The American Dream The American dream is a concept people travel from far and wide to discover, but what they may not know is how hard it is to actually achieve this reality. The Cambridge Dictionary defines the American Dream to be “The belief that everyone in the US has the chance to be successful and happy if they work hard.” This dream is a concept most Americans have on their mind each and every day, it is foundation is about working hard to become successful, owning a house, and pursuing happiness. The American dream is a little different for everyone, we do not all have the same ambitions. Many Americans that were born here in the states, will have different perceptions and hopes, than new immigrants coming for a better life in hopes to achieve the American dream. This iconic symbolism of the perfect life, is not just handed out, there are numerous struggles to achieve this idea. For instance, immigrants who are trying to become a citizen, face countless struggles in applying and meeting certain eligibility requirements to obtain citizenship. This process could take anywhere from 6 months to a year according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. This is just one of many struggles to obtain the American dream. In the current day jobs in America are just not matching the cost …show more content…
Where you come from has a lot to do with what version of the American Dream, you believe in. Today, a lot of people would settle for what works for their family, maybe not the Stories of the American Dream our Parents grew up with. Today we are a different culture, and we have different beliefs. As long as you can take care of your family, you could be living a version of the American Dream. A lot of people believe that the more money you make, the easier the dream is to achieve. But if everyone was able to provide a happy life for their family, I think then they have achieved the American
The American dream can be defined as the promise of living in America with opportunities for all, regardless of social class, and according to their ability and effort (Schnell, 2010). Proponents of the American dream believe that there is equal opportunity for all in the American society to achieve success. Success is not pegged on social status, race, or creed, but rather on an individual’s own efforts. The definition of the American dream has unique interpretations to different people. The most common meaning is that of a life of abundance and prosperity, characterized by economic rewards that enable one to live a middle class life of comfort. Here, success is measured by material possessions such as beautiful homes, cars, a high income, and the ability to spend on luxury items. America is considered a land of plenty, and as such, many who come to the United States in search of the American dream have this form of success in mind.
The American dream is common to all people, but it is viewed in various ways. The American dream is different for everyone, but they share some of the same aspects of it. The reality of the American dream is the essence of most immigrants. But the American dream can be achieved by Americans if they secure a good job and make a supportive salary. The American dream can be achieved by any race that wants to achieve it. According to Henry Ford “if you think you can or can’t you’re right.” If people think they can achieve the American dream they can, or if people think they can’t then they won’t.
Truth Behind the American Dream: Is the American Dream only a dream or can it ever be achieved? In the United States, the basic motto is to attend the American Dream. It is the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. It does not matter if a person was born into a poor family; he or she has equal opportunities to attain the American Dream. The American Dream basically means success in life with a nice house, a job, knowledge and especially the pursuit of happiness.
Achieving the American Dream has been the ideal for people living in the United States for decades. People believed that the way to get there was through hard work, also known as the “Protestant work ethic”. The American Dream can vary depending on the person. Some people think that owning a house with a white picket-fence is the American Dream while others think that it is becoming a celebrity with a lot of money.
While all Americans have the right to an equal opportunity to live their American Dream, not everyone is given their equal opportunity. The American Dream has become the American Daydream. Everyone wants a good education, financial stability, and the freedom to choose their own lifestyle. Realistically, it has become a vision that lies far in the distance, just out of reach, where it remains for most. But it all depends on the person you ask. The American Dream is individualized, meaning everyone has a different view on what they think the American dream is. Some have a more optimistic view, saying things like “The American Dream is not easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive, and passion, it’s possible to achieve the American Dream” (Tommy
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 bill 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). “At the core of the concept is the individual’s responsibility to aim for and achieve the American dream by working hard and taking advantage of the freedom offered to them by the country” (“The American Dream” 1). “A recent nationwide survey from LearnVest found that 43 percent of Americans today feel the dream is attainable for everyone - and about the same percentage feels that it’s within their grasp, personally,” notes Camille Noe Pagan. “For American Dreamers today,” states Nicole, ...
