The American Dream : 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.

The great American dream is about seizing an opportunity when it passes by, in the form of education, or blood, sweat, and tears, otherwise known as hard work. America is an opportunistic society, not egalitarian. One has to forge one’s own way in the path of social mobility versus waiting for an equal and fair

The topic of The American Dream has been brought up on many occasions. The arising issue that still ascends is whether or not The American Dream is alive or dead in the United States. The American Dream has come to the generalization of the personal perspective of any individual. The history of The American Dream has always gone back to the common man thinking of their future generations to come and how he will implant a positive outcome throughout it. Many now believe that the ideal plan of The American Dream cannot even be met anymore. Values and beliefs are now being questioned towards the aspect of upward mobility, the cost of education, jobs, and even affordable housing. Referring to an executive editor and vice president of Time Reporting, he states, “combined with a formidable American work ethic, made the pursuit of happiness more than a full-time proposition” (Meacham, Keeping The Dream Alive). This statement is targeted towards the actual definition of what The American Dream actually meant in various societies in the past. Happiness and a full-time of gratitude were critical aspects towards being met because it was the initial reason for this ideal. Some of the key causes and components that affect the way The American Dream is supposed upon today is the basic principles of economics, education, and a downward spiral. These reasons lead to The American Dream being considered in a diverse way with much complexity. The American Dream was different from the past and

The American Dream is indefinable. There is no one set of words or characteristics that the entire population assigns directly to its definition. With the American population consisting of people of various races, ethnicities, ages, classes, and genders, it seems trivial to even attempt to attribute a single definition to the concept of the American Dream. It is this inability however, to be confined within one single meaning, that allows for the American Dream to govern the desires and goals of the large and diverse American population. And, regardless of all of the heterogeneity within society, the American Dream is generally a goal of all American peoples. In examining this idea, I began to think about the specific meanings attributed to the American Dream for different types of individuals. I broadly outlined the American Dream for myself, to represent the belief in hard work as a pathway to success and raising oneself in society. Consequently, this higher position in society allows for the possession of increased amounts of power. My definition however, neglects to take into account the certain other societal constructs that could possibly have a decisive role in how to both define and achieve the American Dream for the wide variety of people who pursue it.

American Dream: Noun, the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American. That is the definition of the American dream according to Dictionary.com, but the American Dream is more than a definition, but a way of life for many. Millions of immigrants come to our country in search of this “American Dream” including my grandparents but more and more are disappointed. So does the American Dream exist? Has it ever existed or has it all been an illusion?

Another good example on how opportunity is part of the American dream is Oscar Carlos Acosta’s story. Acosta was a rather talented baseball player, the problem was that he had immersed himself so far into his baseball career, he didn’t pay attention to his school. He had paved his road to the American Dream or so he thought. Acosta made it to the minor leagues, where he soon tore his rotator cuff. Acosta lost everything he had, his family, his life dream. A second chance soon came his way, a chance to coach in Texas. He soon made a name for himself and rebuilt his life. Today he coaches the Chicago Cubs pitcher. Acosta is living his American Dream due to opportunity. (Rather 43)

The ideal that every citizen of the United States should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. That is the definition of the “American Dream”, but the way it is interpreted changes from generation to generation. As stated in the prompt a big portion of the “American Dream” is one day being successful enough to purchase your own house, or at least that is how the Baby Boomers interpreted it. Millennials are now taking over and a lot of them do not have the same view.

The term “American Dream” is defined as an idea which believes that all people have the possibility of prosperity and success. The idea first came from James Adams, a noted American writer and historian. He claimed, “Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability and achievement.” Therefore, the core concepts of the American Dream were closely linked to hard work and opportunity.

American poet Archibald Macleish once stated, “There are those who will say that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind is nothing but a dream. They are right. It is the American Dream.”  The concept of the American dream is the potential for hard-working individuals to prosper and conquer one's goal where they weren’t able to in other places. The novel, “The Great Gatsby” by Scott Fitzgerald and the short story, “Negocios by Junot Diaz refer to characters that are dedicated to overcoming poverty and achieving what they believed was the American dream. The main characters in each text, Papi and Gatsby are making their life’s mission to better themselves for love and affluence. Both characters are allied in the idea that they are trying to pursue the American dream, but while Gatsby personifies this desire through Daisy and wealth, Papi epitomizes the aspiration of economic stability by coming to the United States.

Opportunity is defined in Webster's Dictionary as 'A good position, chance or prospect for achievement'; which is easily connected to the idea of The American Dream. After all, isn't America known as 'The land of opportunity';? Most people came to America, and still come for that matter, in search of a better life through hard work and dedication to their cause. In 'Chinaman's Chance: Reflections on the American Dream'; by Eric Liu, it is stated that '...it (the American Dream) does demand the opportunity to achieve progress-and values the opportunity as much as the achievement.'; This statement is imperative because it gives recognition to those who try to reach their goals, even if they cannot achieve them fully. Throughout history, we

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.

Every year, thousands of people immigrate to the United States in hope of starting anew. They travel thousands of miles across the world, risking everything, to at least have an attempt to start a new, successful life. This prominent belief that America is the region of boundless opportunity is known as the “American Dream”. This belief that America is the land of opportunity has many different interpretations, most view it either as the broad interpretation and the interpretation of Americans.

People from all over the world migrate to the Unites States of America in hopes of living out the “American Dream.” Most do not realize, however, that the “American Dream” is perhaps only meant to be lived out by stereotypical, hetersosexual, Caucasian Americans. Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a scholar, writer and a 25 year member of the American Sociologist Society, would argue that the “American Dream” in and of itself is extremely gendered.

It is apparent that opportunity is the motive for the millions of immigrants that sacrifice their lives and their homes to live the American Dream. The American Dream is not about success but about the opportunity that is given to those who cannot achieve success elsewhere. In the United States oppurtunity is a

The American Dream has been the dominant dream since the day people began migrating to the New World. People migrated over to the New World seeking a life filled with opportunity and freedom. Dominant powers existed all over Europe and was used to its advantage. Europeans seeking a successful life would be unequally treated by these dominant power, who would often forcefully take there earnings from them. The New World was a place where Europeans would be able to pursue a wealthy life without any interference of dominant powers. Its presence gave people the idea of the American Dream, which has changed over the course of history.