The Sovereignty of the Individual

• The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution enshrine the value of individual liberty as a founding principle of the republic. Americans tend to support the rights of individuals to make their own decisions, form their own beliefs and live free of coercion and intrusion by external powers and authorities. Related to this is a strong belief in individual control over fate and circumstances.
  
  

The Virtues of Progress

• Americans tend to be oriented toward the future and believe that the future can and should be different and better than the past. This motivates many Americans to work toward such changes as social reform, racial and economic equality and political justice. It has also inspired the American tradition of entrepreneurship in pursuit of wealth and prosperity.
  
  

Social Mobility and Egalitarianism

• The belief that social and class differences are impermanent and secondary to individual effort and determination is one held by many Americans. Popular slogans illustrate this belief, such as "Anyone can grow up to be President" and "You can achieve anything you set your mind to." Americans tend to celebrate those who rise to prominence from obscurity while downplaying advantages that accrue through privilege of birth.
  
  

Practicality and Efficiency

• The American attitude toward work tends to be one of practicality rather than adherence to formal norms or procedures. This often manifests itself through a focus on problem solving, efficiency and streamlining with a clear end goal in mind. The American educational system fosters this attitude by encouraging individual solutions and creativity rather than rote memorization and repetition of facts.