/cultural conflicts, language barrier (people can’t
communicate - causes isolation), fear of foreign influence on their traditions
Pro:
- more peaceful and colourful society -> less segregation and racism
- cultural exchange and input -> exchange of knowledge, cultural values
- different music, art, food, fashion, traditions and religions -> people can
experience variety of cultures in one country -> enrichment for society,
broadens the horizon
- linguistic variety makes GB a preferred location
- variability of products because of ethnic diversity -> multicultural character of
British food (Chicken tikka Masala)
- greater and skilled workforce -> rising economy -> cultural and economic
vitality
- supports the concept of tolerance and respect towards each other -> break
down barriers, learn how to accept differences and how to sole conflicts
-> creating an open-minded national identity and sense of belonging
Con:
- “Britishness” might get lost when suddenly greater ethnic influence
-> Britons could become a minority in their own country
-> foreign countries suppress the native one
- members of ethnic minorities experience growing number of social
disadvantages -> exclusion, racism, xenophobia, prejudices -> divided
society/parallel societies emerge
- language barrier: big problem -> complicate the integration
- no integration = radicalisation, segregation, suppression, depression
Brexit February 1, 2020: Begin of the transition phase

= “Britain” + “Exit” -> it refers to the withdrawal or exit of the United Kingdom December 30, 2020: EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) was signed
(UK) from the European Union (EU) (entered into force on May 1, 2021)

- reasons for leaving: they always felt kind of left out December 31, 2020: End of the transition phase

Timeline: January 1, 2021: The UK is no longer part of the EU-internal market and the
EUCU (European Union Customs Union)
1973: The UK becomes an EU member state
Consequences of no deal (Brexit):
1975: first referendum regarding their stay in the EU
For the UK:
2014: European Parliament election -> UKIP (United Kingdom Independence
Party) - end of membership in EU single market and customs union

2015: United Kingdom general election: David Cameron pledging to hold a new - new taxes and custom controls for goods
referendum
- border controls for travellers
June 23, 2016: Brexit referendum -> 52% Brexit, 48% Bremain (turnout: 72,2%)
- big companies leave and unemployment increases
A majority in the UK voted to leave the EU, but a majority in Northern Ireland
- Pound Sterling loses worth
and Scotland voted to remain in the EU, especially older people voted for
leaving - external boarder between Northern Ireland and Ireland
June 24, 2016: David Cameron declares his resignation For the European Union:
March 29, 2017: Theresa May hands in the request to leave the EU (two-year - EU loses second largest payer
negotiation phase until March 29, 2019)
- new taxes and custom controls for goods
➔ Brexit was extended three times in 2019 due to no agreements
May 24, 2019: Theresa May declares her resignation - border controls for travellers

-> 2016-2019: negotiations and votings without results - imported goods get more expensive

January 23, 2020: UK’s EU Withdrawal bill becomes law Especially for Germany:

January 29, 2020: EU Parliament approves Brexit deal - higher payments to the EU which means an additional burden for Germany’s
economy
January 31, 2020: Brexit (first member state leaving the EU), UK officially leaves
EU - 40 finance companies move to Frankfurt am Main
For EU citizens:
- Eu settlement scheme for EU-citizens and non-EU-citizens
- changes in freedom of movement and settlement
- free movement of labour is restricted (EU Blue Card)
Pro (Brexit):
- Britain can still have access to the European market without being bound by EU
rules -> Britain could then negotiate trade agreements on their own
- Great Britain could free itself from restrictions imposed by Brussels and
become economically more successful
- being independent from the EU and its decisions
- euro-sceptics believe that Europe’s principle of free movement means too
much immigration into the country and insecurity (and terrorism) -> Brexit could
improve border security
- proponents of a Brexit claim that Great Britain should get its sovereignty back
-> unelected officials in Brussels make rules that elected politicians like the local
MP can do nothing about it
- better economic possibilities (for hospital and the clinical care and staff)
- they have control over the borders (because immigration is a big topic)
- the EU costs the country 350 million Pounds per week -> no payment to the
EU-household
- too many European rules and regulations seem to influence the daily British
life in a negative way
- better trade with other country for example with China
- own laws for example the labour market
-> Trade, EU budget, Regulation, immigration, influence
Con (Bremain):
- Europe is Britain’s main trading partner -> less exports to the EU
- increasing unemployment because 3 million jobs are linked to trade with
Europe
- free trade among member states benefits Britain (no trade barriers)
- financial advantages outweigh the membership fees Britain has to pay
- international banks are already thinking of leaving London -> the consequences
of Brexit would be unpredictable
- membership in the EU allows free movement between Great Britain and EU
countries -> hundreds of British expats living in Span and France might not have
easy access to health services there anymore
- as an EU member Britain has much more influence
- travel and food could become more expensive
- makes it easier and cheaper for UK companies to sell products
- it keeps the cost of living down
- entitled to free our cheap healthcare in other EU countries
- increased opportunities -> right to live, work or study across the EU but also
guarantees employment rights
Controversial topics:
- “divorce bill” = Brexit financial settlement: series of payments the UK has to
pay the EU as it leaves, due to remaining EU budget contributions and their
participation in some EU programmes
- border between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (because Northern
Ireland is also a part of the UK and thereof affected by the Brexit)-> conflict over
Good Friday Agreement
- Scottish Independence
Prime Minister during Brexit: India

