The American Dream

Does being American mean that you’re an American citizen, or does it mean that you have the same rights and decisions as someone who is a successful American citizen? These decisions include choices you make in order to better yourself in life, whether it has to do with your choice in career, or what you want to do in life. Making decisions, and having choices comes with freedom, as a person, and that reflects on being an American everywhere in the world, even though you’ve never been in America. To be an American means that you have the freedom, and rights to do what you want, be who you are, and be/ become who you want. This right of having the freedom to do what you want, can be elaborated by someone’s life chances.

Many people have come to America for adventure, opportunity, freedom, and the chance to experience the particular qualities of the American landscape. The American Dream is the idea that every United States citizen, including immigrants and residents, should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. America somewhat provides access to the American dream, it is more so the citizen who provides access to the dream for themselves. Even though they encountered many trials and tribulations, with persistence, people such as Langston Hughes in “I Too Sing America and Anzia Yezierska in “America and I” they were able to achieve their individual American Dream.

The new vision of Irish immigrants seems to be much healthier than that of previous generalizations. The action and doing value, which is entangled in the values, seems to be present in the lives of Irish immigrants, “The young Irish coming over here today are much more sophisticated, more educated, and more ambitious “ (Krim & Early, 1995, p.33).

The "American Dream" is an idea that has always been different throughouttime. It changes in diverse forms and in the end involves success. The "American Dream" was a phrase used by the American people and peoplewanting to become American. It was always the idea that you can become a success. This is true in a partial way, but the true "American Dream" is that with somework and determination anyone can build themselves up in the economic classsystem.

Following the Reconstruction Era, from 1877 to 1920, the United States of America was undergoing industrial, political and social change. The United States industrialized, with sweeping technological developments bringing the country into the “modern era”. During this time, the country faced many challenges due to its “Open Door Policy” that led to the largest influx of immigration the country had ever seen. Also, African-Americans struggled to attain the freedoms brought about by the passage of new laws and amendments and Native Americans faced relocation to reservations. Ultimately during this Gilded Age, the poor grew poorer and faced a life of hardship and drudgery while the rich grew richer and seemingly lived an easier life. As a result, the “American Dream” was unattainable for most. At the heart of the American Dream is the idea that all citizens are born with equal rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and that all citizens can feel secure in knowing the government, of the people, will work together to protect these rights and secure justice. None of these values were upheld for the citizens of the United States from 1877-1920. African-American citizens were deprived of their human and democratic rights. Furthermore, justice for African Americans was non existent as southern states devised loopholes to keep them serving a life of servitude. Native Americans were deprived of their human rights and security because the government prioritized

The things we wish to see, reach, and experience in this life never really come into full motion. That is why life can be classified as a sad carapace on our exteriors as people. Realistically we attempt to better ourselves, looking for new opportunities to advance in job market; with aspirations to move up in the social hierarchy. Thought realities continue to show how frail we are as individuals. However, should this be the premise our break-point, to give up, throw in the towel? If so than I am quite sure humanity and this ideal notion of the American dream is a thing of the past. Why should individuals even brother attending school, starting a family, and obtaining a job? Has this really become the norm? Without a job and without money from said job it would practically be impossible to survive. Unless you are being supported by family member or your family is wealthy, but unlike wealthy families working class families still struggle. As human beings, with the knowledge we possess today how can we allow for that burden to be placed on our loved ones. The thing is we can’t, but the question we have to ask ourselves: are we to become drones working two to three jobs to make ends meet? This is also unacceptable, but this is the only choice that’s viable, sometimes in life its do or die: a concept life has delved onto individuals since the beginning of time. Still the optimist in me believes we can become more than just working drones in a society that favors the rich. Unity

Every person in the United States is entitled to free and universal public education to create a collective democratic society of individuals, prepare them to participate as citizens of the democracy and provide students with the tools and knowledge to achieve the American Dream. The American Dream is an ideology that if you get an education, work hard and are a good citizen, you will succeed in life. However, with systemic inequity in our education system, specifically disparity in quality of education, the opportunity for education, achievement gaps between race and class, and segregation of schools, many children are not receiving the education they need to achieve so-called American Dream. Due to these systemic inequities in our

I believe the American Dream is living in a house , having a stable job , enough money to do whatever you would like and lastly to live happy. The American Dream is also to go to school and have freedom of speech. America does not provide access to the American Dream for everyone because everyone does not have the same opportunities as others to go to school and have a good job, in America people discriminate others of different race and for being a woman. Through Yezierska and Noda , we come to understand how the American Dream is not possible.

