The Chapter On Individualism And The American Dream

The American Dream is something I believe is still very much alive in the heart of millennials. The American Dream gives hope to individuals that come from all levels of society. It is the dream of striving for success no matter your color, background, or up-bringing, and knowing in your heart that anything is possible.

The term “American Dream” was originated form a Historian James Truslow Adams for popularizing the idea in his 1901 book “The Epic of America”. Adams explained that the dream of life should be richer and fuller for everyone, and the opportunity for each and every one to have the ability to achieve it. The word American dream gradually appeared in books and articles in the mid to late 1800s but had a different meaning, but not till the 20th century it was a substitute for an upward economic mobility. Most would say a typical family lifestyle should be lived as the American Dream. The American Dream is national ethos of the United States, the set of ideals in which freedom includes an upward social mobility for the family and children, achieved

Let us see, I could say my life was the All American dream, where mom brings lemonade to the kids, while they harass the dog in the front yard, surrounded by a white picket fence. Or it could be that my life was a fairy tale, one that seems good on the outside but on the inside seemed to me a never ending nightmare. I could go on and on about how good of a life I live, or I could say all the horrible things that have happened, but I’d rather just explain what has shaped me into the person I am today, because that is what a home environment does to a person.

Many people are trying to achieve the American dream and want to live a decent life which is why they try to complete their education first by getting their degree which will lead them to a job. Since the competition for higher education has been on the rise the stakes are higher which make people take questionable actions.

“Part of the American dream, is of course, individualism” because “ the free market always provides him with the opportunity to rebuild himself, get a new identity, and find a new place to raise his family” (Newitz 38). The sense that work will bring you freedom, which creates this loop of always working to acquire more even when one has everything like Jordan, he exceeded the American dream, he had: “In addition to Naomi (model wife) and my two perfect kids, I own a mansion, private jet, six cars, three horses, two vacation homes and a 170 foot yacht” (Wolf of Wall Street) all made possible by his successful career. When his job reached a breaking point and it was time for him to step down to avoid prison and he’d still live the American dream,

America historically owns the reputation of being the land of opportunity, and for generations immigrants have fled to the United States to experience the freedom and equality our government lays claim to. At the root of this reputation is the American Dream, the belief that with hard work anyone can succeed based solely on his or her merits. While definitions of success vary, the American Dream defines it as the ability to become a "self-made man," thereby rising to a more-than-comfortable state of living. The American Dream is believed to be blind to race, sex, or socio-economic status and at a first glance, seems to be almost Utopian. Conversely, repeated examples and statistics of the lower-classes, those continually facing the harsh

America, home of the great, land of the free, this is where people from around the world come to achieve the American dream, beginning with the people that originated the dream itself - the born Americans. Success can be achieved by any and every one with endless opportunities to obtain money, success and wealth; This is the American dream. The more money you have the more successful you are. America is a country of free thinkers, individualism, liberty, and privilege. It is a land of freedom to achieve, explore and flourish unlike other countries that only offer limited to none of these achievable freedoms, yet crime rates are high and constant here in America, unlike other countries. How did this happen? Is it due to the desired

Because everyone needs to find self reliance in order to reach the American Dream, they need to go outside of their everyday routines in order to find it. First, people must ignore the social norms that keep them from truly expressing themselves. For example, drinking at a party is considered a social norm. In a study done by LIVESTRONG, they asked teens if they drank at a party only because they felt like they should and 22% of the people admitted they did (Eliza Martinez). Another reason many people don’t find self reliance is because of the way they are raised through their traditions. From my past experience, I grew up in a Catholic, farm family where paying your bills was their way of living. I am trying my best to look past

In my knowledge I think the American Dream came as a result of freedom from slavery and the attaining of independence. In that case, the American dream entails better lives for the Citizens of United states that comprises of living a fulfilling simple life and ensuring you are happy. Thus, it is concerned with things such as proper healthcare, education and decent housing. To achieve the American people, have to go an extra mile and work hard in terms of finding that one thing that we wish to do without being forced. For instance, my passion might be to be a medical doctor. To achieve this, I should not be hindered by outside sources and the education system should not make choices for me but otherwise encourage me to follow my dreams. In the case of career choices, parents should not be the ones to make choices for their children. A child should make his or her own decision and ensure they have every resource at their disposal to be creative and innovative to achieve their passion.

