American Dream

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For other uses, see American Dream (disambiguation).

Historical American flags in Washington, DC: the Betsy Ross flag hangs on both ends and the classic Old Glory is to each side of the current 50 state version.

The American Dream is a subjective term usually implying a successful and satisfying life. This term usually implies financial security and material comfort, but can also imply a dream of fame, exceeding social, ethnic, or class boundaries, or simply living a fulfilling life. Perceptions of the American dream are usually framed in terms of American capitalism, its associated purported meritocracy, and the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Bill of Rights.

The term is not easily defined, and has subjective meaning to many who claim it. The American Dream is often associated with immigration, as the dream of religious freedom, economic prosperity, and opportunity has historically driven immigrants to the United States. The term is used by many modern Americans to signify success in life as a result of hard work (as in, "living [or pursuing] the American Dream").

[edit] Historical background

The Statue of Liberty was for many immigrants the first glimpse of the United States. It signifies freedom and personal liberty and is iconic of the American Dream.

The origin of the American Dream, a term coined by James Truslow Adams in his book "The Epics of America" (1931), stems from the departure in government and economics from the models of the Old World. Additionally, from the American Revolutionary War well into the later half of the eighteenth century, many of America's physical resources were unclaimed and held out the promise of land ownership and lucky investment in land or industry in the nineteenth century. The development of the Industrial Revolution combined with the great natural resources of the enormous and as yet unsettled (by Europeans) continent created the possibility of achieving wealth and transitioning "from rags to riches".

The living conditions in Europe and the hope of a better standard of living in America led to the migration of hundreds of thousands to the new world. Impoverished western Europeans escaping the Irish potato famines in Ireland, the Highland clearances in Scotland and the aftermath of Napoleon in the rest of Europe came to America to escape a poor quality of life at home. They had heard about the government in America and hoped for an escape from their old life.

The Industrial Revolution was one of the great forces that developed the American Dream. The Industrial Revolution, amidst all the government corruption of the Gilded Era, resulted in the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs. The development of big business, the Transcontinental Railroad, and the increase in oil production greatly increased the American standard of living. "Rags to riches" stories of business tycoons like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller led to the belief that if you had talent, intelligence, and a willingness to work extremely hard, you were more likely to live a successful life.

[edit] Immigration

Ellis Island was the historical processing and welcoming center for newly arrived immigrants in New York City.

The American dream has always had a major influence on immigration. Throughout its history, America has been viewed as a country of opportunity, where entrepreneurship flourishes relative to other regions of the world. By the turn of the 18th century, the promise of the American Dream had begun to lure substantial numbers of immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe. Huge numbers of Italians, Poles, Greeks, Russians and others (including a lot of Jews) came to find work in large industrial and financial centers such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit, and compton in the hope of escaping the class boundaries of their home countries. The system of meritocracy distinguished America from other countries because it allowed the members of the lower classes to exceed their social boundaries through hard work and determination.

[edit] The Dream in recent history

In the 20th century, the American Dream had its challenges. The Great Depression caused widespread hardship during the 30's, and was almost a reverse of the dream for those directly affected. Racial inequality and legal discrimination prevented African-Americans across the country from attaining the American Dream.

Since the end of World War II, young American families have sought to live in relative comfort and stability in the suburbs that were built up around major cities. In modern times, the American Dream is seen as a possible accomplishment, as all children can go to school and get an education. Though the drive to it waned during those years, the dream itself has never died out.

The advancements in technology in the late 20th century resulted in unparalleled economic growth. The arrival of computers, the Internet, and other modern technologies created hundreds of thousands of high-paying jobs and increased the national standard of living.

[edit] Criticism

• Consumerism and economic materialism: Its emphasis on material possessions as a way of finding happiness is seen by critics as being somewhat superficial or meaningless. Many literary works level exactly that criticism at the American Dream, such as Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman.
• Social justice: The American Dream has been criticized as promoting an ethic of selfishness and promoting social inequality.^[1]
• High paying jobs in the United States increasingly require some sort of college or university degree, but higher education can be very expensive, around $10,000 per year at public institutions on average, going up to as high as $40,000 per year at the most prestigious private colleges.^{[citation needed]} Financial aid is widely available, whereby the poorest students are increasingly being given guarantees of a high proportion (up to 100%) of grants, removing the obligation to pay back their university. However, for those without scholarships, the costs of higher education can be prohibitively expensive, which can act as a bar on children from poorer families from entering professions that require a college degree.

[edit] The Dream in literature

There are many books, plays and other forms of literature which have defined, explored or denounced the American Dream. Some more well known examples are:

• Horatio Alger's books
• The Great Gatsby
• Death of a Salesman
• A Raisin in the Sun
• Of Mice and Men
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Also, the song "American Dream" by the Christian rock band Casting Crowns focuses on the idea of the American Dream, as the title implies.

[edit] Actual income in the US

Main article: Household income in the United States

Income is often among the top measures of success in the United States, alongside educational attainment and occupational prestige. As some aspects of the American Dream concern material aspects and the statisfaction of external desires, it is also important to look at the acutal distribution of income among Americans.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Adams, James Truslow. (1931). The Epic of America. Simon Publications 2001 paperback: ISBN 1-931541-33-7
• Cullen, Jim. (2003). The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation. Oxford University Press, 2004 paperback: ISBN 0-19-517325-2
• Fossum, Robert H., and John K. Roth. (1981). The American Dream. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0-9504601-6-8
• Kochan, Thomas A. (2006). Restoring the American Dream: A Working Families' Agenda for America. The MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-61216-X.
• Samuelson, Robert J. (1995). The Good Life and Its Discontents: The American Dream in the Age of Its Entitlement, 1945–1995. New York: Vintage, 1997 paperback: ISBN 0-679-78152-8. Suggests raising the retirement age and means testing of entitlements to manage unfunded government commitments.

[edit] External links

• American Dream Coalition
• "Cabbie buys a Duke-dom" – New York Daily News January 10, 2006
• "The Ultimate American Dream: From Cabbie to Fifth Avenue Millionaire" – Gothamist January 10, 2006
• "I'm a Poster Girl For the American Dream" – New York Sun January 4, 2006
• American dream eludes the poorest – BBC September 21, 2005
• "No Help Wanted" – Washington Post September 6, 2005
• "Stark reality of the American dream" – BBC August 18, 2005