The American Dream Essay

The American Dream started as a belief that anyone could come to the U.S. from any background, any economic profile, and find work. They could work hard, earn a living, and achieve happiness and financial security. In The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold by Brandon King, the author quotes a line from a New York Times survey that states “… Americans still believe that it is possible to start poor, work hard, and become rich in America” (Seelye, 2009). This quote perfectly embodies what the American Dream used to mean to people. The quote is from 2009 as well, so even seven years ago people had this opinion. It also states that when American’s were asked what the American Dream refers to, most of them said something like “financial security” or “being able to retire without struggling”. It

The American Dream originated in the early days of the American settlement, with mostly poor immigrants searching for opportunities. It was first manifested in the Declaration of Independence, which describes an attitude of hope. The Declaration of Independence states:

Many years ago, my grandparents came to the United States in pursue of the American Dream. They came chasing opportunities and in hope of gaining a better life. As the years passed, they achieved their goal and continued their journey as dreamers. The American Dream as seen by many today is that any person, regardless of their background, can achieve great things in America as long as hard work and effort is put in. Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby, uses his 1925 novel as an allegory for his interpretation of the American Dream. The American Dream is a never ending dream; those who pursue it thrive for more, and those who achieve it are never satisfied.

As we studied in the previous unit, the American Dream is the idea that everybody is equal to each other and people can live their lives to the fullest. I also believed that this dream was for Americans only. However, after realizing that other countries and cultures had heard of how great life in America is, they wanted to be part of the American Dream as well. These immigrants took action by entering the U.S. through Ellis Island, which used to be the main hub for all foreigners to apply for ability to enter the U.S. The main reason that people immigrated to America was to have freedom. During World War II, many people were murdered for being Jewish. This act by Adolf Hitler showed that religions were restricted in Europe during World War II. People wanted to live a more free life with no restrictions to their religious beliefs, causing many immigrants to come to the U.S.

The American dream is all but a figment of the imagination that is unrealistic to attain since it is becoming harder and harder for any middle class to sustain itself in the middle or the poor society to prosper to the intermediate class. What once was possible is almost impossible to achieve success and wealth through hard work, persistence, and action. The top one percent of the American society is making it impossible for the lower class to hold on to hope for a better future. The richer are getting richer by remarkably increase profits. Yet, the lower class wages have either decrease in some sectors of employment or have remained stationary resulting in “income inequality. That is “…the extent to which income is distributed in an uneven manner among a population” (inequality.org). Today it is even more evident that the lower class is stuck, unable to go nowhere. Savings is almost none existence to the middle and poor classes yet, they are working harder than ever before. Fortunately by having a free democratic society take control over “wealth inequality” the economic difference can stabilize through unionization for all low-wage labor.

Despite working hard to achieve the American Dream and to have a prosperous and successful life in America the rising costs of college and housing as well as lower pay in some states creates debt for many Americans. Although other people around the world come to America to reach the American dream, but are halted by all of the costs that reside to become a part of it.

Throughout history the American dream has been a fantasy that everyone wanted to achieve. The american dream focuses on opportunity, equality and overall achievement that includes both tangible and intangible objects. The american dream came from the early settlers in America who were striving to achieve equality and opportunities for everyone. The american dream appealed to everyone because it was possible for everyone to achieve. It wasn't all about how much money a person could achieve, but more about how everyone had the ability to achieve it. The american dream is still trying to be achieved today and is an ongoing process that many people are working hard to attain. The advertisements of the american dream are focused a lot on what people are capable of becoming as well as the material part part of the dream and how much they can own. Although the American dream seemed like a reality for most people living in the 1920's and 1950's because of the economic prosperity, it was actually unattainable because of the corrupted values of people living during this era.

The American dream was first founded upon the values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that are now stated in the Declaration of Independence (Warshauer.) The American dream in the 1920’s and now is supported by the strongest values of our Nation. During the roaring twenties, after the war, the economy started to crave a better lifestyle and felt that they deserved better. Society decided that everyone should have the same opportunity for success, no matter their social standing or where they came from (The 1920’s.) Not only did they feel entitled to have a good life, but they also knew that the only way their dreams could come true was through hard work and dedication.