There are various individuals throughout the world who believe that the American Dream cannot be achieved by all people. Those who agree with this view believe that our culture contains too many roadblocks and obstacles. Some of these obstacles include prejudice, poverty, and social inequality. Another view on this matter is that others believe that America is the “Land of Opportunity”. They also believe that if you can believe it, you can achieve it. Back in the early 20th century, The American Dream meant something to people; nowadays it is a term that various people loosely throw around. The American Dream is not realistic because it is not attainable to everyone like Cal Thomas presumes and although education, budget cuts and lack of employment may seem of some concern to only a small group of people, it should in fact concern anyone who cares about the status of the economy.
Up until now, the term American Dream is still a popular concept on how Americans or people who come to America should live their lives and in a way it becomes a kind of life goal. However, the definitions of the term itself is somehow absurd and everyone has their own definition of it. The historian James Tuslow defines American Dream as written in his book titled “The Epic of America” in 1931 as “...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.” The root of the term American Dream is actually can be traced from the Declaration of Independence in 1776 which stated “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that
The American Dream has changed; it is no longer the same as it was fifty or even one hundred years ago. Today, people not only search for prosperity and wealth, but they also search for happiness, equality, and determination. The American Dream is for everyone, not just the rich. The term “The American Dream” is a term used to describe the American way of life in general. It is a noun stating “the idea that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.” Dreams are not limited to just one social class, everyone has a different version of the American Dream but they all work together in a community to create an organized, working society. A dream is a cherished aspiration, ambition, or idea that is open to anyone.
The American Dream is an idea that anyone can live in the United States through hard work and live happy successful lives. There are many obstacles that would stand in the way from achieving the American Dream. Fear, money and education/training, families changing in size, disability, race and gender, are some of the hurdles that many Americans face as they try to achieve the typical American Dream.
The American dream is one of those happily ever after that so many people thrive for, but never get. Life isn't a fairy tale, there are ups and downs, good and bad, nice and evil, but once we put it all together we get these wonderful things called memories which make our lives worth so much more. Not getting that happily ever after doesn't matter as much as enjoying every moment we have on Earth. Everyone has a destiny, something they are meant to do with their lives, and no matter how hard you try, you can't change your destiny. All we can do now is dream. Dream of a better future, of a better tomorrow, and inspire others to go after the ultimate dream, and hope they are the lucky ones that achieve it. There is a reason why it's called an American dream, but maybe, one day it will become an American
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.
"The American Dream" is that dream of a nation in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with options for each according to capacity or accomplishments. It is a dream of social stability in which each man and each woman shall be able to achieve to the fullest distinction of which they are essentially competent, and be distinguish by others for what they are, despite of the incidental conditions of birth or stance. The American Dream is often something that humanity wonders about. What is the American dream? Many people discover success in a range of things. There are many different definitions of the American Dream. However, the American Dream embraces prosperity, personal safety, and personal liberty. The American dream is a continually fluctuating set of ideals, reflecting the ideas of an era.
The American Dream was and always will be something that makes America great. It allows those with aspirations to make them come true. In America alone needs is a dream and the motivation to carry out that dream. Ambition is the driving force behind the American Dream. It allows any one that has an aspiration, a desire, a yearning, to carry out the individual dream. It knows no bounds of race, creed, gender or religion. It stands for something great, something that every one can strive towards. A dream can be a desire for something great. In America, the American Dream allows dreams to become realities. According to Webster's New World Dictionary, the American Dream is defined as "An American social ideal that' stresses egalitarianism and especially material prosperity". To live this dream is to succeed. It allows anyone, rich or poor to have the opportunity to succeed. It is the ability to come from nothing and become so me thing. To succeed at any thing you do, you must have patience and persistence. It requires hard work, persistence and a desire for something better. To have these qualities and the desire and ambition to carry the moutis part of the American Dream.
I also believe for many people it is very hard to reach the American Dream. With racism, discrimination and poverty put into the equation, it makes it difficult to achieve the American Dream easily. The American Dream is about equality and freedom for everyone, and our country doesn’t have that. As hard as we try, there will always be discrimination of some sort and certain races will be treated better than other races just because people view them differently instead of giving everyone an equal chance. The American Dream is what everyone wants and fights for, but with the inequality in our country, it will never be achievable for most