The Importance Of The American Dream

The “American Dream,” according to Truslow Adams, is “being able to grow to the fullest development as man and woman.” This ideal is not based on fame or wealth, but on enough to sustain a family and live comfortably, with a steadily rising income and a decent home. It is to be believed that hard work along with the “great equalizer”, education, allows individuals the freedom to determine their own life path, regardless of their background. The idea of the American dream ensures upward social mobility for those dedicated enough to achieve this lifestyle. In spite of that, recent arguments have said that this dream is either dying, or already dead. In his book “Dream Hoarders,” Richard Reeves counters that the American Dream is in fact alive and well, but simply being hoarded by the upper middles class.

What is your dream for america? The american dream is comprised of many things. It is made up of things that make america better. Not only that, it is made up of things that makes us americans. The main points of the american dream is hope for a better nation, Freedom, and diverse opportunities for all that come to america.

America, known as the nation of chance and flexibility, where any man or lady can come and have a reasonable shot at accomplishing the coveted objective usually alluded to as "The American Dream." To many, effectively getting the American dream implies having a steady 2 parent family, with money related success, and rich in political and social opportunities. This "fantasy" be that as it may, is all the more effectively accomplished by specific individuals over others, and in spite of the fact that America prides itself on being the place where there is the "opportunity" and "correspondence", those words serve all the more unequivocally as a wellspring of false reverence and incongruity. One's race, economic

To achieve the American Dream, one must work hard and have the dedication to be successful. There are myths relating to this dream leaving lower class members to wonder if the dream exists for them. People in lower class are told if they want to be successful they must put in hard work and true effort. Once they do, they see that they are remaining in the same position they started in. In “Class of America-2012,” Gregory Mantsios states the ideas of class in the US and explains them. One myth addressed in this selection is, “Everyone has an equal chance to succeed. Success in the United States requires no more than hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance: ‘In America, anyone can become a billionaire; it’s just a matter of being in the right

The American dream has changed drastically thru our history. Back in the 1950 and 1960 the American dream was to have the house with the white picket fence and the 2 ½ kids. Now the dream for a lot of people is to be able to pay their bills and maybe have enough money to go out for a nice little dinner that you did not have to cook yourself. The American dream is dead, it is because the concept has changed from the idea that everyone can improve their life through hard work to the idea that everyone can become a millionaire through virtually no work. The United State at one point used to have everything you needed to make this dream happen. But since jobs have been moving over sees we have lost all of that. The American Dream is so

We have all heard of this intense rollercoaster ride that we are on called the American Dream. The term was coined by James Truslow Adams in 1931 defining it as “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.” Since it’s arrival, the Dream has evolved from a pursuit towards “freedom, mutual respect, and equal opportunity” (Shiller) to later one of greed described by Shiller as being “excessively lustful about homeownership and wealth” beginning in the 1960s. Traditionally, the American Dream included features of a nuclear family, that is one with a breadwinning father, a housewife, and two kids, owning a white picket fence home, thriving without financial worries, and a happy family. There has been a shift in focus for the Dream caused by the Millennial generation and in turn they have included features that place an emphasis on equality in all aspects of their lives from family life to the workplace placing their own twist on the Dream. The American Dream has evolved over time to include equal opportunities, college education, and happy family.

Comedian George Carlin once stated, “That’s why they call it the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.” Financial security, freedom to live how one chooses, retiring at 65 and living comfortably in old age, owning a home, knowing that working hard pays off: these are all fundamental beliefs tied to the American Dream. As newer generations are increasingly finding the dream to be unrealistic, people are beginning to abandon the concept; however it is still a very present ideology. While many believe the American Dream is a lively goal that everyone strives to achieve, it is actually a dying illusion that is unattainable for all but the wealthiest and used to propagate a classist society, causing a cycle of ignorance

The forty-first president of the United States, George W. H. Bush, once said, “The American Dream means giving it your all, trying your hardest, accomplishing something…” As the years fly by, so does the American Dream. With busy lives, many Americans tend to forget the purpose of the American Dream. Failing to make ends meet, not being able to afford the new iPhone and the lack of success that is not America’s fault. People create their successes and failures based on what they desire. Through a person creating their own definition, not quitting once things go wrong, and creating opportunities the American Dream still floods the streets of America today.

