• 1950s - 1960s: an anti-racist & social movement for equal rights and treament of African American
• it was a non-violent protest; strategies like boycotts, sit-ins and protest marches were used
• advocated for social, legal, political & cultural change --> to end racial sergregation and prohibit discrimination
• 5 civil rights: right to vote, right to a fair trial, right to government services, right to a public education, right to use public facilities
• civil rights movement was successful because of the ability to prostest without the use of violence
• famous activist: Martin Luther King
• famouse protest: The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom - includes Martin Luther Kings speech "I have a dream..."

• slavery (south relied on it / north believed it was wrong  and evil)
• states rights (how much power should the state have) 
• expansions of north and south 

• After the 20s, in which the US economy expanded rapidly, the stock market crashed in 1929 (Wall Street Crash)
• Fundamental structural weakness in American economic system ---> banks operated without guarantees to their customers; few regulations placed on banks ---> lent loans to those recklessly speculating in stocks ---> climate of panic when times got tough
• consumers confidence vanished in the wake of the stock market crash
• the downturn in spending and investing led factories and other businesses to slow down production and begin firing workers
• As for those who were still employed wages fell drastically ---> the buying power decreased
• Many Americans were forced to buy on credit and fell into debt
• Situation only grew worse the following three years (farmers couldn’t afford to harvest their crops while people elsewhere starved)
• By 1930, 4 million Americans looking for work couldn’t find any; by 1931 the number had risen to 6 million
• American industrial production had dropped by half
• Investors lost confidence in their banks and demanded their cash which led to bank runs that resulted in thousands of banks closing down
• in 1932, 15 million people were unemployed (more than 20% of the population) 
   

• The American Dream is an important part of American culture 
• It can have an individual meaning for each person, but the basic idea is a better life, which is based on equal opportunities and opportunities for everyone
• Regardless of social status, everyone should be able to achieve their goals through their own efforts and work
• There are also different ways of looking at the American Dream: 
  • From a materialistic point of view, he describes that everyone can achieve prosperity and wealth ---> "From rags to riches"
  • But in fact to reach a higher social status, it is more about where and in which family you were born than equality.
• Democratically speaking, it includes the pursuit of equal rights and freedom for everyone.

The basis for this was laid in the Declaration of Independence in 1776:

The Declaration of Independence states, among other things, that all people are equal (1.) and that all American citizens have the right to life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness (2.).

 (1)   "all men are created equal"

(2)   "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"