- David Cameron: 2010-2016, Conservative Party (Tory Party), reason of History of former colony (British Empire)
resignation: he wanted the UK to stay in the EU
- at the beginning of the 17th century: global expansion of British Empire started
- Theresa May: 2016-2019, Conservative Party, reason of resignation: she failed
- European countries began to take in colonies early, England especially north
multiple times to get the EU to agree with the wishes of the Conservative Party
american areas but also areas on the cost of South America, Africa (India),
and lost majority support of the Parliament
Australia and New Zealand
- Boris Johnson: 2019-still ongoing, Conservative Party, Pro Brexit, was even
-18th century: British East India company became the dominant force
willing to do a “Hard Brexit”
- 1857/1858: India began a rebellion against the British
Current situation:
-> The British took over the Mughal emperor and India was in the hands of the
- British economy suffers very badly (impact of Brexit is supposedly worse
British Crown officially (not British East India company)
compared to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on their economy)
-> was now called: British India or British Raj (rule of the British crown) until
- majority of Scottish population still wants to be part of the EU -> fighting for
1947
Scottish independence (but Boris Johnson doesn’t agree to a referendum for
Scotland) -> India became Britain’s “Jewel in the Crown”
- different conflicts about border issues and trade rules - British modernized the country but forgot about food shortages,
mismanagement, diseases -> death of millions of people and anger against the
- Lorry driver shortage= leading shortage of food and other supplies that
colonial power
become more expensive
India’s independence of Britain
- strong decrease in trade with the EU
- 1920: Gandhi started an Independence movement like the Salt March against
- London wanted renegotiation for some parts of the Brexit agreement, but
the discrimination of the lowest cast and also the British rule while World War II
Brussels refused
(peaceful way)

- after World War II (1939-1945) Britain was no longer a superpower and lost its
influence

- 1947: British government announced to end the British rule: India

Independence Act was signed by King Georg VI

-> Britain handed India their formal independence

-> consequence: the subcontinent split into two independent countries based India today:
on religious beliefs: Hindu- dominated India and Muslim-dominated Pakistan
- land of contrasts: a lot of millionaires but one third is poor and it’s the worlds
divided India (division of territory: the Partition)
largest democracy but millions are illiterate -> ambiguous
-> since this event they have really tense relationship
Strengths:
-> Indian society was so divided that they couldn’t unite against the British and
- densely populated, second-most populous country
the British encouraged the division with the caste system
- attractive country for outsourcing: more jobs, cheap source of imports, well-
- Commonwealth of Nations: union of independent states of the former British
educated technology workers, many Indians speak English, huge profits in the
Empire -> peace, freedom and prosperity
film industry “Bollywood”
- in the 1970s: high unemployment rate because of economic crisis, made
- more than 1000 languages (English and Hindi are mostly used)
immigration more critical
Challenges:
- today: the colonies which were part of the British Empire have today the same
system - economic growth low
Impact of the British Empire - poverty and high unemployment rate
Positive impact Negative Impact - 600 million Indians face acute water shortages
- the British earned money - they had a racist way of thinking
- they created trade links and had slaves - half of the women are illiterate
- they received natural resources - the colonies lost their culture - almost 50% of the children are undernourished
- people speak English all over the because British culture, values,
world traditions and language were - rapid population growth
- big influence on many countries represented -> caused the feeling of
- economic impact: rapid displacement and rootlessness on the - gender inequality and unequal distribution of wealth
transformation of India’s economy part of the colonized
- climate conditions (droughts and floods in some areas)
into economic colony of the - even after independence: difficult
industrialized England task of re-creating their own identity, - conflicts because of the caste system and crimes
- independence state bridging the gap between their
country’s native traditions and values - ongoing fight between Muslims and Hindus
and British ones
- the British Empire was spread all over the world and ruled by Britain

