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My understanding of the American dream is being able to make it in this country no matter what you came from. I believe this is still alive and well for some people they have to work harder then others but it is possible for most people in this country. Even people in other parts of the world can have the chance as america takes most immigrants in the world and they have the opportunity make it. With a dream hard work dedication and takeing your chances is key to makeing it and anyone can do that. I believe that the american dream is still alive and it is that anyone in this country is able to make it to there goals aslong as they work towards it as this is the country of opportunity.

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This article speaks about the idea of the american dream and how people are affected by it.I aggree with this article as it speaks about how anyone in this country can get to it as long as there born into this country they have the opportunity. Also it comes with freedom And the equality for everyone that wants the chance to get to the dream. In my oppinion this article goes with my thesis as it talks about the possobility of getting to the dream and what it comes with. This article also speaks about how its possible for anyone to come to.

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What Is the American Dream?

The American dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society in which upward mobility is possible for everyone.

The American dream is believed to be achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking, and hard work, rather than by chance.

Key Takeaways

Understanding the American Dream

The term was coined by writer and historian James Truslow Adams in his best-selling 1931 book Epic of America. 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."

Adams went on to explain, "It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motorcars and high wages merely, but 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, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."

The idea of the American dream has much deeper roots. Its tenets can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which states: "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."

In a society based on these principles, an individual can live life to its fullest as they define it. America also grew mostly as a nation of immigrants who created a nation where becoming an American-and passing that citizenship to your children-didn't require being the child of an American.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the American Dream

Advantages

Achieving the American dream requires political and economic freedom, as well as rules of law and private property rights. Without them, individuals cannot make the choices that will permit them to attain success, nor can they have confidence that their achievements will not be taken away from them through arbitrary force.

The American dream promises freedom and equality. It offers the freedom to make both the large and small decisions that affect one's life, the freedom to aspire to bigger and better things and the possibility of achieving them, the freedom to accumulate wealth, the opportunity to lead a dignified life, and the freedom to live in accordance with one's values-even if those values are not widely held or accepted.

The books of post-Civil War writer Horatio Alger, in which impoverished but hardworking teenage boys rise to success through pluck, determination, and good fortune, came to personify realizing the Dream.

Disadvantages

Terming it a "dream" also carries with it the notion that these ideals aren't necessarily what has played out in the lives of many actual Americans and those who hope to become Americans. The criticism that reality falls short of the American dream is at least as old as the idea itself. The spread of settlers into Native American lands, slavery, the limitation of the vote (originally) to white male landowners, and a long list of other injustices and challenges have undermined the realization of the dream for many who live in the United States.

As income inequality has increased substantially since the 1970s, the American dream has begun to seem less attainable for those who aren't already affluent or born into affluence. According to U.S. Census family income data, real family income began to grow much more among the top income group than among other segments of American society.

These realities, however, do not diminish the luster of the American dream as an ideal and a beacon to all nations.

How to Measure the American Dream

Today, homeownership is frequently cited as an example of attaining the American dream. It is a symbol of financial success and independence, and it means the ability to control one's own dwelling place instead of being subject to the whims of a landlord. Owning a business and being one's own boss also represents the American dream fulfillment. In addition, access to education and healthcare have been cited as elements of the Dream.

Homeownership has steadily increased over time in the U.S., reflecting a key aspect of owning your own property as a sign of achieving the American Dream. For example, the homeownership rate at the end of 2020 was 65.8%, reflecting an increase of 0.7% higher than the previous year. Entrepreneurship has always been important to the U.S. economy too. In 2019, small businesses created 1.6 million net jobs alone.

Owning property, one's own business, and carving a life of one's own making is all part of the American dream, and the U.S. as a first-world country also offers the benefits of pursuing these passions, without having to worry about basics such as accessing good education and healthcare.

Special Considerations

In her book Spreading the American Dream: American Economic and Cultural Expansion, 1890-1945, sociologist Emily S. Rosenberg identifies five components of the American dream that have shown up in countries around the world. These include the following:

The belief that other nations should replicate America's development

Faith in a free market economy

Support for free trade agreements and foreign direct investment

Promotion of a free flow of information and culture

Acceptance of government protection of private enterprise

The American dream was aided by a number of factors that gave the United States a competitive advantage over other countries. For starters, it is relatively isolated geographically, compared to many other countries, and enjoys a temperate climate. It has a culturally diverse population that businesses use to foster innovation in a global landscape. Abundant natural resources-including oil, arable land, and long coastlines-generate food and income for the country and its residents.

What Is the Original American Dream?

