The American Dream Research Paper

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The Reality of the American Dream The American Dream was defined by James Truslow Adams in 1931 as “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each per ability or achievement”, but his definition is far from what the definition means today. The so called American Dream is dead as Americans struggle to find work, an education, or a home. It is difficult to believe the American Dream is still thriving as immigrants are being thrown out of the country or being denied access simply because they are not from here. The American Dream was believed to be freedom that made life better and gave opportunity to be successful in life; however, the dream gave false hope of success to immigrants that took more than hard …show more content…

It is simply hard to be successful in America when ones’ skin color or wealth or culture holds them back. The American Dream began in the 1900s as the economy struggled. The idea of the dream was to create hope that anyone could be successful. The idea sparked a broad meaning among Americans. “The American Dream has long been an ideal of prosperity not just for Americans, but for people across the globe” (Hacht 515), which seemed to promise freedom that drew immigrants to America. Not only did immigrants want to live in America, but Americans wanted what the American Dream promised. However, it was not easy. The dream promised “…these who work hard and play by the rules will be rewarded with a more comfortable present and a stronger future…” (Meacham); however, the promises of hard work did little to help the struggling Americans …show more content…

When the founding fathers created America, they left out people of color and women. They only thought white men should have the rights to do as they pleased. Even with the struggling white man, the American Dream was created for him. It was the false hope he could become successful with a little hard work. Even with the American Dream declared a myth, “…the promise of second chances still glimmers…” (Hacht 20) for everyone who still believes that the dream exists. However, it is much harder for women or people of color to work hard when the opportunities are not being handed to them. They are discriminated against making it harder to find jobs even if they have the skills or degrees needed for a preferred job. The American Dream is a delusion for the minority, “and all the conventional notions of the American dream that accompany it – as phony” (Hacht 515). Which is the truth for the minorities who struggle just to live life

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