- “The Empire in which the sun never sets” -> they had many colonies all over the
world, when the sun sets in one of the territories, is rises in another, so there
was light anywhere at any time
Economic superpower: - Independence : The Indian had a lot of problems, for example food shortages
and also that India was divided into a Hindu – dominated India and Muslim
- isn’t a superpower yet but is developing towards one and is a big export
dominated Pakistan
partner
- Partition: Between the two groups, Hindus and Muslims, was a sectarian
- fourth-largest economy in the world and it produced $9.4 trillion in goods and
violence and a lot of tension because of the displacement
services in 2017 (China $23.2 trillion; EU $20.9 trillion; US $19.4 trillion)
Short timeline:
- high growth rate -> reduced poverty by nearly 10%
2500-1600 BC: Harappan civilisation
- mixed economy: half of the workers rely on agriculture, one third employed by
the services industry (e.g. call centers) 1526-1858: Mughal period

The legacy of the British Raj 1858-1947: The British Ray

Advantages Disadvantages 1947-present: Independence

- biggest democracy
- independent judiciary and free
press
- warm climate and people
immigrated from other countries
- under British rule diseases led to
death, lack of food, displacement of
Hindus, Muslims and there was
sectarian violence between them
- relation between India and Pakistan
is still tense
- India = land of contrast and
paradoxes because of its history
- 1/3 poor
Mahatma Gandhi and civil disobedience
- Indian freedom fighter
- no violence or weapons
- Wanted peace
- he has changed the world until today
- activist in action of India’s independency
- born in Porbandar in Gujarat in 1869: lived in the third cast -> social upper
class, he lived strictly (no violence, alcohol, meat)

Terms: - went to school in Britain (London) but returned in 1891 to India to practice law

- Indian subcontinent: Mauryan Empire is the first and largest empire on the
Indians subcontinent
- Colonial power: In the 12th century Islamic invaders conquered northern India.
During the Mughal period the target was the unification of large parts of India
- The Raj: Raj is the term for the British Rule in India until 1947
- The Jewel in the Crown: The British took over the Mughal emperor and were
turning India to the most profitable colony of its empire
- 1893: moved to Durban, South Africa and worked for an Indian law firm
-> he was shocked how Indians were treated there
-> became actively involved in fighting for the rights of Indians and developed
his philosophy of non-violence
- 1914: Indian people were oppressed by the British, Boycott (non-violence
resistance) -> had to go to prison
- 1915: returned to India, still fighting against colonial rule in India by organizing
peaceful walk of protest for the Independence of India
- he went to England to win India’s independence -> stayed with working class Freedom saviour
and wore Indian clothes
- He chose a non-violent strategy
- he teamed up with a Muslim leader in Calcutta to stop the War between
- He had many followers
Hindus and Muslims
- He had clear goals he wanted to achieve
- 1947: India became independent on 4th of February 1947
- He never got tired of making his dreams come true
- 1948: he was shot by a young Hindu fanatic because of his anger against
Muslims Caste system: it splits up Hindus into different societal groups
-> Gandhi inspired the whole world with his philosophy and his courage, will- - everyone is born into a specific caste
power, strength and determination
- Hindus can’t change their class/rise up the “social ladder” because they are
- Nobel-peace-prize-winner born into a class and intercaste marriage was forbidden
Salt March (1930 in India) - it defines the job you will do some day, who you can marry, what you wear, …
- Act of civil disobedience led by Gandhi

- Thousands of Indians followed by Gandhi from his religious retreat Brahmins ( spiritual guides, priests,
philosophers)

- Distance of 240 miles Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers)

-Demonstration against Indian citizens being forced to buy the vital mineral
Vaishyas (artisans, farmers, trading,
from their British rules commerce)

Shudras (manual workers,

-Arrest of nearly 60.000 people labourers, craftsmen)

Civil disobedience Untouchables (tribal people, the

Dalits)

- Passive resistance

- Gandhi: one of the Indian leaders

- Without resorting to violence
- Success because of a sufficient amount of followers
- Tactic and philosophy of nationalist movements in Africa
- Refusal to pay taxes, illegal boycotts, sit-ins, draft dodging
- since 1949 the constitution of India has granted all its citizens equal rights
-> change has been slow
-> the caste system is losing its influence in cities
-> democracy gave untouchable more power to defend themselves and fight for
their rights
Advantages: prosperity – Wohlstand

- the elite benefits from privileges attainable/reachable - erreichbar

- gives orientation (job search, peer groups) aspire – erstreben

- gives stability contradictory- wiedersprüchlich

Disadvantages loss of identity – Identitätsverlust

- it divides the society suppression/oppression – Unterdrückung

- there are losers of the system

- upward mobility is impossible

- people are not judged fairly

- promotes discrimination

Vocabulary

(religious) persecution – religiose Verfolgung

Assimilation – Integration/Angleichen

To blend in – integrieren/sich einfügen

segregation – Rassentrennung

desegregation – Aufhebung der Rassentrennung

boycott – Aussperrung, Abschnürung

opposition – Widerspruch

abolition – Abschaffung

disparity – Ungleichheit

naturalization – Einbürgerung

welfare – Fürsorge

welfare system - Sozialhilfesystem