What exactly does it mean to "dream" in America?
The concept that everyone, regardless of where they were born or what social class they were born into, may achieve their own version of success in a society in which social mobility is available for everyone is the foundation of the "American dream."
People in the United States of America have a strong cultural belief that the "American dream" can only be accomplished via self-sacrifice, taking calculated risks, and diligent labor.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The phrase "American dream" was first used in a book that was published in 1931 and given the title Epic of America.
- The American historian James Truslow Adams referred to it as "the dream of a land in which life should be better, richer, and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for everybody according to ability or success."
- A variety of reasons that gave the United States of America a competitive advantage over other countries were essential in the success of the American dream.
- Many people believe that the best way to realize the American dream is to get a good education and buy their own homes.
- Even if the term "the American Dream" has evolved over the years to mean something different to each new generation, there is little question that it is and always will be a fundamental component of the American way of life.
Comprehending the Concept of the American Dream
James Truslow Adams, an American author, and historian, first popularised the word in his book Epic of America, which he published in 1931.
He referred to it as "the dream of a land in which life should be better, richer, and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each person according to their aptitude or achievement."
Adams continued his explanation by saying, "It is a difficult dream for the higher classes of Europe to accurately comprehend, and a great number of us have grown tired of it and mistrustful of it as well. It is not merely a dream of fast automobiles and high salaries; rather, it is a dream of a social order in which each man and woman shall be able to attain the fullest stature of which they are innately capable and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position. This is a dream of social order in which each man and woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable"
The concept known as the "American dream" has much more profound origins. The Declaration of Independence lays out its principles, which can be found by looking at the following passage: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
An individual has the opportunity to live their life to the fullest, according to their own standards, in a society that is founded on these ideals. In addition, the United States of America grew primarily as a nation of immigrants. These immigrants built a nation in which it was not necessary to be born in the United States in order to become a citizen of the country or to pass citizenship on to one's offspring.
The American Dream Has Both Positives and Negatives The American Dream Has Both Positives and Negatives
Realizing the "American dream" calls for not only political and economic liberty, but also adherence to the rule of law and protection of private property rights. Without them, individuals are unable to make the decisions that will allow them to achieve success, nor are they able to have faith that their accomplishments will not be taken away from them by the use of arbitrary force.
Freedom and equality are essential tenets of the American dream. It provides the opportunity to live a dignified life, the freedom to amass wealth, the freedom to pursue bigger and better things, the freedom to aspire to those things, and the possibility of achieving those things. It also provides the freedom to live in accordance with one's own values, even if those values are not widely held or accepted.
Realizing the American Dream became personified in the works of post-Civil War author Horatio Alger, in which disadvantaged but hardworking teenage lads ascend to success through pluck, determination, and good fortune.
Disadvantages
Using the word "dream" to refer to it also conveys the impression that these ideals have not necessarily been realized in the lives of many actual Americans or those who aspire to become Americans. This is implied by the use of the word "dream." At least as old as the concept of the American dream itself is the complaint that reality does not live up to the ideal. Many people who live in the United States have not been able to realize the American dream because of a long list of injustices and obstacles, including the spread of European settlers into Native American lands, the institution of slavery, the restriction of voting rights (initially) to only white male landowners, and many more.
Since the 1970s, there has been a substantial increase in the income gap between different groups of people in the United States, which has led to an increased perception that the "American dream" is becoming increasingly out of reach for those who were not already wealthy or who were not born into wealthy families. According to data provided by the United States Census Bureau on family income, real family income started increasing at a considerably faster rate among the highest income group than among other parts of American society.
However, despite these facts, the American dream continues to shine brightly as a model for the world and a guidepost for other countries.
How to Assess the "American Dream" in Today's World
Homeownership is frequently used as an example of someone who has achieved the American dream in today's society. The capacity to govern one's own living space, rather than being subject to the whims of a landlord, is a sign of having achieved financial success and independence. This ability is also a symbol of home ownership. The realization of the American dream also includes being one's own boss and being the owner of one's own firm. In addition to that, having access to educational opportunities and medical treatment has been mentioned as components of the American Dream.
In the United States, the percentage of people who own their own homes has been gradually climbing over the course of time. This is a reflection of the importance of having your own property as a fundamental part of realizing the American Dream. For instance, the homeownership rate at the end of the year 2020 was 65.8%, which reflects a gain of 0.7% higher than the rate from the previous year.
The American economy has traditionally placed a significant emphasis on entrepreneurial endeavors. In 2019, small enterprises were responsible for the creation of 1.6 million net new jobs.
