Civilisation US 1. Key ideas => Come from American civilisation 2. Commentaries 3. A text Books to buy: Pauwels, M-C. Civilistaion des E-U, Hachette Mauk, Am. Civilization an Introduction, Pontledge => Chap.1 geography Key words in American Life by Bowen and Rezé, Masson University library

1. Geography + Key Ideas Promised Land (la terre prosmise) Religious persecution Jordan River Israel Hebrews in Egypt Pagan Canaanites (païen) Dispossess the pagans The new Promised Land Religious persecution UK Atlantic Ocean America Pagan Indians Dispossessed the Indians Settlers developed this idea of Promised Land. "The city on a hill" => a religious example -17th + 18th centuries => 19th century secular version A democratic + republican example The Mexican-American war 1846 Manifest Destiny => 20th C. the American mission To bring democracy to the World

2. Commentaries For the Exam: •I Short questions (10-12) 10 points _ answer in 2 or 3 sentences => About the course II Commentary (10 points) on a text related to the course (=> about 600 words) Methodology I) Introduction (100 words) A. Context B. Author C. Type of Document

D. The target audience E. The author’s message or problematic Divide it into paragraphs II) Body (300 words) 1. Your plan (Don’t write the plan at the exam when you do the commentary.) Find the key ideas, group them together Quote from the text 2. Key idea 1: America’s mission 1.1, 5, 17, 62 Analyse why associating “vote for me” and “America’s mission” is persuasive. 3. Key idea 2 Etc. => Synthetic commentary, not line per line. We have to rearrange. Use simple present. III) Conclusion (75-100 words) A Summary and evaluation _ was the text persuasive for the audience? B What does this text teach the student about US civilisation? In this part about “what a non-American can learn from the text”, you need to focus on what the text reveals about American civilization and culture. C Errors + Omissions D The historic place of the text, my opinion

3. Texts

Text 1: President grabs power while Congress sleeps I) Introduction Context: increase in presidential power 1789 – Lake 19th C. Congress was a little more powerful G. Bush’s presidency 2 years before the 2008 elections Lake 19th C. => imperialism => president becomes more powerful to compete on the imperialist stage => 1898 Spanish-American war 1974 – Richard Nixon’s impeachment “The Imperial Presidency” Temporary limit on presidential power 2001 Afghanistan war begins 2003 Invasion of Iraq “war on terrorism” Oct 26, 2001 US patriot act => big transfer of power from Congress to the President Sept 11, 2001 attacks Jan, 2002 President asserts power to torture as a war power. Sept 2004, Guantanamo prison Habeas corpus – US Constitution – 5th Amendment Author: Robyn Blumner, St Petersburg Times “perspective columnist” She writes opinion articles (which appear in addition to the editor’s editorials) Type of document: opinion article from a quality, tabloid papers Available in 2 versions: online and paper Target audience: voters who live in the area in Florida Probably middle class, home-owners, college educated

Message or problematic: The president’s power is increasing, and Congress should limit it. Readers (voters) should elect Congress people and Senators who will do that (November 2006). II) Body Your plan: L.10 assessed fallibility of man _ King of England George III the tyrant => US declaration of independence President limited by Congress => power to impeach (remove) The President By the courts => power to say acts of The President are unconstitutional By the Constitution => forbids the president putting in jail without a trial

=> The system of checks (limits) and balances Reference to checks + balances Separation of powers l.24, l.10, l.12-14, l.60 l.36 abolition of s. of p. Explanation of c + b The president does not hold all political power. It is shared with Congress and the courts. There are mutual limits by Congress on the President, by the President on Congress, by the Supreme Court on the President. Congress can impeach (remove) the President. The President can veto laws made by Congress. The Supreme Court can say an action by the President is unconstitutional and he must stop. Place in U.S. mind-set Americans are much attached to the idea of democracy because the US is like a city on a hill that has to be a democratic example. And checks and balances guarantees democracy. The Constitution marks a turning point, a symbol of independence. It organizes American’s political life. Latest in a line of written documents 1620 May Flower Compact. => Define Americans as different from the UK Will this persuades the audience? Why? It probably persuades the audience, because they will take an attack on The Constitution personally. Hebrews = the people of the written law Constitution as quasi-sacred document. In modern times, The Mormons teach that the Constitution is divinely inspired. Informal language in “President grabs …” Contractions: l1 it’s, l8 isn’t, l7 don’t Vocabulary: l51 horrible, l13 to stomp on The author uses informal language as an argumentative technique. The author talks as if he was a friend. We are more easily persuaded by our friends. III) Conclusion Summary and evaluation In my commentary, I analysed the way the author condemns Bush’s usurpation of power (in the author’s opinion), with key American values as an underpinning: the Constitution, checks and balances, and respect for the law. I also analysed the use of informal English. I think that this article