Everyone has heard of the American Dream and some even live to get the chance to experience this dream. People don’t actually understand how the American Dream is changing. In the recent years the American Dream has been more out of reach than ever before; being neglected in ways and prolonged by multiple factors in the economy. In the beginning the American Dream was a goal, a display of pride even. As a nation we showed people that with a little hard work, living a great life wasn’t difficult. Families for generations could attend a variety of schools and learn to live happy lives. Sadly, as of recently that point of view has changed. People don’t want to have to work too hard and struggle to obtain financial goals. Thinking out of the box has become a foreign concept and a rare skill. “This dream is not about guaranteed outcomes, of course, but the pursuit of opportunities.” (Graham) Since people don’t aspire for the American Dream like in the past, does that still mean the American Dream is alive? Exactly how much has the American Dream changed since its creation?

The difference in economic levels between the lower income and the higher income has increased over the years. Therefore, the American Dream is becoming more unobtainable as the inequality increases. Poor income high school students with high entrance exam scores are opting for places such as community colleges instead of higher ranking schools. Since well-off people are marrying people just as well-off, they have the resources to support their kids with time and money. Those whom were raised in the upper class are likely to stay there as they have more support from their parent along with money to invest in their future. Low-income parents tend to be less involved with their children’s education, as they are trying to pay the bills. Some of

Millennials,millenials,millenials is all I hear about my generation; all I hear about my generation is how clueless and crazy we are about how the world works and that we will never make it like our ancestors before us. I never hear anything good words spoken about millennials and that needs to change. Us millennials hear you and believe me, we are trying our best to change this stereotype. The American dream has always been what everyone desires- a little perfect family, house, and neighborhood.

When you think of The United States of America what comes to mind? Do you think of the first men on the moon in 1969, or maybe the first cell phone in 1973? When you think of the United States you think of greatness. But hey, every dynasty has there ups and downs, we sure as hell have had our downs, just a little example the Jim Crow laws that started in 1890 and didn’t end until 1965. Some people will say when they think of the United States they think of a new start. Starting with nothing and making something of yourself. They call this the American Dream. The national ethos of the United States is the American Dream. A place where we have democracy (even though we don’t live in a democracy, we live in a republic), a place where we have

It is a scary thought: millions of people have moved across the country and even across oceans to achieve their dream, but even after large scale changes to a person’s life, it may still be completely inaccessible. The American Dream has been a driving force of American immigration and culture for centuries. The white picket fence version of the American Dream that usually comes to mind when talking about it did not come about until the 1950s, when suburban housing and limited diversity in pop culture popularized the stereotypical 2.5 kids, a dog, and obviously the white picket fence dream that is often seen today. The American Dream has existed in a different form for decades, though. One common theme that has stayed consistent is the wish to be self-sustaining, like George and Lennie from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Their dream is to one day eventually be able to own their own farm and be rid of the burden of constantly traveling around to find work. Due to Great Depression era obstacles, such as little to no economic stability and and Lennie’s mental disabilities, their farm is mostly a fairy tale George tells Lennie to bring him joy. Their dream and other characters’ lead the reader to believe that they are hoping for nothing. Almost all characters in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men have not or will not carry out their version of the American Dream because of economic and agricultural adversity, societal disadvantages, or lack of action.

Throughout the vast country that is the United States, copious amounts of people, often different from each other, have one essential goal that is the same. Often, this goal can be to conquer the many obstacles that the world presents them, in an attempt to be deemed a successful and valued member of society. This ambition that drives people to have a desirable, supportable, and successful life, that is achieved by hard work, dedication, and the ability to overcome a series of roadblocks, is known as the American Dream. In Barbara Ehrenreich’s nonfiction book Nickel and Dimed and John Steinbeck’s Novel, Of Mice and Men,the protagonists define the American Dream, however, there definitions are quite different, while still having hints of similarities. The meaning of the dream is based largely on the time period in which these books were taken place. A constant, however, is the characters wanting to gain independence. In both texts, the journey to achieve the dream is one that features a plethora of obstacles, such as monetary, civil, and medical, which illustrates that the want to become self sufficient is a purpose that remains consistent throughout both books, even though the dream evolves as time moves on.

The American Dream today is different to every individual but as a nation it is being economically safe and having something to work for. It is having the ability to do the same thing everyone else is doing. It is being able to believe in anything you want, even if its something as imaginative as unicorns. The overall definition of “The American Dream” is to be successful in work and in society. This definition is very generic so no matter how many years pass it will pretty much be the same.