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.
The first aspect that influenced the American Dream was the social climate. Society in the 90’s was a time of great advancements,
…show more content…
Several things transpired politically in the 1990’s, but one of the most crucial events was the Immigration Act: “[The Immigration Act] allowed for an increase in the number of legal immigrants into the United States and... increased the numbers of work visas and visas awarded to immigrants hoping to become permanent residents of the United States” (Bell). Although some people were against this, it was actually quite beneficial. For example, it helped the immigrants because it gave them a job and a better life, and it helped the United States by increasing its workforce. Along with the Immigration Act, a few wars were also going on; the Persian Gulf War was one of them. As described in the article, “Persian Gulf War”, “Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion...of Kuwait. [When] Hussein defied United Nations Security Council demands to withdraw from Kuwait...the [war] began with a massive U.S.-led air offensive known as Operation Desert Storm. After 42 days of relentless attacks...President George H.W. Bush declared a cease-fire [but] by that time, most Iraqi forces in Kuwait had either surrendered or fled.” The fact that the United States won this war for Kuwait showed that they are still the dominant superpower of the world. It also gave Americans a sense of pride and made them feel strong and
First, what is the American dream? According to David Wallechinsky, “the traditional American Dream is based on the belief that hardworking citizens can improve their lives, pay their monthly bills without worry, give their children a start to an even better life, and still save enough to live comfortably after they retire” (1). “The American Dream” states, “It has always represented the possibility for individuals to succeed and live a life of wealth and comfort, made possible by both the political and economic attitudes in the USA and the individual’s own hard work” (1). Daniella Nicole adds that “in years past, chasing the American Dream meant the sky was the limit. . .” (1).
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.
The American Dream is to strive to be successful, wealthy, and happy. People want to opportunity to achieve high paying jobs, earn a good salary, and start a family. The American Dream does not exist though because people are judged on race, background, and other diversities.
I see American Dream in this era as a product of cultural environment which has a concept of glamorous and luxurious living that brainwashed the society. The goal of the American Dream here is to live life to the fullest by partying and climbing up the social
What is the American dream? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the American Dream as, “An American social ideal that stresses egalitarianism and material prosperity.” The American Dream has always encompassed that general idea, but different aspects of it have evolved during specific time periods.
After World War II, America had to take a step back and take a look at their country. The American Dream had been restored upon the atrocities of the war. In the 1930’s the American Dream was primarily focused on working hard, men providing for their families, and trying to rise from the depression. In the 1940’s, post World War II things changed and consumerism and feminism began to play a key role along with many other factors. There are many ways to describe the American dream and what aspects were influential to it, such as World War II, modernism, new technology and entertainment.
Everything changed in August 1963. America was mesmerized with the famous speech “I Have a Dream” delivered by Martin Luther King. People from all over the nation gathered for one single motive, social justice, and with that citizens of the United States yearned hope for a better tomorrow; a tomorrow in which they could see a breaking dawn to a day full up roaring opportunities for everyone disregarding their ethnic background, gender, sexual preference, or economic standing. This soon led to what is now known as “The American Dream.” America’s reputation for being the land of endless possibilities has captured both foreign attention as well as native patriotism. Success here in America is defined as having a good social position and a plethora of
To do what makes oneself happy. The American Dream is represented in many different ways and every person lives and chases a different version of the American Dream. Chris McCandless lived his American dream by walking alone into the wilderness of Alaska. The song written by Toby Keith, “American Soldier”, shows the price some pay for their dreams and ours to come true. Jay Gatsby died trying to acheive his dream and get the girl he loved, but died happy because he had pursued her until his death. The band All Time Low wrote a song called “The Reckless and The Brave” that brings a new light to how we go about achieving our dreams. So I believe that the American Dream is all about doing what will make you the happiest in the end.
Comparing the perspective of the American dream in the 1920’s to the American Dream in the 1940’s and present day seems to be a repeating cycle. The American dream is always evolving and changing. The American dream for present day is similar to the dream of the 1920’s. An Ideal of the American life is to conform to what our society has determined is success. Money, materialism and status had replaced the teachings of our founding fathers in the 1920’s. A return to family values and hard work found its way back into American’s lives in the 1940’s. The same pursuit of that indulgent lifestyle that was popular in the roaring twenty’s has returned today for most Americans, many Americans are living on credit and thinking that money and the accumulation of material items can solve all problems. Through film, literature, art and music, an idealized version of what it means to be an American has changed from money, materialism, and status of the 1920s to hard work and family values of the forties.
Throughout history the American Dream has been a fantasy that everyone has wanted to achieve. The American Dream focuses on opportunity, equality and overall achievement that includes both tangible and intangible objects. The American Dream came from the early settlers in America who were striving to achieve equality and opportunities and appealed to everyone because the thought of achieving the dream seemed possible for everyone. It wasn't all about how much money a person could achieve, but more about how everyone had the ability to achieve it. The American Dream is still trying to be achieved today and is an ongoing process that many people are working hard to attain. The advertisements of the American Dream are mostly focused on what people are capable of becoming as well as the material part of the dream and how much they can own. Although the American dream seemed like a reality for most people living in the 1920's, 1950's, 1980's, and 2010's because of the economic prosperity, it was actually unattainable because of the corrupted values of people living during these eras.
For many years the American Dream has enticed many people as it offered the prospect of a new life in America. This appealed to immigrants and Americans alike as the American Dream represented hope, economic security, and a chance at a better future. Coined by James Truslow Adams in 1931, the “American Dream” referred to an idealist life in which freedom, equality, and opportunity were available to every American through hard work. Although this may have been evident for many Americans in the past, with the onset of economic inequalities between the social classes, financial problems, and changes in living conditions, the idealized American Dream has been increasingly difficult to attain among
Alice Huang English 11H: Period 6 Mr. Nguyen March 9, 2014 The Illusion of the American Dream People do not fall in love with what is right in front of them. They want the dream–what they cannot have; the more unreachable, the more attractive. Because the dream is so unrealistic and disillusioned, the pursuit of it eventually ends in ruin. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a novel representing the corruption of the social setting during the Jazz Age.
When the term ‘American Dream’ was first mentioned in 1931 by James Truslow Adams, he described it as “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” (Clark). When Adams mentioned the term, it had much more of an idealistic meaning, rather than the materialistic meaning it has in modern society. At the time of it’s mention, the dream meant that prosperity was available to everyone. In the beginning, the American Dream simply promised a country in which people had the chance to work their way up through their own labor and hard work (Kiger). Throughout history, the basis of the dream has always been the same for each individual person. It
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.
“The American dream” has become a widespread way of expressing the American Way of Life. The American Dream" always has something individual. That is, why till today no one succeeded in giving a universally acceptable definition of the term.