American Dream Research Paper

955 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The Impact of the American Dream

“No person can maximize the American Dream on the minimum wage.” (Jealous P.1). What is the American dream. Is it the ability for free schooling? Is it the ability to get a sustainable job to support your family? Does it even exist? Many people have their own interpretations of the American Dream, and some question it’s existence in modern society. Some Believe the american dream has become the need for wealth distribution, so that people can live without stress, they can enjoy luxuries that only the rich can enjoy. The american dream is something that the younger generations of American citizens, or even the elders of a family in a war torn nation can both agree that it inspires hope for a good or better life. When you think of the American …show more content…

This is due to fast transportation, global connection and communication, and the ability for more options towards being apart of a mass migration. Today, their is aa believed 20 million illegal immigrants in the US. These people can come from all over the world for many reasons. Mexico for a better life, middle east for escape from war, or even Asia so those people can seek better work for their adept skills in a field. This means that a large amount of people in many different categories of work skills, have come into the US. This can cause jobs to be taken, resulting in people to become unemployed, taking away their income and their ability to pursue the American dream. “When you're young you have time and energy but no money. When you get older you have money and energy but no time. And later when you finally have time and money, you no longer have energy.” (Gulick) Today in american society people are always pursuing a deadline. It doesn't matter if you are a businessman working in an office, or a poor man in a janitor's cupboard, people suffer from extreme amounts of stress. This combined with the quote by gulick shows how you can never have a perfect balance in life, a balance to pursue the american

Show More
Related

  • Essay On The American Dream In The 1990's

    975 Words  | 2 Pages

    Because the concept of the American Dream has been around for many years, it is something that is familiar to everyone. It can be agreed that people all have their own opinions and views about it; even decades have their own version of the American Dream. But what about for the 1990’s? What was the American Dream during that era? The American Dream in the 90’s was greatly influenced by three things: the expansion in technology, the thriving economy, and various, pivotal political events; based on those three components, the American Dream can be defined as individual success, such as money, power, fame, and development.

    Read More

  • The Increase in Crimes to Achieve the American Dream

    672 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Founding Fathers once preached that the American Dream entailed the right to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” nothing more, nothing less (Declaration of Independence). For centuries, the American Dream meant having a good job, owning a house, having a nice family, and generally enjoying life the best way possible. As history progressed however, people started working toward achieving individualistic success by any means necessary. Go back to the 1930s in New York City one fine spring morning. A boy, Moss Hart, remembers that back then “wealth, rank, or an imposing name counted for nothing. The dream of the wonderful American consisted of having a decent chance to scale the walls and achieve what they wished” (Kamp 1). Now flash-forward a century into the year 2014. Today in America, success does not reflect how muc...

    Read More

  • American Dream Essay: The Root Of The American Dream

    1443 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every American has a different definition of the American Dream, and what has been at the root of the American Dream differs between each individual. A popular myth about the American Dream is that every citizen has an equal chance to achieve success and wealth with ease. An immigrant may have a different idea of what the American Dream means to them, whereas an American that was born in the states may not entirely see it in the same light. The same goes for Americans who had to claim refugee status to enter the country and for those who became Americans through forced migration. Some Americans may not believe the American Dream is tangible, while others may think the American Dream is denied to them and actively

    Read More

  • American Dream Essay

    1461 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck shows American dream as an unreachable goal for the characters. Of Mice and Men is a novel based on two childhood friends, Lennie and George, who travel together in search of work. Lennie, the gentle giant, has a mental disability and an obsession of petting soft objects. One day, while stroking a girl’s hair, Lennie accidently kills her. And eventually by the end of the novel, George is forced to shoot Lennie. Steinbeck shows American Dream as an unreachable goal because of a character’s standing in the society, their dreams to be unreal and their dependency on other characters.

    Read More

  • Minimum Wage and the American Dream

    1247 Words  | 3 Pages

    Living in a nice home, a good neighborhood, and having nice cars is what most people think of as part of the American Dream. How are you supposed to get there though? Unless you're going to win the lottery you’re going to have to work in some form. Achieving the American Dream while earning minimum wage may take a person longer but it is still attainable. Through higher education or hard work individuals can achieve a higher standard of living.

    Read More

  • American Dream Essay

    1221 Words  | 3 Pages

    Everyone grows up with the thought of an American dream in mind . Unfortunately that American dream is only limited to the people who are not of color. Sadly the people of color and the american dream don 't match up to well. I feel that this is because it can’t be easily obtained due to improper education and never being given the opportunity to show what they’re made of. Maybe if we weren 't categorized by our living arrangements, or the amount of our wealth, or better yet being presumed as these incompetent animals who aren’t good for nothing. Then we too would be able to achieve our own american dreams ,but as people of color the chances of that are not likely living in a world that feeds us with this improper mindset.

