As an end-of-semester special project in her college US History class, my daughter wants to survey at least 250 individuals in three age categories, and get their opinion on the five most important things that the USA has contributed to the world. These can be anything from new technologies to political contributions to business models. I suggested to her that this might be a good place to get a lot of varied ideas.

The only thing I ask is that we stay on-topic and not get into a political argument or make silly comments. She (and I) would really appreciate input from any of you who would like to participate.

What she needs:

1. The name of the accomplishment (up to five)
2. One sentence describing why you think it is important
3. Whether your age range is 20-39 years, 30-59 years, or 60+ years

Thank you in advance for your help.

Total Quality Management developed by Dr Deming, Joesph Juran and others.

Created philosophy that revolutioned business.

30-59 year old bracket.

1. The Salk and Sabine Vaccines to eradicate Polio.

2. Steve Jobs brought us into the modern age of computers

3. Bill Gates, same as Steve Jobs

4.& 5. Outer Space Technology which lead to the first an only men to land on the Moon, among other things.

60+ years old.

The moon landing and the opening up of space exploration. Needs no explanation - the greatest adventure the human race has gone on, and could only be done by a country with massive resources and intellectual curiosity.

Hard-boiled fiction, particularly Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. In fact, a reinvigorating of fiction in general starting with Moby Dick and continuing right through to Don DeLillo and James Elroy. English literature was in the hands of 'respectable' middle-class writers, and was getting stale. American writers brought a new vibrancy which improved literature worldwide.

Extreme capitalism and the concept that the individual is more important than society (you didn't say the accomplishments had to be positive). For hundreds of years western culture was dominated by European nobility who ruled by divine right and the rest of society had no rights. From 1789 onwards (the French Revolution) people began to demand rights, leading to democracy all over the developed world. But in America this was reversed, with society being dominated by the super rich, to the detriment of the common man.

The harnessing of nuclear power. For good or evil, this gives us unlimited power into the future. It also threatened for a while (mutually assured destruction during the cold war) the future of the entire planet.

Age: 30-59.

1. The Bill of Rights. It was a benchmark that inspired so many others on the planet to seek their own freedom.
2. Social Security and Medicare. The collective use of tax dollars which benefited huge numbers of people, despite the naysayers.
3. The 1969 NY Mets. Because everything said it couldn't, shouldn't happen, but it did.
Age: 60+

Practical Application of Standardized Parts in Manufacturing as done by Eli Whitney

By developing and using standardized parts in the production of muskets for US government after revolutionary war, Whitney established manufacturing method that allowed for the industrial revution and mass production.

Still in 30-59 group

1. Jazz
2. Unique American art form.
3 63 years old.

And Rock and Roll.

1. Manned space flight. I'd like to expand upon space travel a bit by way of reminder that it was because of our manned space missions that we have so many of the technological advances we enjoy today.

Here's a couple of links that further expand upon it.

http://www.care2.com/causes/5-things-we-......ion.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_spin-off_technologies

https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2008/tech_benefits.html

Jazz was mentioned by Arthur and I'd also add Blues. Blues transformed the pop music scene and paved the way for rock and roll. It was very culturally transforming.

Alternating current for electrical power distribution; thanks to Serbian American inventor Nikola Tesla. His ideas for transmitting electrical current made it viable for entire cities and the world to enjoy the benefits of electric light, heating and cooling, food refrigeration that helped prevent spoilage and on and on. Even the computer you're reading this on.

30-59 range

1. Baseball
2. Baseball
3. Baseball
4. Baseball
5. A written Constitution, jazz, rock and roll, etc.

I'm 52.

1) The promise of opportunity from individual entrepreneurship

2) The Whitney thing.

3). The computer thing

4). Products invented as a result of the Space programs

5). And now, 3-D printing.

- Over 60 -

Tom, you forgot baseball.

OOooh! 1-b) Forgot Baseball!

1) The Internet - Platform provided by the U.S. that resulted in revolutionary impact on culture and commerce

60+

Thank you all for your contributions. If anyone else would like to participate, there's still time!

Bilko.
51 (and a half.)

The Manhattan Project.

It changed the world forever.

60+ years

Jeans, 1875, Levi Strauss

Life without them would be so uncool

30 - 59

I didn't think jeans were cool anymore - I hardly see anyone wearing denim of late.

Oh, denim is still in, but it has to be selvedge denim from Japan, and you have to wear your jeans for up to a year without washing them in order to get really sick fades. And my guess would be that it's a gay thing. But what would I know? I'm a straight guy who wears Levis and wears fingernail polish.