Comparative study of the USA Overview of the USA & Key Terms Historical determinants Lesson 1

Overview You should have knowledge and understanding of the cultural context of sport in the USA and the UK, specifically: – historical determinants – geographical factors – government policy – commercialisation of sport – social determinants – social values

Learning Objective Establish and clearly understand the cultural context of the USA as it underpins the whole course Compare the culture and the historical determinants of the UK with the USA

The Stars and Stripes Starter Q – What can we learn from the American Flag? Discuss with the person next to you… The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states of the United States of America and the 13 stripes represent the thirteen British colonies that declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain and became the first states in the Union.

Colonisation “The process whereby a country is taken over by another more dominant country” Prior to 1776 the USA was a British colony, abiding by British law and culture The games of the time resembles those of pre- industrail Britain i.e. Mob games

Buzz words Isolation Policy Frontierism American Dream New World Marginalised Categories of American Sports

Historical Timeline Pre-colonisation – Lacrosse (Natives) 1492 – European colonisation by Christopher Columbus 1607 – Football played by English Settlers (Jamestown) 1665 – Horse Racing organised in New York 1776 – Declaration of Independence 1800s – Cricket on the eastern seaboard

A brief history of the USA Britain colonised the USA in 1492 and brought with them the their culture. Sports and pastimes. Different sports were played by separate sections of society dependant on your class (high and low class) After the declaration of independence 1776 the USA wanted to separate itself from all things British and so adopted an isolation policy

Isolation Policy Desire of the USA to separate themselves from the UK and Europe To stand alone and sever ties with its colonial history

The British initially inhabited the eastern side of the US but gradually pushed inland (which was a very dangerous place due to the indigenous population was trying to defend their land

Frontierism Temporary boundary marking extent of Western expansion Hostile conditions Spirit of toughness, ruggedness and independence in the face of adversity Brought about the term ‘frontier spirit’ whch explaining the tough attitude needed by the settlers to survive in these hostile conditions

American Dream “The belief that all people are equal in terms of opportunity and that regardless of background it is, through hard work, possible to succeed in the USA” THE KEYSTONE OF MODERN AMERICAN CULTURE

New World The term given to the United States of American in the period after the Declaration of Independence (1776) The term became associated with optimism and the notion of a LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

Marginalised Refers to British sport being put to one side and rejected by the mainstream culture

Categories of American Sport Adaptations, e.g. American Football (gridiron) → rugby Baseball → rounders Adoptions, e.g. Ice hockey from Canada Inventions, e.g. Basketball Homework – Task 2 (p102)

Americanised The process of becoming an American by accepting the culture and traditions of the USA Referred to as ‘assimilation’