My ideas on why America became a world power in less than 100 years?

Question

This is not a question. It's more of an idea of mine which I would like some feedback on:

Hardship breeds strength and power. That is an idea that I have just realized and it has answered many things which are questionable in this world. For instance, a child who is made fun of constantly will grow up to be less sensitive because he has been forced to become stronger. I know from personal experience, athletes who practice with those much more skilled than they are will get better faster. The "hardship breeds strength and power" idea applies to everything. Plants, animals, and humans are all affected by this idea. But an indirect revelation of this idea, is America's rise to power. For many years I have pondered how it was possible for America, a sad struggling group of rebellious farmers and other common folk, were able to defeat the most powerful military on the planet. After this idea arouse, the answer was simple. While Britain, though intelligent and born from years of experience had definitely earned their prestige and respect, were creating a weaker citizens, who were enjoying the fruits of their ancestors’ labor for much too long. Americans on the other hand were constantly being tested and challenged to face new obstacles. They were forced to adapt to a harsher environment and as a result, created smarted, stronger citizens. After the revolution and establishing our independence, we were faced with more obstacles, such as designing our own government and satisfying all the desires of the states. The states were what really brought us to a world power. Constantly arguing and competing with each other, they realized that the only way to overcome the other states was to get a better economy and have better ideas and beliefs. The civil was the greatest obstacle we had to overcome, and afterwards, we were stronger and more united than ever before. It is our constant competition with each other that has made America so powerful. Hardship made strength.

Answer 1

how to apply "Hardship breeds strength and power" concept to millions of Africans who endure the hardship for centuries without reaching the outcomes of strength and power.

Answer 2

You know d**n well no one is going to change your mind.  But let me give you my perspective:

Take a female who grows up in an abusive home.  One of three outcomes will occur:  

1.  Said female grows up, gets with an abusive man, has kids, and the cycle continues.

2.  Said female grows up bitter, resentful, and unwilling to trust others.

3.  Said female grows up to be normal and lives happily ever after.

Why does #3 sound like a fairy tale?  Because it doesn't happen.

Although the U.S.may be tough because we've flourished in the face of hardship, you can't overlook the fact that we're neurotic, dysfunctional, with a big ol' chip on our shoulder.

Answer 3

Harsher environment?  As compared to what?  We Canadians should be ruling the world but we can't even win an Olympic medal (well not yet).

Anyway your argument based on geographical determinism can't work because it is too short a time for that mechanism to operate.  The wealth and power is more based on: heavy immigration, slavery, cotton, tobacco and oil.  Oh and a pretty good constitution based on meritocracy (it doesn't always work out that way but sometimes it does and at least the concepts of freedom and liberty are attractive to many)

Answer 4

It is a good theory, but you cannot explicitly say that "hardship breeds strength and power" applies to the world at large. Consider the child who, when faced with a 'fight or flight' response, chooses 'flight' instead, effectively running away from all his problems. He is not a stronger person due to hardship; rather, he is weakened and may even become a diluted version of the person he was meant to become. Furthermore, this child is not a rarity. Not everyone is built the same as what you describe.

Answer 5

your right, shorten it for people with short attention spans.