American Dream
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please discuss this issue on the talk page or replace this tag with a more specific message. This article has been tagged since October 2006. |
The American Dream is a subjective term usually implying a successful and satisfying 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 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").
Contents |
Historical background
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 potato famines in Ireland, the Highland clearances in Scotland and the aftermath of Napoleon in the rest of Europe went to America to escape their old life. 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 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 and work extremely hard, you were more likely to live a successful life.
"The ideal of freedom and opportunity that motivated the Founding Fathers; the spiritual strength of the nation. Katherine Lee Bates wrote in 1893 ‘America the Beautiful' of a ‘patriot dream that sees beyond the years.’ In 1960 the poet Archibald MacLeish, debating ‘national purpose,’ said: ‘There are those, I know, who will reply that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a dream. They are right, It is. It is the American dream.’ The American Dream, to some, stresses opportunity. The phrase defies definition as much as it invites discussion. As a force behind government philosophy, it seems to be interpreted by most users as a combination of freedom and opportunity with growing overtones of social justice" - From “Safire’s New Political Dictionary” by William Safire (Random House, New York, 1993).
History
The American Dream could be said to have existed as far back as the founding of the Thirteen Colonies. People risked the dangerous Atlantic crossing in order to begin a new life in America where one could become wealthy and free from prejudices of any sort.
The 19th century however, is the era in which the American Dream was the strongest. During the California Gold Rush of 1849, thousands flocked to America in order to seek their fortunes in gold.
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. In terms of governance, it should be noted that each current amendment to the United States Constitution has expanded personal rights, rather than restricted them.
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.
Criticism
The United States has been criticized for failing to live up to the ideal of success available to everyone who is willing to work hard. 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; or low-interest student loans, which are tax-deductible. However, for those without need-based or merit aid, the costs of higher education can be prohibitively expensive, which can act as a bar from entering professions that require a college degree.
However, there are also those who think that the American dream is not even a good ideal to try to live up to:
- 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.
- Social justice: The American Dream has been criticized as promoting an ethic of selfishness and promoting social inequality.[1]
Literature expressing the American Dream
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 by Arthur Miller
- A Raisin in the Sun
- The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
- Of Mice and Men
- The Rocking Horse Winner by D.H. Lawrence
- On the Road
- In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
- The American Dream (play) by Edward Albee
- Rags to Riches by Richard T. Farmer
- Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby, Jr.
Also, the song "American Dream" by the Christian rock band Casting Crowns focuses on the idea of the American Dream, as the title implies. The rapper Mr. Lif's critical and frustrated song "I Phantom" says "American Dream, time for another story". The song Know Your Enemy by Rage Against the Machine, in an exploration of the negative aspects of American life, ends with: "Compromise, conformity, assimilation, submission, Ignorance, hypocrisy, brutality, the elite, All of which are American dreams."
The 1983 film Scarface can be seen as a warning on the corrupting power of the American Dream.
Income in the US
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 distribution of income among Americans.
Notes
- ^ Herbert, Bob (2005). Promises Betrayed: Waking Up from the American Dream. New York, NY: Times Books. 0805078649.
References
- ^ Herbert, Bob (2005). Promises Betrayed: Waking Up from the American Dream. New York, NY: Times Books. 0805078649.
- 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
- Luntz, Frank. "Americans Talk About the American Dream," in The New Promise of American Life, edited by Lamar Alexander and Chester E. Finn, Jr., Hudson Institute, Indianapolis (1995).
- 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.
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
See also
Affluence • Arts and entertainment • Culture • Economy • Crime • Education • Educational attainment • Geography • Health care • Holidays • Household income • Homeownership • Human rights • Labor unions • Languages • Middle class • Passenger vehicle transport • Personal income • Politics • Poverty • Racism • Religion • Social class • Social issues• Sports • Standard of living
- Income in the United States
- Affluence in the United States
- Social structure of the United States
- Income quintiles
- Culture of the United States
- Secularism
