The American Dream Fallacy

The American Dream has its roots in the ability of a person to have opportunity. In this country, citizens have the right to live the way they wish. According to the Library of Congress, the right of a person “to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make

The American dream, crazily sought after, rarely achieved, is what some theorist may say. People of the lower class or should I say of all socioeconomic classes have this preconceived notion that the American Dream is attainable if you just work hard and believe in the system. However, the strain and anomie theories prove otherwise. People of all different background share this eager desire to obtain the status of the economically elite, but for some it is considered

“The American Dream” as defined by James Truslow Adams in 1931 is a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility achieved through hard work. Truslow states "life should be worse and poorer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The American Dream is viewed by many Americans as not

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.

Is the American Dream a reality or a fallacy? The ongoing debate is whether the dream really exists. The proverbial American Dream promotes the idea that immigrants can travel to America and prosper; however, the idea of the dream and the reality are vastly different. This renowned saying for the United States is like a siren from the Odyssey, alluring but unreliable. The American Dream is a universally understood idea with a uniquely personal reality thought to be welcoming and free like Emma Lazarus, productive and effective like Walt Whitman, or false and unequal like Langston Hughes.

The American Dream, coined by James Truslow Adams in 1931, had been a popular term that had; given motivation to the dissatisfied, reduced the influence of race and one’s social position on achieving their goals, advertised America as a land that offered an abundant amount of possibilities that no other country could match, and unified the country under the same desire of wealth and prosperity, even in times of great despair. Adams had constructed the idea, “...that American dream of a better, richer, and happier life for all our citizens of every rank”(Kamp), as the base of the American Dream. This dream started with the Puritans’ impartial nature and desire to flee the religious persecution they fought in England, to a new land of freedom. However the Declaration of Independence was what really drove this concept of equal opportunities for all men (Kamp). It gave white males proof of equivalence to his other white brethrens, while initiating the ideology that other races and genders could take part of the movement of equal opportunities. However, as generations passed, the American Dream did not necessarily disappear, but shifted towards a more materialistic perspective of success. With the optimistic belief that hard work is directly associated with prosperity, many citizens and immigrants are disheartened when they realize the ignored truth behind the American Dream. Anyone who resides in the United States is promised opportunities to a, “‘better and richer life’... but

The idea of the American Dream is first voiced by James Adams, who says that it is “that dream of a land,” where life should be better for everyone, “with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement” (Tobak). The main drag American society has today is the “according to his ability or achievement.” Most believe that the American Dream is a promise dealt out exactly equal to all, this is false. The American Dream is not assured, it is dealt out according to ability, achievement, and a little luck. This is because America is not class locked, unlike many other nations “where position is far more important in determining a life’s outcome” (Tobak).

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.

The American dream can be defined as the promise of living in America with opportunities for all, regardless of social class, and according to their ability and effort (Schnell, 2010). Proponents of the American dream believe that there is equal opportunity for all in the American society to achieve success. Success is not pegged on social status, race, or creed, but rather on an individual’s own efforts. The definition of the American dream has unique interpretations to different people. The most common meaning is that of a life of abundance and prosperity, characterized by economic rewards that enable one to live a middle class life of comfort. Here, success is measured by material possessions such as beautiful homes, cars, a high

The American dream has always been a significant national element in the spirit of the United States. It is an idea that “has been attached to everything from religious freedom to a home in the suburbs, and has inspired emotions ranging from deep satisfaction to disillusioned fury” (Hochschild 1995, 17). However, the American dream resembles a national anthem sang by different voices who don’t agree on the lyrics. If we were to ask people about their idea on this abstract concept, we would get various opinions; nevertheless, the theme is quite similar: “the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.” Years before the use of the phrase "American

The outcome of the American Dream had first come well known when James Truslow Adams stated, “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement” (McQuade), without the weight of a different social class or the circumstances of birth resulting in a part of the decision. His meaning was based around the thoughts on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness that was first seen in the Declaration of Independence; which proclaims, “all mean are created equal” (McQuade). Today’s society looks at the American Dream in different lights, to some it may be becoming very wealthy and to others being happy with the life they were given; consequently, all of the different views towards

The idea of the American Dream has been around since America was founded, but until 1933, it was not put into words. In the article American Faces 1933’s Realities, by James Truslow Adams, he defines the American Dream as “ ...a vision of a better, deeper, richer life for every individual, regardless of the position in society which he or she may occupy by the accident of birth” (1). The American Dream does not have to be described as having copious amounts of wealth. To some, it is only a vision of a better life for themselves and their families.

The American Dream is the belief that with one’s efforts and use of freedom “success” can be evident. Life may not go as you planned, it’s essential to keep a positive attitude as well as a positive life. Misfortunes may come your way, a positive attitude is needed in every aspect of life: work, your health and your relationships. The foundation of the “American Dream” is when some individual tries to obtain wealthy life. Achieving a quality of life superior to others is ideal.

Have you ever heard the expression “American Dream”? You most probably have, however, have you ever thought what this concept could actually mean and how it is related to your life? If we simply ask most people about their peculiar understanding of the American Dream, the majority of answers can be easily shortened to a simple one: the American dream is to become successful, to be a master of one’s own destiny and to enjoy the freedom in its utmost expression. However, there is no direct or absolutely clear definition of the American dream, as it is viewed by people on the basis of their different worldviews, mental perception, sociological status and time background. Yes, it is definitely heterogeneous as far as different epochs are taken into account. It can hardly be imagined that the American dream cherished, for example, by George Washington, Martin Luther King or by a fictional character Jay Gatsby, were ideologically similar. However, the American dream for any person and for any epoch has always been based on the following pillars: freedom, equality, control over one’s destiny and an incessant pursuit of one’s dream.

Americans have long held an idea of success that has been defined by upward movement in finance and family. This idea of success has been called the American Dream. The Dream started when colonists in the 1700s came to America to find their own idea of success. Today, the American Dream can be recognized as upward social mobility and strong relationships. Passion, privilege, and hope are factors that affect an individual’s money and relationships which are integral parts of achieving the American Dream.