It's all a part of the American dream to have one's own home, their own company, and to carve out a life that's all their own. The United States, as a first-world country, also offers the benefits of pursuing these passions, without having to worry about basic things like having access to good education and healthcare.
Taking Into Account Particulars
Emily S. Rosenberg, a sociologist, identifies five aspects of the American dream that have been replicated in countries all over the world in her book titled "Spreading the American Dream: American Economic and Cultural Expansion, 1890-1945." In this book, Rosenberg details how America's economic and cultural expansion occurred between the years 1890 and 1945. The following are some examples of these:
- The idea that other countries should try to develop in the same way as the United States has
A firm belief in the merits of a free market economy
- Encouragement of free trade agreements and direct investment from foreign sources
- Encouragement of unrestricted communication of ideas and cultural practices
- A willingness to accept the protection of private industry by the government
A variety of reasons that gave the United States of America a competitive advantage over other countries were essential in the success of the American dream. To begin, it is somewhat isolated geographically, in comparison to the majority of other countries, and it has a climate that is generally mild. Businesses are able to develop innovation in a global context by taking advantage of the culturally diversified population that the region possesses. The country and its people are provided with food and a source of income because to the country's abundant natural resources, which include oil, arable land, and extensive beaches.
The word "the American dream" has always referred to the possibility of achieving one's goals, but one hundred years ago, its connotation was quite different from what it is today. The concept of the "American Dream" originated in the early 1900s as a vision of equality, justice, and democracy for the nation as a whole. It had nothing to do with the pursuit of personal prosperity. The expression was given a new meaning by each succeeding generation up until the time of the Cold War, when it was appropriated as an argument for a consumer-oriented and capitalist kind of democracy. Our conceptions of the "American Dream" became stagnant during the 1950s.
At this point, the idea that it might have any other meaning is inconceivable to everyone.
What Did the American Dream Originally Consist Of?
Reformers who lived during the Progressive Era in the 1900s frequently utilized the phrase "the American ideal." They were more concerned with bringing monopoly capitalism under control and shielding workers and communities from robber barons than they were with glorifying the chase of wealth.
This idea became widely known to the author and historian James Truslow Adams, who included it in his best-selling book Epic of America in 1931.
He referred to it as "the dream of a land in which life should be better, richer, and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each person according to their aptitude or achievement."
In What Ways Does the American Dream Play Out Today?
Some aspects of the "American Dream" include being able to say that you own your own home, beginning a family, and either having a secure work or being the owner of your own company.
Is It Still Possible to Achieve the American Dream?
Many people question whether or not it is possible to realize the "American Dream," as well as the specifics of what this goal involves. In point of fact, a lot of people today are concerned about whether or not they will be able to keep up with rising housing expenses and the interest payments that come with loans that are required to buy items like homes and cars. In addition, people in the United States are required to set money aside for their own retirement as well as pay substantial out-of-pocket costs for healthcare and higher education. This can leave families in a position where they are saddled with high-interest debt that is difficult to recover from.
What Does Dr. Martin Luther King's Speech Mean When He Refers to the American Dream?
During his famous address, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made a reference to the concept of the "American dream" by saying, "I have a hope that one day this nation will rise up and live out the real meaning of its creed: 'We consider these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.'" Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had been contemplating and preaching since the early 1960s on the subject of the inability of African Americans to realize the American dream due to the fact that they were not treated on an equal level to white men and women in society. The pursuit of equality was at the heart of Dr. King's "American dream."
What are Some Ways in Which the American Dream Has Evolved?
The ideals of equality and solidarity that once guided the pursuit of the American dream have given way, over the course of history, to those of individualism, competition, and the pursuit of monetary success in a culture driven by consumerism. The mortgage giant Fannie Mae began spreading the idea, beginning in the 1990s and continuing into the early 2000s, that owning a home was an essential component of the American Dream. They used this phrase frequently in advertisements designed to promote home loans.
This philosophy was a primary contributor to the housing market bubble that eventually burst in 2008–2009, which in turn caused a global economic recession.
The Crux of the Matter
The idea that a person should be able to pursue their aspirations and build the life they desire for themselves if they put in the necessary amount of effort is the ultimate expression of the American dream, which continues to be one of the most distinctively "American" ideas. This motivating desire has an influence on the economy through entrepreneurship and individual ambition, instilling a romantic notion into everybody who is attempting to be successful in the United States. Even if the term "the American Dream" has evolved over the years to mean something different to each new generation, there is little question that it is and always will be a fundamental component of the American way of life.
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