Something else I think of when thinking about the “American Dream,” I immediately think about is all the people that come to the United States from all over the world for a fresh start. Their fresh start literally starts on the street with the few dollars that they thought would be useful for their new beginning. Quickly, they realize they can’t afford to live here because of the housing and low

Immigrants dreamed of coming to the United States for years. The United States is emerging and becoming more industrialized. Immigrants wanted a this thriving country for their own. They also wanted the government to protect each person’s opportunity to pursue their own idea of happiness. So these families immigrated and came to America to live the American Dream. The American Dream us achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking, and hard work, not by chance. Both sacrifice and risk-taking may have been hard for some families to accomplish in order to come to America, but it was necessary. These families that really had a passion to live in America, and to be happy needed to put in hard work, to get back a good result. The American Dream is something that needs to be worked for, not taken for granted and was not achieved by chance, it was achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking, and hard work.

Founded in the Declaration of Independence, the American Dream has long been around as a concept that merges a series of democratic principles such as liberty, opportunity, rights and equality promoting the idea and incentivizing Americans to work hard and strive to achieve upward mobility and prosperity. American writer and historian James Truslow Adams describes the American Dream as follows "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.” (Adams, 1931). Over time the concept became deeply ingrained into society and culture

The scent of the salty sea wafting through the air while aboard a cramped Mayflower filled with sickness and hope for a better life once on solid land. Fast forward a few years and it is no longer the sea but lacers of land . It is the freedom to be able to due as you wish . The American dream is the outcome of the hard work that’s put in for a better life. It is the working hard to achieve an ultimate goal. The expansion of our resources and the new technology of this age helps to provide for the American dream in the modern day. The American Dream is still accessible because those who work hard can achieve it, and those who strive can reach it, this is because the focus has shifted to having a simple life. through out the years, it may be accessible to all.

The American Dream is achievable through strength of hard work, strong economic growth, and equal opportunity. Fundamentally the American Dream is still alive due to hard working people throughout America. Indeed, “What I believe unites the people of this nation, regardless of race or region or party, young or old, rich or poor, is the simple, profound belief in opportunity for all, the notion that if you work hard and take responsibility, you can get ahead in America” (Cillizza, 2014). The American Dream exists across the country, regardless of your origins. United, hard-working individuals, are the backbone of small businesses. In every town these entrepreneurs have created countless jobs and bolstered the economy. Regardless of your heritage, “The American Dream is a crucial thread in this country’s tapestry, woven through politics, music, and culture” (Shapiro, 2012). American country tapestry expression will undoubtedly have diverse meanings to different people. The underlying suggestion is that hard work pays off and that the next generation will have a better life than the previous

Many people would say that the American dream isn’t possible, is possible or maybe possible. But concluding that if maybe possible brings immigrants and citizens to thought. “Can I succeed?” Through their hard work in jobs and education, they live as an individual trying to achieve the American dream. The American dream to citizens and immigrants bring the determination and dedication,while citizens whom are born in the U.S las a high knowledge of how truly America is like. And immigrants who come to the U.S to achieve the American dream, and yet to know more about the American dream and impact society and themselves. So, is the American dream still possible? Maybe, it can be possible. Through people's hard work,dedication, and self change helps them achieve that American dream, takes hard work and individual self esteem to keep hanging there and have that goal reached.

It’s important to understand what the American dream is before focusing on its origins. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, “The American Dream” “is a happy life achieved by any American through hard work” (“The American Dream”). The Dictionary.com definition states that the American dream embodies “the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity” (“American Dream”). These reputable online dictionaries differ in phrasing but are similar at their core. Both illustrate the idea that if you work hard, you have the opportunity to achieve. This is an important principle in the American psyche and the foundation on which the United States was established.