In the first part of this essay I will contemplate the historical development of the
concept of American individualism through the centuries, which created a contextual
background for the establishment of a self-made man idea in the minds of Americans. In
addition there will be given the biographical examples of self-made men that became a
pattern for all the successors in American history. Furthermore I would like to make an
overview of the various aspects of self-made man philosophy, which includes the
discussion of its positive and negative sides and its influences on personality and society
in general. Finally I will debate the ways of realisation of the self-made man idea
nowadays and weigh the existing perspectives in the individualistic and contradictory
world of now.
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
2.1 Characteristics of American Individualism
2.2 Individualism bred by Puritanism
3 SELF- MADE MEN OF AMERICA
3.1 Benjamin Franklin
3.2 Abraham Lincoln
3.3 Andrew Carnegie
4 SOCIAL DARWINISM AND THE GILDED AGE
4.1 Individualism as Expression of Social Darwinism
4.2 Mythic Individualism
5 PROGRESSIVISM
5.1 Individualism in Times of Progressivism
5.2 Great Depression
5.3 Henry Ford
6 PARADOXES OF INDIVIDUALISM
6.1 Middle- Class Conformity
6.2 Altruism hidden in Individualism
7 CONCLUSION
Objectives and Core Themes
The study examines the historical evolution and sociocultural impact of the "self-made man" myth in America, questioning how this individualistic ideal has shaped American identity, social structures, and the balance between personal ambition and community responsibility.
- Historical roots of American individualism in Puritan ethics.
- Biographical analyses of iconic self-made figures like Franklin, Lincoln, and Carnegie.
- The influence of Social Darwinism and the Gilded Age on economic competition.
- The shift from utilitarian individualism to social conformity and the paradox of altruism.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin is often called the first self-made man of USA. His life gives the biographical pattern from which all other self-made men stories have been cut. The hard work, ambition, self-discipline and thrift were the bricks of a philosophy he preached and the rhetoric of his life. His everyday life from the adolescence was organised in a way to maximize productivity and to approximate success step by step. Franklin was the 15th of 17 children born to father Josiah Franklin, a candle maker. Granted only two years of formal schooling, Franklin supplemented his knowledge by self-education.
Young Benjamin struck out on his own as he was seventeen and travelled to Philadelphia on his own. Started as a printer's helper, Franklin soon began getting the contract to do government jobs. He created an enormously successful printing business and in 1729 he became an owner of a newspaper, the ‘Pennsylvania Gazette’.
During the 1720s and 1730s, Franklin starts to engage himself socially, working for public good. He organized the ‘Junto’, a young working-man's group dedicated to self and-civic improvement, and joined the Masons. Among the chief accomplishments of Franklin in this era was helping to launch the Library Company in 1731. In 1736, he organized Philadelphia's Union Fire Company, the first in the city. In 1743, he helped to launch the American Philosophical Society, which was the first learned society in America.
Summary of Chapters
1 INTRODUCTION: Outlines the connection between the American dream and the concept of the self-made man as a national narrative of achievement.
2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: Discusses how Puritanism established the foundational values of individualism, self-reliance, and the Protestant work ethic.
3 SELF- MADE MEN OF AMERICA: Provides biographical profiles of Franklin, Lincoln, and Carnegie to illustrate the archetype of the successful, self-driven individual.
4 SOCIAL DARWINISM AND THE GILDED AGE: Explores how evolutionary theory was applied to economic life, fostering a culture of ruthless competition.
5 PROGRESSIVISM: Analyzes the transition from unchecked industrial individualism to reform movements and the crisis of values during the Great Depression.
6 PARADOXES OF INDIVIDUALISM: Examines the tension between middle-class conformity and the search for authentic selfhood, including the role of altruism.
7 CONCLUSION: Synthesizes the development of the American individualistic philosophy and its need to integrate social responsibility in the modern era.
Keywords
American Dream, Self-made Man, Individualism, Puritanism, Social Darwinism, Gilded Age, Progressivism, Great Depression, Henry Ford, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Conformity, Altruism, Protestant Ethic, American History.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The work explores the cultural and historical development of the "self-made man" phenomenon in the United States and how this ideal has evolved from the colonial period to the modern day.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The central themes include the influence of Puritanism, the economic impact of Social Darwinism, the shift toward progressivism, and the ongoing tension between personal autonomy and social conformity.
What is the main research question of the study?
The study investigates how the myth of the self-made man serves as a foundation for American identity and how this individualistic narrative interacts with the necessity of social and community integration.
Which scientific methods were applied in this research?
The paper employs historical analysis and sociocultural theory, drawing upon biographical case studies and sociological literature to contextualize the concept of individualism.
What is discussed in the main body of the text?
The main body examines historical foundations, individual biographical models, industrial-era philosophies, the economic challenges of the 20th century, and the sociopolitical paradoxes of middle-class identity.
Which keywords best characterize the research?
Key terms include American Dream, Individualism, Puritanism, Social Darwinism, and Self-made man.
How does the author characterize Benjamin Franklin?
Franklin is identified as the first true "self-made man" of the USA, serving as the foundational biographical template for subsequent generations of American success stories.
Why did the Great Depression impact the ideal of the self-made man?
The Great Depression caused a widespread economic and cultural crisis that led Americans to question the viability of extreme individualism, shifting public favor toward community-oriented values and government reform.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Diplom-Sozialwissenschaftlerin Kira Kogan (Autor:in), 2010, The Self-Made Man: Myth and Reality of an American Phenomenon, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/231210