The phrase "American dream" was often used by Progressive-era reformers of the 1900s. Rather than exalting the pursuit of wealth, they sought to tame monopoly capitalism and protect workers and communities from robber barons. This concept was popularized by writer and historian James Truslow Adams in his best-selling 1931 book Epic of America. 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."

What Are Examples of the American Dream?

Examples of the American Dream include owning your own house, starting a family, and having a stable job or owning your own business.

Is the American Dream Still Achievable?

It's widely debated if the American Dream is still achievable, and what that achievement even entails. Indeed, today, many people wonder if they can keep up with rising housing costs and interest payments on loans needed to purchase things like homes and cars. Moreover, American's need to save for their own retirement and pay large out-of-pocket costs for healthcare and higher education, which can leave families saddled with high-interest debt that is hard to crawl back from.

What Is the American Dream in Dr. Martin Luther King's Speech?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech referenced the concept of the American dream by stating: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.'" Since the early 1960s, Dr. King had pondered and preached about how African Americans didn't get a chance to access the reality of the American dream because they were not truly equal to white men and women. Ultimately, Dr. King's "American dream" was equality.

How Has the American Dream Changed?

Over time, the American dream has shifted from an ethos of equality and solidarity to one of individualistic competition to succeed materialistically, fueled by consumption. In the 1990s and early 2000s, mortgage company Fannie Mae began promulgating the notion that buying a home was a cornerstone of the American Dream, and use the term prominently in ads selling home loans. This ideology led to the housing boom and ultimate bubble that popped ultimately, leading to the 2008-09 financial crisis.

The Bottom Line

The concept of the American dream is still one of the most uniquely "American" ideals-the ultimate idea that any individual should be able to pursue their dreams and build the life they want if they put in the hard work. This motivating drive influences the economy with entrepreneurship and individual ambition, infusing a romantic notion to anyone trying to be successful in the United States. Though the definition of the American Dream has changed to mean different things to different generations, it's undoubtedly part of the American ethos, and always will be.

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What Is the American Dream? Examples and How to Measure It

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The American Dream is the belief that anyone can attain their own version of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for everyone.

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The chapter i used is chapter 22. This is the chapter when she was already in america for a long time got done with all school. At this point she is ready to be her own person and not connected to her family. So she goes on to follow her dreams and goes and acheives the american dream

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For my interveiw i decided to interview my mother who immigrated from another country over here and made her way here for more then 20 years and is now a citizen has a family her own home and a nice brand new car. She speaks about how she has accomplished her american dream as she has everything shes wanted and hasnt been in debt and has a perfect credit score. Also that she can provide for her kids with no problem. The amount of hours she has had to work and prove her self also get her name out there to get better clients. Also to have two kids and raise them never being on any kind of welfare and doing it on her own and never a problem through the way and has kept them happy. She is very happy for what she has done and think she has accomplished her american dream and knows that its possible for anyone. In conclussion my moms american dream was accomplished and believe its possible for me or anyone it just takes hard work and also to never give up.

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This video is about the american dream and what it is and how to get to it and if you could still to this day. In this video it says that many believe that it is not hard to get to it and many say there able to. This shows my view that it is still very possible to get to and doesnt have to be to big. It can just be being happy and able to live or being able to have things or anything people want its the american dream and everones dream is different. This video really shows what it is and what people think about it and that its still possible to get to and is very possible to get to.

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The American dream: Is it still alive? | IN 60 SECONDS

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"I see myself performing there (K.dot)
Sold out shows where the room is packed
Sitting at the Grammy's winning five awards
See myself on big billboards
Traveling around the world with endorsement deals
Can't imagine how it feels
That's why I'm smiling everyday
Because my dream ain't far away"
This song is about the dreams you can feel and the feeling when you actually get to it. This really shows the power of the american dream as someone that is using there talents as well as kdot could get to that goal. "I'm so high I can touch the sky
I know it's my time
And it's now or never
I shine so bright I light the night
And it feels so right, ain't nothing better" This shows the takeing your oppurtiuntiy when you can and how if u miss it it could never happen again. This song really shows the american dream and how you can dreaming about it one day and then living it another. At the same time you could miss your chance and it could never happened. The american dream is about takeing your chances and risking it all to get it all and this song really shows the haveing the goal haveing the oppurtunity and takeing it and getting there.

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I want to leave behind a good legacy for my family to keep it going and others to admire it. Haveing alot of wealth and my future family being able to keep it going.

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Family is a big part of my american dream because i want to see my family grow and keep the family wealth growing and wealth. Also being able to provide for them and to give them everything they need.

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Apart of my american dream is being able to have enough money to be ready for any emergencies and help people that i love when needed. Also to have enough money to have nice things and have a big number in my account.