Definition Essay: The American Dream

For some the American dream is the value of hard work. To others it's a huge emphasis on material possessions. So, the American dream is no longer the American dream. It is a dream that anyone and everyone can relate to. This dream is the idea of having what ever you want. May it be material goods, ideas and values, or freedoms and rights. This idea also represents the uniqueness of America. It is a dream a lot of people around the world don't get to enjoy;

The American Dream has held a special place in the hearts of patriots since the very founding of America in 1776. It has been a subject of many authors who grapple with its attainability, and is a beacon of hope gazed upon by victims of circumstance. The Dream has been interpreted by great minds in various ways, and has been deemed both an evil deception and a great promise of a better life. However, the American Dream has morphed from this promise of opportunities and second chances--in fact, it has become viewed as a cause for societal competition and the reason for decreasing happiness among the American people. As Americans attempt to “achieve their goals,” and “keep up with the Joneses,” they subject themselves to the materialistic cycle of greed. Success, and the goal of the American Dream, has been redefined. To be put simply, the American Dream is now to be richer than one’s neighbor, despite the fact that happiness--and thus, the Dream--cannot be achieved solely through wealth and material goods.

My interpretation of what it means to be an American includes the “American Dream”, freedom, and racism.

What is the American dream? The American dream is what the founding fathers wanted for our country. That perfect life where nobody had to worry about personal and economical safety. When Franklin Roosevelt wrote “The Four Freedoms”, the American dream is what he was writing about. In his article, Roosevelt states the basic things expected in America: "Equality of opportunity for youth and others. Jobs for those who can work. Security for those who need it. The ending of special privilege

Remember when you were a child and somebody asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up? Personally, I wanted to be a NASCAR racer. I know, a little far-fetched if you think about it. When we were children we were so optimistic. We hardly accepted failure. This was the time in our lives when we sincerely believed in ourselves. We believed in the American Dream because it was instilled in our minds by our parents that we could be anything we wanted to be. We dreamed without limits.

The American dream is the freedom to do whatever you want. It's the freedom to have the job that you want, and the freedom to express your opinions. The American dream is also happiness. It's through the American dream that we achieve this happiness.

In general, the idea of the American Dream is to achieve prosperity and everlasting success through hard work and dedication. Although this is the norm, many people have their own unique idea of what the American Dream is based on how they were raised and what they believe success is. For one person success could be to live in a mansion, while for others it may be to live in a cardboard box. An example of the general idea is in the novel Spare Parts by Joshua Davis, where four teens are out to chase after the American Dream. While the example in the novel is very general, I have my own vision of what the American Dream is.

The American Dream: Is is fact or fiction? In the United States’ Declaration of Independence, our founding fathers set forth the idea of an American Dream by providing us with the recognizable phrase “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”. The green light at the end of Daisy Buchanan’s dock symbolizes Jay Gatsby’s “Pursuit of Happiness” in the novel, The Great Gatsby, set in the 1920s on Long Island, New York. The American Dream can be defined as “the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for everyone. The American Dream is achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking, and hard work, not by chance” (Fontinelle, Amy). At the birth of our country in 1776, our founding fathers introduced the American Dream as a personal desire to pursue happiness; however, the pursuit of happiness was not intended to promote self-indulgence, rather to act as a catalyst to encourage an entrepreneurial spirit. As our country has changed, the idea of the American Dream, in some cases, has evolved into the pursuit of one’s own indulgences such as material gain regardless of the consequences.

What is the American Dream? Every American dreams of freedom. Freedom is a given priveledge in America, and as citizens, we get given the full treatment. Geela says, "In order to be truly happy and fulfilled, one must feel feel." So that would mean that the american dream is based off the idea of freedom and with freedom comes many advantages.

The American Dream can mean different things depending on who is asked. Some will answer it is the freedom of religion, class or race, others will claim it is about the ability to choose where they want to work, what they want to wear, or what’s for breakfast the next day.

To me, the American dream would be nothing without motivation and making goals for yourself. Your opinion of an american dream could be the total opposite of what the person next to you thinks it means. The american dream is some kind of goal that drives you to succeed that goal. For example, my “American Dream” is making it big in the fashion and business industry. Because of this, I will be motivated to do my best in college and make goals along the way to get to the place I wanna be at. Back then, the american dream meat a family with a dog and kids with a nice red shiny car and white picket fence surrounding your house, but nowadays, the American dream can mean whatever you want it to be. The american dream is your own dream that you want

To go from something to nothing is the American Dream. No where else on the planet is it possible for any man to wake up, gather himself, and begin a daily pursuit of excellence. The United States does not subject her citizens to oppression, a defined class system, or a limit to one’s potential. There is no supreme leader demanding complete submission and no government entity funneling the populace’s wealth for a centralized, undisclosed reason. Rather, America boasts the image of the self-made, autonomous entrepreneur. Through hard work and dedication, any person can achieve limitless success despite current financial status. It is for this reason that many illegal immigrants are willing to risk everything for themselves and their families. There is but one, simple thing standing between the land of opportunity and any man, and that is the written consent of Uncle Sam himself. All of America’s wondrous aspects and ideals may seem too good to be true, and for many, they will be no more than a dream. For others, the allure is too great, despite legality. It is those who are willing to outstep legal boundaries that pose as a serious threat to the American economy and all the good that accompanies it. As a nation rooted in immigration, America has thrived on the aspirations of greatness, both foreign and domestic. However, despite the desire for everyone to have a chance at a better life for themselves and their family, not everyone can become a legal resident. But this fact

The American differs in each persons' perspective depending on what that certain person is going through or as been through. The biggest idea of the American dream is having a big nice house, with the fancy sports car, tons of money, and being able to travel wherever they please. However only a small percent of Americans actually get to live that dream as a reality. The American dream, an idea to some people that it has to do with the class you were born into and where you were born, but that is not true. The American dream can be achieve by anyone and everyone through hard work and sacrifice. It does take time but you will appreciate the wealth and the fun more because you The American dreams differs in each persons eyes, depending on what a person is work for it, if was not given to you.(American dream/.)

Today, many people living in or immigrating to America come in search of the American Dream. The American Dream as proclaimed in Declaration for Independence states that “all men have the right to liberty, life and the pursuit of happiness since they are equal” (Declaration of Independence1). People are looking to make the best out of their lives by achieving their goals in relation to their American dreams. It entails pursuit of freedom, opportunity, equality and happiness. Thus, the American dream is real and exists for those persistent enough to see it be realized.

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy.’ They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” – (John Lennon quotes) .The concept of the American Dream has been one that is constantly evolving. It has transitioned through every era of American history. The foundation of such a concept can be found in documents like the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most controversial concepts in the American literature.