RELATED PROJECT
ISSUES
AT THE CENTER
Matthew Scherer on 9/11, the Financial Crisis, and Climate Change as Conversion Events (Full Screen)
ECONOMIC INEQUALITY
October 16, 2012Barack Obama on Mitt Romney’s “47 Percent” Comment at the 2012 Second Presidential Debate
September 19, 2012
Mitt Romney on Promoting Economic Freedom in America
July 11, 2012
Mitt Romney on How a Strong Traditional Family Structure Will Solve America's Economic Inequalities
>> more
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
April 3, 2012Mitt Romney on Teachers' Unions and Education
April 3, 2012
Barack Obama on the Economic Importance of Education for All in a Speech at the AP Luncheon
March 19, 2012
Rick Santorum on Education Policy from His Campaign Website
>> more
SURVEYS ON AMERICAN VALUES
August 19, 2012The Top Nine Most Generous States Are Also Deeply Religious (Chronicle of Philanthropy, 2012)
May 18, 2012
Obama Leads Romney by 21 Percentage Points Among Millennial Voters (Gallup, 2012)
May 14, 2012
91% of Employers Think that Students Should Have 1-2 Internships Before Graduating, Yet 50% Haven’t Hired any Interns in the Past Six Months (Millennial Branding, 2012)
>> more
RELATED RESOURCES: VALUES
Red and Blue Nation? Volume I: Characteristics and Causes of America’s Polarized Politics
Publication
Publication
Red and Blue Nation? Volume II: Consequences and Correction of America’s Polarized Politics
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Publication
Catholic Attitudes on Gay and Lesbian Issues: A Comprehensive Portrait from Recent Research
Publication
Publication
Religion and the Tea Party in the 2010 Election: An Analysis of the Third Biennial American Values Survey
Publication
Publication
Social Trust and Value Change: The Decline of Social Capital in American Youth, 1976–1995
Publication
Publication
Are Americans united by a shared set of values?
Related Posts
Student Bloggers Believe We Do Share a Common Set of American Values
April 4, 2012
Some bloggers believed a certain set of American values continues to unify in spite of what divides us in the changes and challenges of a new millennium. Perhaps we’re united because we are unique and distinctly American. As one student wrote, "America doesn’t do things the way the rest of the...
Maryam Zafer (Dartmouth) on American Values
April 2, 2012
Americans are united by a common set of ideals, not values. While theory can inform general ideals, experience creates personal values. Our ideals are grounded in the theoretical framework of the Constitution. We aspire to live in a society that promotes liberty, equality and justice for all. We...
Alyssa Roberts (Claremont McKenna) on American Values
April 2, 2012
I consider myself a practical idealist – but, like most Americans, I’m not always so practical. Americans are united by a shared set of values, including family, opportunity, and independence. But our differing views of the “ideal” state of each of these values causes the fundamental left-right...
Matthew McNey (University of Maryland-Baltimore County) on American Values
March 30, 2012
Although Americans have principled disagreements on complex issues, we all share a similar set of values. The U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the many writings of the Founding Fathers remain as vital foundations for our values even in a rapidly changing world.
Sergio Cisneros (George Fox University) on American Values
March 29, 2012
One common value held by people in America is the desire to succeed. Alexis de Tocqueville noted more than 150 years ago, “Americans are taught from birth that they must overcome life’s woes and impediments on their own.” Success takes on diverse definitions, and is pursued by people in America...
Julie Raisch (NYU) on American Values
March 29, 2012
America is not the country in which we live, but rather a story we tell ourselves about ourselves. As Americans, we are bound by a set of communal values, independence embodied by the self-made man and a belief that this nation is exceptional, underscored by a contradictory axiom: Things will be...
Drew Spence (George Washington University) on American Values
March 28, 2012
The paradox of Facebook is that the website which is supposed to be able to connect you with anyone around the world can actually make you feel rather isolated.
Kevin Sullivan (Georgetown) on American Values
March 28, 2012
American society is often represented as sharing a common set of values, expressing itself through a pervasive culture, a revolutionary governmental experiment in liberty, an “exceptional” patriotism, and trust in a distinctive way of life. The United States has certainly always been unique, and...
Jessie Hernandez (UC Berkeley) on American Values
March 27, 2012
Contemporary Americans possess an obsession with social privilege, power, and a fear of centralized authority. Our voice and participation in public affairs illustrates a symbolism that reflects our cultural values and biases. Nonetheless, our value of conspicuous consumption and desire for...
Andres Cano (Arizona State University) on American Values
March 27, 2012
It seems our Founding Fathers had it wrong. The values we’ve followed since our inception have included the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. These values have historically been society’s way of letting Americans know they’re free—free to live openly without experiencing roadblocks from...
Zeenia Framroze (Harvard) on American Values
March 23, 2012
As a United States citizen growing up in India, I felt like I was single-handedly shouldering the flack the country was taking for decisions of the Bush administration. Naïve, I know, but in grade 6, staunch Democrat though I was, I felt the need to defend America and American values to every...
4 CommentsLevi Stoep (Calvin College) on American Values
March 22, 2012
We are all feeling a lot of pressure during this election season. It’s easy to get lost in the Facebook updates, the Tweets, arguments at family Christmas, the candidate bloopers, and of course the avalanche of the almighty political bumper stickers. Political spin has left us… well, spinning as...
Amol Utrankar (Rice) on American Values
March 22, 2012
Are Americans united by a shared set of values? I would argue that the biggest problem the United States is our inability to agree on a shared set of values. This divisive indecision is omnipresent in current social-political spheres, from the controversy over the Affordable Care Act, to the...
Kieran Halloran (Georgetown) on American Values
March 21, 2012
A little over 10 years ago, this country faced one of the most devastating events in recent history. The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 shocked this country. However, despite the trauma of the day, I noticed something amazing happen. This whole country united in a way that I have never...
Talene Bilazarian (Johns Hopkins) on American Values
March 19, 2012
2011 could easily be characterized as a year of American identity crisis. On the left, streets were overtaken in Occupy protests that made one of the boldest demands for economic equality our country has ever seen. The right continued to be a fascinating study, with a GOP divided and confused...
1 CommentAlia Sisson (University of Dayton) on American Values
March 19, 2012
Nothing better symbolizes the shared values that unite Americans than “Old Glory” herself. The thirteen stripes are reminiscent of our common history, spanning from the American Revolution, to the Civil Rights movement to today. The fifty stars are coequal, exemplifying the common commitment to...
1 CommentTed Dooley (Boston College) on American Values
March 19, 2012
Opportunity is the American way. Whether it is giving the educational foundation that enables us to have the opportunity of success, the freedom to vote for political figures, become activists for civic causes, or the ability to speak our minds without fearing repercussions. Over the past several...