Final answer:
The 'American passion' is described as pursuing ambition, which includes the pursuit of progress, the fulfillment of the American Dream, and the advancement of civilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The narrator describes pursuing ambition as "the American passion." Throughout American history, there is a consistent theme of expansion, invention, and industry. Whether it was the settlers moving westward, embodying the ethos of Manifest Destiny, or Americans in the 19th and 20th centuries seeking to create an order of plenty, the drive has always been towards progress and fulfilling the American Dream. The concept of the American Dream itself has evolved, but it is firmly rooted in the notion of pursuing happiness through opportunity, education, hard work, and the advancement of civilization.