2.2.1 The economic value of the American spirit
The United States only have 200 year history, but its history witnessed that American spirit had a far-reaching consequence on the development of American social economy.
Firstly, the American spirit influenced American economic events. Under the influence of the American spirit, many businessmen and investors regained their desire and enterprising spirit gradually after the New Deal, actively taking part in market competition. Like Wal-Mart in retail industry, AT&T in telecommunications, General Motors in manufacturing, Microsoft in computer business, and Exxon in oil industry. The competition is still a power regulator of the competition in American economy, with each company making its decisions within a profit-competitive framework. So, the recovery and development of American economy entailed pioneering spirit and innovation. It assisted the United States to own Fortune 500 companies, which played an important role on the development of economy.
2.2.2 The cultural value of the American spirit
American spirit had a great influence on American culture. In the age of Great Depression, American dream turned into a nightmare. America had been a land, filling with chances and hope before, however, only despair was left during the depression. Americans even cast doubt on their beliefs.
At the beginning, the spirit of America was the outstanding symbol of character of American literature. For example, most of the literatures were described that circumstances on the base of social situation. The autobiography of Mark Twain reflected what the spirit of America was in the mid of 19th century. Readers can find pioneering, adventurous, upbeat spirit, heroism in the American literature in The Mirror of America. Although people lived under the disappointment and hopelessness, they never gave up. They were continuous to struggle against the despairing life, which they could be brave to be live.
Secondly, American spirit is the motivation of the technological development. American scientists made contribution to innovation and creation with the American spirits of prosperous and thriving. The new technologies were invented which promoted the revival and development of the United States. It strengthened the power of democratic countries.
It is the idea that Americans can be whatever they want to be as long as they work for it. For insurance, Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard and started business by himself. He created Microsoft and became the richest man in the world through long-term efforts. Gates once said that “I failed in some subjects in exam, but my friend passed in all. Now he is an engineer in Microsoft and I am the owner of Microsoft.” (Chenjinsi and Pangzhongjia, 2012:135) It’s the ideal of capitalism and self-made wealth. This definitely permeates every part of the American culture. No matter what religion American people chose to follow in the United States, they all end up preaching the ideal that American citizens have the power and believe that God is only standing by as a security blanket.
2.2.3 The political value of the American spirit
The political value should be ranked the important place in the value of the American spirit, playing the key major role on the part of political actions and diplomatic relationship on friendly terms.
It was in fact that American political action was led by the pragmatism spirit. In the speech of Martin Luther King, he called for American black people to be brave and confident for their profits. Nowadays, Barack Obama appeals to American, even the whole world, that no war, no terrorism, no poverty should be in our daily life. The calling of the spirit of internationalism, to some degree, reflects the ambition of the United States for the status of super power all over the world.
Therefore, the American spirit’s economic value, cultural value and political value made a crucial contribution to the recovery and restoration of the United States. 马丁•路德•金及巴拉克•奥巴马透视美国精神(4):http://www.youerw.com/yingyu/lunwen_2208.html