>>1837346American culture is heavily influenced by protestant and English ideals.
The idea that our rights come from God and that we can know Him without need of a priest drove our entrepreneurial spirit. This, combined with the English family culture which emphasizes the nuclear family over the extended family, lead to the current American view on life.
1) Seniority and bloodlines mean little in the face of merit.
2) Your parents and your children are your family. Your cousins might as well be strangers.
3) Failure is your own fault, and failure is okay because it means you tried.
4) Pursue the truth and join whatever Church you see fit, for there is no priestly class who can find truth for you.
5) If you are born with any advantage, you must use it to its fullest realization. If you don't then you have wasted an opportunity.
6) Public property belongs to you. If public property is in disrepair it reflects on you personally.
7) You must help those in need, both because it's the right thing to do, and because it is improper to hope some other entity will do it.