probably persuaded St P. Times readers that Congress needed to be strengthened, because it is logically organized and the reader finds it easy to follow the author’s thoughts. The author refers to many American values which is persuasive for Americans. What does this text teach the student about US civilisation? This text teaches/shows non Americans that America is not really a pure democracy and some/many people think Bush acted like/seemed to be a dictator. Or people think Bush was changing the law for self-aggrandizement. We learn that Americans are divided in their views of Bush but united in respect for the Constitution. Errors + Omissions This article does not seem to include any serious mistakes. I do not think the author forgot any important aspect of the question. The historic place of the text, my opinion This is just a newspaper opinion article/column. It is unlikely that it will go down in history. Woodward + Bernstein Watergate affair Fall of Richard Nixon OPTIONAL: I think the author is a courageous and intelligent journalist. The article is a document that ought to be remembered.

Text 2: Senator Obama I) Introduction Context: March 18 2008. This speech was made during the 2008 primary election campaign. Black presidential candidates: Frederick Douglass – 19th Century Jesse Jackson - 1980’s Barack Obama – 2008 => first black president who had a serious chance of becoming the United States president. 2008/2010/2012 => election for 1/3 of the senators Primary election: (inside the party) They are organized by state governments to elect party delegate to the national convention. Primary elections are a reform dating from the 1890s-1910s Progressive Era. The party bosses no longer decide who will be the party’s candidate, the party members do. They are held between January and June in the election year. Each state decides when to hold its primary elections. Party members vote to indicate which candidate they prefer to be the party’s presidential candidate. The result of the vote is used to apportion the state party’s representatives (delegates) to the party’s national convention. Each state party sends a certain number of delegates to the national convention, depending on the size of the state party. Delegations are apportioned among the candidate depending on the vote by party members. The delegates simply represent the popular vote of the state party members. They are told “you represent the voters who prefer candidate X, at the national convention, you must vote for candidate X.” The results of the primary election process are known by the end of June. One of the primary election candidates will have obtained a clear majority of delegates. The party convention, in July or in August, is a mere formality. January 2007 = Raise funds $1 billion July or august = party convention official vote

The author: Give a short biography of Barack Obama. The type of document: an election campaign speech, given during the primary elections phase of the election process. The audience: Four levels of immediacy or specificity can be distinguished. Obama is addressing: 1. The people physically present in the room with Obama. 2. All the Pennsylvania Democratic Party members. 3. All the Democratic Party members in the USA. 4. All of the people who will vote in the national elections in November, 2008. Obama’s message or problematic: Barack Obama must convince Democratic party members that being a black man is not a handicap. He must demonstrate that he can win the votes of all Americans, and especially white Americans. He must make a speech that will please and generate enthusiasm among all Americans. II) Body Obama refers to symbols of America in his speech. The Constitution US symbols The title of the speech is a quote from the preamble of the Constitution. L1-6 = “convention” – the constitutional convention L13-15 = our constitution L16 a parchment = the C. not marge to deliver slave from bondage L8 an unfinished document 13th Amendment (1865): Abolition of slavery Obama presents himself as a champion of the Constitution. A key American belief is that the original Constitution was not perfect, but that it is perfectible. Cf: line 14 “a union”, that could be and should be perfected over time.” To Americans, it is almost miraculous that a Constitution written by rich white men (many of them slave-owners) is still used today and serves a multi-racial nation of rich and poor people. Obama presents himself as a defender and explainer of the Constitution. Because almost all Americans identify with the Constitution (Q: What is an American? A: A person who believes in the Constitution), Americans will see Obama as defending them. Slavery in the Constitution = - Slaves counted as 3/5 of a human for representation in Congress - International slave trade not forbidden for 20 years - Slaves returned to master from other states Pennsylvanians + slavery It is an example of regional identity which is really strong in USA. Quakers _ a protestant denomination => very hostile to slavery Quaker oats Abolitionism was strong in Pennsylvania. To quake = to tremble White Americans will be reassured that Obama will be faithful to the Constitution, which guarantees fairness and democracy. They will be reassured that he, as a black man, does not intend to take revenge for the wrongs of the past. He believes in the same things that they believe in. He shows that he is 100% American. African-Americans will be pleased that Obama highlights a part of American history (slavery) that Americans are ashamed of and that they often prefer not to talk