The American Dream is a concept that has existed ever since the Constitution gave the citizens of the United States the right to pursue happiness. Although each individual definition of the dream changes from person to person, it is often associated with money, success, and everything that comes with it. Joanne Rowling, the author of the bestselling Harry Potter series, went from living a cramped apartment with her daughter Jessica to being one of the UK’s wealthiest woman in a matter of a few years. Even though J.K. Rowling is British and not American, she has still overcome various struggles and obstacles on her way to success, and in turn, fulfills the American Dream.

Throughout the American Dream unit, the class was exposed and enlightened by many artifacts and texts. Authors such as Coates, Steinbeck, Fitzgerald and many more changed opinions, sparked new ideas, and inspired all to begin to think differently. In the beginning of our unit, I can admit my ideas of America were those of the typical United States citizen. I believed in American exceptionalism which by definition means that America is truly exceptional in all aspects (Koterba, Kneedler, LaJeunesse, Leatherman). Not a flaw to be found in our history, in the present, or the future. I believed this because these ideals are what all Americans are taught and raised to believe.

John Steinbeck is the author of the novella Of Mice and Men, published in 1937. Steinbeck grew up on a farm in the Salinas River Valley, California during the Great Depression; where this book takes place. The Great Depression started in 1929 and ended in 1939. During this time money lost value, food became the only valuable thing. This book was written based on Steinbeck’s experience as a teenage migrant farm worker. Therefore, this story is about two migrant farm workers, George Milton and Lennie Smalls, who move from farm to farm in search of job opportunities trying to make enough to survive. The theme in this book is the failure of the American dream. A belief that your hard work will always pay off. In his novella, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses George Milton, Candy, and Curley’s wife to prove the failure of the American dream.

The American Dream can be defined as achieving the highest level of economic success for an individual and their family. Americans are brought up in a culture where they are told that if they start from the bottom and put in the maximum amount of hard work they too will achieve The American Dream. The dream itself is subjective to an individual's needs but most often includes homeownership, financial stability, job stability, and a better future for the next generation. The Washington Post article by Robert J. Samuelson discussed how the death rates of non Hispanic middle aged whites has gotten significantly worse throughout the years, and as a result men were dying even younger. The causes of death are most often suicide, overdose, or alcohol related. Researchers have attributed these deaths to be a direct result of income inequality and the social crisis. Therefore, I believe the American Dream is killing us. The American Dream is killing those who do not know how to appropriately seek help when faced with unemployment and mental health concerns. The American Dream is responsible for the death of the middle class, the social crisis, and the internal upset when the dream is not achieved.

The American Dream: the achievement of success and prosperity in which every man and woman longs for. The dream of all Americans, to have a long and prosperous life full of wealth and happiness, along with the freedom to care for themselves and their families, freedom of expression and speech, freedom of religion, and much more. Yet, do we truly get to live out this American dream that has defined this country. Most individuals long to come to this country to experience this dream for themselves, yet in watching the documentary, Where to Invade Next, Michael Moore discovers that many of the original American ideals and ideas are moreso practiced in other countries than within the great Motherland herself.

The American Dream is likable to any other living entity in that it will constantly change in order to conform to the environment to which it occupies. To garner a further understanding of the abstract concept that is the “American Dream” I looked to the writings of early American novelists such as Thomas Wolfe and, the original coiner of said term, James Truslow Adams. In their writings, they had described the “American Dream” to be, in essence, the representation of the pursuit of a given individual to reach and attain their respective goal through hard work and determination (Library of Congress, 2017). For many, the American Dream consists of potentially attaining their respective dream career, settling down, owning a home, and starting a family that can thrive in that home. Unfortunately for many Americans, career aspiration do not always play out the way that we intend for them to. In the place of attainment of career goals some settle at buying their own home. Though much has changed since the term was first coined in the early 1930s, the American Dream continues to thrive today, no matter the trials nor tribulations. In this particular day and age, we consider the development of the American millennial generation and their pursuit of said dream. According to the most recent data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, homeownership among millennials has been on a steady decrease since 2004 falling from roughly less than 45% to less than 35% (Annual Homeownership Rates