The American Dream, Myth or Reality?
The United States of America, the land of opportunities.
When the Vikings discovered America during the tenth century, they didn’t stay for long. The natives who lived there weren’t willing to share their country, so the Vikings left. Some centuries later, in the late fifteenth century, Christopher Columbus discovered America, and this was the first visit of lasting importance. When the first settlers moved to America, they had to do everything by themselves. Being able to work hard, and being self-sufficient early became important American values, and still is today. The American Dream is an ideal created by the settlers who wanted more people to move to America. Everyone who moved there would be given a chance to live a great life, and because new settlers would be given 164 acres of land, a mass movement of people started, mostly from Europe. The American Dream is mostly about that everyone has the same chances of freedom, prosperity and success. You should be able to have social upward mobility, and your
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The top five percent doesn’t even show up on the chart, and the middle class is almost as poor as the actual poor. The top 1%, has a chart of his own, 40% of the net income of the US, goes to the top 1%. The American Dream might be for some people, but those are the people who have rich parents or grandparents. No matter if you’re smart, if there’s a less smart kid who has a better education than you, because he’s got rich parent who can afford it, he will get the jobs. If you are black, things are even worse. In 2007, there were 7 million companies in the US, and black people owned only 7% of them2. In the government of the US, the old American values are still very important. No one should be suppressed by the state, and everyone has the same chances. The problem is that what the government should be doing, protecting the people, is not what they are
However, as our country has evolved, so has the perception of the American dream. Our country’s unification is being torn apart by confining people to a specified class. The idea that paychecks can inhibit one from being successful, . Inequality is steadily increasing in our great country. Gaps are widening, and opportunity is being threatened.
I Have a Dream The American dream has always been a staple of the American culture. When people speak of it, they say that the American dream, “is going from dirt poor to filthy rich and becoming more than you could have ever imagined” (They Say pg.611). It is where every citizen of the United States of America has the opportunity of its achievements no matter where they stand or what prejudices they may face. My definition of the American dream is basically the ideal life in America today.
The root of the American Dream originates in the stem of United States history. “Thus, the Pilgrim Fathers were the first ones to lay the foundation of the American dream where it is possible for anyone to start over” (Sofiane 96). The Pilgrims and Puritans were people in prehistoric times based on religious beliefs and had a dream of obtaining new land and starting a new beginning. History often repeats itself, moreover, the Pilgrims probably had bright intentions for their American Dream. People in contemporary times often take their dreams for granted, disapproving of initial ideas.
The American dream is an illusion that is deeply implanted in the minds of the people, it sets a bar for life achievement and offers hope to work hard to achieve their dreams. As for Americans, they are raised in a society to where they are expected to make lots money and to have a healthy family. After all in our society success is largely based off positions of power and financial stability. For example, in The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there were multiple interpretations of the ideal American dream in the 1920s. In the 1920s, due to the growth of materialism, people advertised and fancied the power of money to fulfilling their dreams.
Over the years, a dream that changed the way the world saw the U.S. was created and it is the American Dream. As the years passed and the U.S. was developing the American Dream as well developed or as many say changed. The American Dream is a term that was introduced in 1931 by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America (Kamp 2). The term “American Dream” started with a meaning that was reachable: “a better, richer and happier life for all citizens of every rank”(3). Throughout the years the term`s meaning changed dramatically.
When you think of the American Dream what do you think of. Some might think of coming from another country, going to college, or maybe becoming an owner of a business. There 's many definitions of The American Dream, everyone’s is different. I see the American Dream as a reality not so much of a dream these days. First thing I 'm going to talk about it what are some obstacles of reaching the American Dream, which groups of people have had trouble obtaining the dream, and why.
Annotated Bibliography Cohen, M. (2014, April 26). The American Dream is now just that for its middle classes – a dream. The Guardian, p. 00. “The American Dream is now just that for its middle classes – a dream” by Michael Cohen explains the perception of Americans towards the decline of the middle class. The article details how the middle class was viewed before the elections of President Obama, and how it’s viewed after the creation of the Affordable Care Act.
No matter who you are or where you have come from, you have undoubtedly heard of the American Dream. The idea that no matter who you are or where you have come from, you can do whatever it is you desire in America. What was once one the main driving forces for immigrants to flock to the new world, has slowly changed over the years, but still holds its value in the eyes of those who are looking for a promising new place to live. The American dream might not hold the same awe inspiring sound that it once did, but for many generations before ours it was a beacon of hope that helped build the foundation that the United States was built on. And, still, today the American dream might not be as achievable as it once was, but it is still an important
Firstly, the widening gap between rich and poor class implies that the American Dream is becoming more
Our Founding Fathers started the American Dream when they declared their independence from England because of their belief in unalienable rights. They believed that people had the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They made a country where people could break free from class restrictions and create the life they chose no matter what their circumstances at birth were. This was called the American Dream. The way people define the American Dream has changed over time.
American Dream James Truslow Adams, in his book which was written in 1931 and called “ The Epic of America” wrote about American dream, that American dream is about being richer and living in better life. Also that American dream is more materialistic, that people work a lot of hours to gain things which they want to have. Such as luxury cars, big houses. They want to be wealthy, rich and have all expensive things and live in a world of money and wealth.
The term, “American dream,” was first used by historian James Truslow Adams. James stated that the American dream was, “That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement.” Although the quote states a perfect definition of the American dream, this term can be interpreted in several ways. The American dream is achieving a goal that before was seen as impossible or unlikely, making a decision that could improve the life of future descendants, and having goals that you want to accomplish.
Everyone has a dream. Although these dreams aren’t the ones you have while sleeping, they are the ones that drive you, challenge you and keep you fighting for the reality that they will become true. They are the dreams that you will work hard for. Martin Luther King Jr. even died while fighting for his dream to become a reality. They are the ones you hope will one day become a reality.
America is built upon the ideal that every citizen has an equal opportunity to success and prosperity through hard work and dedication. This is also known as the American dream. Many authors have speculated what is most important in grasping the American dream and through reading these stories it can be determined that success, happiness, and freedoms all play an important role in attaining the American dream. The American dream is historically unique because everyone American has the right to it.