about. Hispanic-Americans, who are often confronted with racism today, will be pleased to hear Obama referring to and implicitly condemning America’s racist past. Declaration of Independence L5-6 = “real declaration of independence” in Philadelphia in 1787. => US Constitution in 1787, Declaration of Independence 1776 Obama gives a little history lesson in his speech. 1776 Declaration of Independence … 1787 Constitution (unfinished document) … 1865 13th Amendment => Perfectibility Before that we can say that there was the Mayflower Compact in 1620. He shows a historical progression. Americans will be reminded of a historical progression. Original sin of slavery L.9 => religion language => Quakers => America as a Garden of Eden: the American – The New Adam _ America as a model for the world. Non- civilization argumentative techniques: Unifying language = 1st person plural “we, us, our” => l.12, l.22, l.23, l.24, l.26, l.27 3x => l.28 3x, l.29 3x, l.30 2x = Acceleration of the uses of “we” Repetition -> a sign of emotion, excitement Obama’s use of idealism = - L.11 the ideal of equal citizenship - L.12 liberty, justice, union - L.17 full rights + obligations for all - L.22 our ideas - L.24 more just, equal, free, caring + prosperous America - L.32 decency + generosity Ideation as a value in American life => The flip side of materialism + consumerism American materialism creates a need for idealism. Historically, examples of idealism = the civil war to free the slaves 1860-1865 World War II 1941-1945 => an idealistic struggle against Hitlerism for some Americans. John F. Kennedy “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Quote from Inaugural Address Barack Obama uses many Americans spiritual values in his speech, because he knows American can do inspired them, and this can persuade them to vote for him. III) Conclusion to commentary on Obama Campaign Speech Summary and evaluation In my commentary, I discussed Obama’s references to key American value: The Constitution, its perfectibility, the issue of slavery, and idealism. I also analysed his use of “we”. I think Obama succeeded in persuading Americans to vote for him, because of his skilful use of key American values. What does this text teach the student about US civilisation? A non-American reader will be struck by the importance of myths and shared values in uniting the American nation. Errors + Omissions

I do not think Obama made any serious mistakes or omissions in this speech. The historic place of the text, my opinion This is a historic text. Many people say it was the turning point in Obama’s election campaign.

Text 3: Obama speech on Afghanistan => Dec 1, 2009 speech I) Introduction Context: War in Afghanistan 2001: Response to 9/11, President Bush to force Afghanistan to turn over Bin Laden + Al Qaeda to depose/to overthrow The Taliban government Result in 2009: Taliban still control large part of A Guerilla war. Karzai government => corrupt World’s number one producer of opium Dec 2009: Intelligence statement “We can’t win the war.” 55% of Americans oppose war. Author: Obama Target Audience: U.S. troops – he’s speaking at the military academy and the American people (broadcast on radio and TV). Type of document : A speech by the President of the U.S. It is by definition a major political event. Message or problematic: Americans should support Obama’s plan to send 30,000 more soldiers to A. II) Body *Leave space for announce your plan* - America’s mission to spread democracy + be a model of democracy L.1 no world domination => means US want world democracy L.3 respect for human rights L.8 heirs to a noble struggle for freedom => America as model of democracy L.15 government of the people … => democracy => unbroken line of sacrifice L.30 safer America, more secure world => a democratic world L.22 the values (democracy) we have hold dear L.24 common purpose => democracy What is America’s key value – “mission”? See explanation previous class - Great American presidents Roosevelt (Franklin) L.7 Abraham Lincoln L.15-16 Peace Corps John F. Kennedy L.14 Obama portrays himself as continuing the world of these presidents. Therefore: He is also a great leader. The President is the only one nationally-elected official. Consequently, he embodies the national will (volonté). So, he is supposed to be a leader. He has to show the way.