The American Dream, an idea of what it truly means to be an American in some respects. For many, it is the idea of starting from nothing and making something to look back on in your later years and be proud of what you’ve done. For many in the generations before the millennial generation, the ideal was to graduate college, get married, get a house, and raise a family. For many millennials, this has changed with one key difference. That difference is the importance of having their own house. This was brought about by many factors including the economy, political ideology, and sustainability.

Have you ever known someone from another country who lives here? Them or their grandparents most likely. The American dream is a national ethos of the united states, the set of ideals, democracy, rights, liberty opportunities, and equality. America does provide the American Dream to the “tired, the poor, and the huddled masses due to everyone has equal opportunities to a better life and everyone can go from poor to rich.

The American Dream is a concept that, despite all odds, has survived many years and does not appear to be any less strived for than it was in the early 1900’s. Though the end result is still very desirable, this goal does not prove to be as achievable as it had been in the past. The American Dream may even seem unreachable to youth and young adults in today’s society as the success rate of “achieving” this concept continues to fall drastically. The largest obstacle blocking the American Dream today proves to be money through the means of increased cost of college education, inadequate increases in wages, and the inability to seize opportunities due to pursuing slight financial stability.

“The American Dream of the past inspired hope and optimism. When you could believe that anything was possible, it became easier to dream… The infrastructure and resources of the past are either gone or much more difficult to access… Earning the right to pursue an opportunity has now become not only a responsibility, but requires a set of skills that must be learned in order to properly seize opportunity and keep momentum alive” (Llopis). This statement proves that what once was the American dream has now become unachievable due to a change in society. Throughout American history, the dream changed from a more simple idea to a lavish lifestyle; almost impossible in today’s world. The average citizen possesses a house, an income, and a reliable form of transportation. However, there will always be someone who has more, no matter where one lives, their occupation, or their race. Today’s American Dream is unachievable due to change in society, prejudice, and unforeseen obstacles.

As people of the United States, since we were first formed, we have stood up and put our hands over our hearts for those who have lost their lives for our country. We do this at many important places such as sporting events, first thing in the morning at schools, memorials, parades, etc. Over time, some of us have stopped standing and or putting our hand over our hearts and holding up fists instead. Is this a shocking issue? We, as people, are not technically required to recite the pledge, but it is socially expected. We are to live the American dream. Being free, pursuing any job and life choice that we choose. Every. Single. Day. Ever since preschool or kindergarten, we are supposed to stand up, say the pledge and do it with our hand over

While the meaning of the American Dream has evolved multiple times between 1865 and 1980, almost every person agreed on as to what the American Dream meant in their respective time periods. The definition of the American Dream in some form has always consisted of freedom, and the ability to advance economically. Also, in more recent times things such as owning a suburban home, moving into the middle-class, being able to spend on consumer goods, and having a perfect family became a part of the American Dream. However, throughout American history there has always been groups who have not had equal access to the American Dream. External factors such as legislation, racism, sexism, and the political environment, resulted in former slaves, blacks, poor Americans, women, and immigrants not having fair access to aspects of the American Dream such as complete freedom, equal opportunity, the ability to advance economically, and the ability to enjoy the luxuries of an affluent society. Between 1865 and 1900 former slaves did not have equal access to aspects of freedom such as, “Self-ownership, family stability, religious liberty, political participation, and economic autonomy.” Later on, between 1900 and 1939 lower-class Americans, women, and immigrants did not have equal opportunity to advance economically. Later on, the American economy shifted after the second World War, and Americans were moving into the middle-class, however blacks, and immigrants did not have equal access to the

Sometimes, even the most optimistic person has a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. That is how it was during the Great Depression, one of America’s darkest times in history. The Great Depression lasted from 1929-1939 and it began after the stock market crash in October of 1929. Over 15 million Americans were unemployed and almost half of the country’s banks had failed. During the Depression, some people remained optimistic and the American Dream was born, the term first used in 1931. The Great Depression ended when World War II began. The novel Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck is set in 1930’s California with two men trying to make their way in the wake of The Great Depression. In the novel, Steinbeck’s message that dreams provide motivation and purpose can be seen through the characters of George, Lennie, and Candy.