    Read More

  • What Is The American Dream Still Alive Analysis

    1360 Words  | 3 Pages

    Everybody has their own definition of living the “American Dream” and although they have their own definition, they all end up saying the same thing. A big house, a family, enough money to feed their family and do other things around town, a job, success, peace, love, and happiness are all things that qualify one for living the American dream. Some people, however, do not believe in the American dream because it is hard to achieve, even if you are taking all the right steps to achieve it. In these two articles “What is the American Dream in 2016”, and “The American Dream is Alive – These People Prove It”, you will be able to identify both attitudes towards the American dream. In the article, “What is the American Dream in 2016”, by Sean Bryant, he writes about how the American dream barely exists.

    Read More

  • Prejudice Destroyed the American Dream

    1018 Words  | 3 Pages

    Years ago, the United States of America was the prime example of prosperity and opportunity. In recent years, in the worst recession since the Great Depression, unemployment and interest rates have skyrocketed. The “American Dream” is an idea that was once a commonly accepted ideology in this country. It has since become only a fallacy. The “American Dream” is no longer an attainable idea, only a fantasy. The “American Dream” is not a true dream that will ever be equally attainable by everyone.

    Read More

  • The Impossible American Dream

    958 Words  | 2 Pages

    The American Dream is known to be a hope for a better, richer, happier life for all citizens of every class. For almost all Americans, this entails earning a college degree, gaining a good job, buying a house, and starting a family. Although this seems wonderful, a large amount of the American population believes that the Dream has changed immensely because of increased prices in today’s society, the price of tuition being highly unaffordable, as well as the unemployment rate skyrocketing and weaker job growth. While some American citizens believe it has changed, others believe that the American Dream has not changed, but point out it is harder to obtain.

    Read More

  • American Dream Act Research Paper

    1595 Words  | 4 Pages

    America is a brimming nation with immigrants ; these people arrive here to fulfill the much anticipated goal known as the “American Dream”. The American Dream is the ideal lifestyle that many people work hard for. Many of those who are striving to reach the American Dream are illegal immigrants. Many have immigrated into America illegally and bring their children along with them. The children are left with no options of growing up legally, leaving them to grow up with the hardships of life and obstacles on the route to the American Dream.

    Read More

  • Summary Of American Dream By Brandon King

    1937 Words  | 4 Pages

    People who work hard enough become successful and build a good life for themselves and their family. Millions of Americans and others who admire America have believed this for generations. However, is this still true? Brandon King debates his interpretation of the American Dream in his published work, “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?” During his essay, the speaker highlights how important the American Dream is to the economy and providing a distance from inequality. The speaker emphasizes his belief that the American Dream is still alive within America and that people must work hard to achieve it. When discussing the American Dream, King will agree that the idea is alive and thriving in the minds of Americans; yet, I argue that the idea is on hold within American society due to lack of upward social independence and economic mobility.

    Read More

  • Is the American Dream Still Possible?

    635 Words  | 2 Pages

    The American Dream is so important to our country and especially for our generation to take seriously. The American Dream is the opportunity to reach the goals one sets for themselves. It is about having your dream job and life you have always fantasized about. The dream is also about having freedom and equality. The American Dream was much easier to attain a few decades ago compared to today. However, it is still possible. The economy was better fifty years ago than it is today. People are in greater debt now and the United States is in higher debt than it was fifty years ago. The American Dream is still possible despite the lack of improvement within social mobility in American society over the past years. The American dream is achievable by being able to live a middle-class lifestyle and that lifestyle is obtainable through hard work and perseverance, even in light of obstacles such as racism. “The American Dream is still achievable, however, the good news is that people at the bottom are just as likely to move up the income ladder today as they were 50 years ago” (O’Brien 1). The ability to attain the American Dream is hindered by race, the middle class, and giving up facing adversity.

    Read More

  • Dream Essay: The American Dream

    975 Words  | 2 Pages

    The American Dream. What is it exactly? Well, it is the ideal that every U.S. citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. However, can everyone really achieve it? Yes, anyone can achieve the American Dream with enough hard work and dedication to pursue a good life. In order to maintain the American Dream there are some important ways to achieve it. Such as: a strong work ethic, a good education, and being determined.

    Read More

  • American Dream Thesis

    248 Words  | 1 Pages

    For many years, individuals have been moving to The United States from everywhere throughout the world in quest to fulfill their dreams. More specifically they come for “The American Dream” as it is known that America is the place where anyone can be successful at anything as long as they are determined and work hard. This philosophy is the one that motivates many Americans to work hard in order to achieve their dreams and live a happy, successful life. However, this ideology is not one that can be acquired just off hard work as many other factors come into play. “The American Dream” appears to be somewhat impossible to accomplish when the individual is from a minority background. The so called “American Dream” sometimes makes minorities feel

    Read More

  • The American Dream Today

    1960 Words  | 4 Pages

    What is the American Dream, and who are the people most likely to pursue its often elusive fulfillment? Indeed, the American Dream has come to represent the attainment of myriad of goals that are specific to each individual. While one person might consider a purchased home with a white picket fence her version of the American Dream, another might regard it as the financial ability to operate his own business. Clearly, there is no cut and dried definition of the American Dream as long as any two people hold a different meaning. What it does universally represent, however, it the opportunity for people to seek out their individual and collective desires under a political umbrella of democracy.

    Read More

More about American Dream Research Paper

Open Document