Realism + practicality in the US value system => one of the frontier values Self-reliance, individualism + initiative Values that were planted in the American soul by the frontier experience dates from the arrival of the first Europeans and Africans with Enlightenment ideas. Americans trust utopian visionary. The frontier was the limit between “civilized” territory and “savage” (Indians) territory- The Westward Wilder ness Survival on the frontier was difficult. Lewis + Clarke => practical explorers relied on Indian helps. So, by presenting themselves as realistic and practical, the Quakers are more likely to persuade Americans because those are key US values. 1961 => Eisenhower’s farewell speech (Republican) “beware of the military – industrial complex – a threat to democracy”. -No contradictions => formal English Formal vocabulary

FORMAL USAL Sought Looked for

Suasion Persuasion

To split asunder Divide

Creed Principles, beliefs

Summon To call

Horrific Horrible

Good strategy? Does it help him persuade the audience? Yes, because he wants to embed (=enraciner) his speech in US history and traditions. He sounds like Abraham Lincoln. He seems authoritative knowledgeable. He seems presidential => a great leader. He seems to be a wise father. Do Americans want a president who is great leader? Great presidents as an American value: - In the constitution – only national elected official. - Mont Rushmore - US president’s image in Maries - Americans usually rally around (= se rallier) the President is a serious situation. Alliteration => avec consomnes (assonance en voyelles) L.8-9, l.16, l.10 => Why is it persuasive? - Along, long literary tradition from Anglo-Saxon times - It energizes the speech. - Subconsciously, the brain associates formal order with logical orders. Lines 32-33 - God Bless you => his listeners US military corsets at West Point - God Bless your troops

All Americans and especially in Afghanistan - May god bless the US. --> An American value or myth America is under God's special protection and benefit from his gifts. In the 17th century: -The US as Promised Land. -The Pilgrim Fathers as Hebrews. -The Atlantic as River Jordan. -England as Pharaoh’s Egypt. => Religion Today! It is in the Bible. Hotel rooms – often a Bible put there by the Gideon society. => Part of US presidential speeches since Ronald Reagan (1981-1989). He set the fashion on every American coin and bill (banknote): “In God We Trust”. In France, there was: “Que Dieu Protège La France” that ended in 1871. Presidential inaugurations: The President traditional speaks the oath office on The Bible. Sessions of Congress begin with a prayer. Every American elementary school class begins with the pledge of allegiance including “one nation under God”. Is this likely to persuade Americans to support Obama? Many Americans will probably support Obama, as he is playing the role they expect. Write a conclusion to the commentary on Obama’s Afghanistan speech 1. List the techniques that you analyzed. Say if there are good techniques. 2. What can a non-American learn from the text? 3. Criticisms of the text? 4. Is this a historical or historic text? 5. Optional: personal opinion.

4. Short questions on Social Protection and Health Care 1) What were the two sources of revenue that were foreseen to finance the 1993 Clinton health care plan? => Contributions on employees and taxes => not import, not in the exam 2 and 25) When were the main government social programs set up in the U.S.? / In what periods was the U.S. government “generous”? =>1930's and after in 1960's with welfare 3) What are the two main branches of the U.S. public protection system? => Social security and welfare 4) What do Americans do to obtain regular health care coverage? => Private insurance company

5) How many government insurance programs are there in the Social Security package? => 4 programs = retirement pension, medical care for old people, employment insurance, disability insurance 6) What are the most important welfare programs? => Medicaid - health care for poor Temporary Aid to Needy Families Head start - kindergarten for poor Food stamps – food help for the poor 8) What role did the trade unions play in obtaining health care insurance? => Made it a popular demand after WW II 9) Why can choosing a private health care plan be a frustrating experience? For the employer => too much choice For the employees => too little choice 10) How do many Americans obtain a supplement to the meager federal pensions? => Complementary pension programs 11) What are the four major inadequacies of the U.S. version of welfare state? - Part-timers + temporary workers are excluded - Small company – no insurance - Little choice inside company - Lose your job, lose your health insurance 12) How many Americans had no health insurance in 2008? => 46 million (16%) 13) Who were the Americans who did not have health insurance in the U.S.? => People who work for low wages + part-timers + temporary workers => The working poor – social groups = young people, women, “racial” minorities 14) What are the consequences of the lack of universal health insurance in the U.S? - Americans die younger than people in other industrialized countries - Americans Babies die more often than in other industrialized countries 15) How much federally-paid parental leave are Americans entitled to following the birth of a child? => Zero 16) What proportion of Americans get superb medical care, what proportion gets mediocre medical care, and what proportion gets no medical care? => The best medical care in the world = 10%, 80 % medium and 10% practically none 17) Compare the proportion of U.S. GDP that goes to health care, compared to France and the United Kingdom => U.S. 15%, France + UK less 18) What does Pauwels forget when she writes (page 133) that today there are three active people for one retired person, whereas in 2013 there may be two active for one retired person? => That labor productivity is constantly rising.

19) What did the 2003 Medicare reform do? => Privatized part of health care, especially provision of medicine. 20) What is an HMO? => A combined insurance company + health care provider (hospital, clinic …)

5. Commentary on picture

Commentary on Obama/Rutte photo I) Introduction International context: The Crimean Crisis Nov 2013 – Ukraine supposed to sign treaty with the EU. President changed his mind. Crimea votes in referendum to join Russia. Russia sent troop s to Crimea and Ukrainian border. Will the US protect Europe? Artist: a photographer 1) An unnamed Time magazine photographer 2) Rembrandt – a 17th century internal famous Dutch master painter Kuleshor effect -> combining images to tell a story

Pictures: Painting = Type Amsterdam, national museum (=> important painting) This is sort of portrait. Photos = Type Time new magazine => close working relationship with the CIA 2013 – Time managing (boss) editor become top civil servant in State Dep’t Time – practically a semi-official publication This is photo journalism. Intended public: Time magazine readers 3.3 million subscribers Internet viewers 20 million in US and 5 million in other countries Message: Russia is threatening Ukraine, maybe Western Europe. The US will defend Western Europe. The US will respect its NATO obligations. II) Body of Commentary 1. Description of the photo

To describe the image: In the foreground => Present continues to say what people are doing. In the background => Clothing, attitude, gestures, on the right-hand side, on the left-hand side A lace ruff - une fraise A spear – une lance Who is the leader? Who is being protected? Who is the follower? What is being protected?

=> In the painting, in the photo “The most important is the man in black.” In the foreground, we can see Obama who is shaking hands with the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Obama and Rutte are close together on the right hand side of the photo. They are smiling. In the background, we can see a painting by Rembrandt which is shown (exhibited) in the Rijkmuseum. In this painting, there are a lot of people but we can clearly see two of them who are musketeers. They are wearing hats, lace ruffs and 17th century clothes. 2. How the photo communicates its message: The US will defend Western Europe against Russia

Parallels

Rembrandt painting Obama + Rutte

Captain in black, on the left Obama on the left

Lieutenant in white, on the right Rutte on the right

The Watch = The Guard – protects Amsterdam O + R protect Europe (NATO Alliance)

Behind the guard – a girl in white. She is defenseless, pure, innocent, and good. Good versus Bad.

Behind O + R : The Rembrandt painting A Rembrandt painting = great art, European civilization = good Good versus Bad.

What is not in the picture + you must imagine.

Rembrandt: The Threat O +R

England or France, or Spain Bad people = Russia

You don’t see members of the Guard ≠ O + Rutte’s armies In modern times, displaying military force is less acceptable.

3. The values in American minds that influence the way they see the photo. O + R shaking hands – sign of harmony + agreement + a link / sign of making a deal - Desire to bring peace - Defense of democracy - Solidarity between America and Europe. 17th century concept: The city on a hill = America as a model that everyone wants to follow. 19th century: Manifest Destiny = America must spread democracy everywhere in North America. Between these centuries: “virtuous circle” 20th + 21st century: America’s mission to spread + protect democracy everywhere in the world IDEA OF THE WORLD - The picture confirms this values system. Obama is leading NATO. The reality of the world -The power of America to do good in the world. - Helping the underdog. - The US as superpower: Comforts + reassures Americans

III) Conclusion A. Summary In my commentary, I: 1- Described the photo 2- Analyzed how it communicates a message 3- Looked at the values that condition the way Americans interpret the photo. In summary, I think the photo is (not) effective / convincing. B. Non Americans can learn that Americans still believe they have a special mission, and this is an important part of US civilization. C. Criticism of the photo If I had to point out same shortcomings, I would say it exaggerates the importance of US leaderships in European politics. Obama and Rutte have smiles that seem artificial, and this weakens (affaiblir = to weaken, weak = affaibli) the impact of the photo. It looks like a staged photo. You could also say: maybe it overestimates the art knowledge of Americans and they will not get the message. D. Is it a historic photo? E. My personal opinion (optional)