What Is The American Dream? The Term Was First

what is the american dream? the term was first used by james truslow adams in his book the epic of america which was written in 1931. he sta

What is the American Dream?
The term was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of
America which was written in 1931. He states: "The American Dream is
"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. 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 motor cars and high wages
merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each 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." In
the United States’ Declaration of Independence, our founding fathers:
"…held certain 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." Might this sentiment be considered the foundation of the
American Dream?
Were homesteaders who left the big cities of the east to find
happiness and their piece of land in the unknown wilderness pursuing
these inalienable Rights? Were the immigrants who came to the United
States looking for their bit of life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness, their Dream? And what did the desire of the veteran of
World War II - to settle down, to have a home, a car and a family -
tell us about this evolving Dream? Is the American Dream attainable by
all Americans? Would Martin Luther King feel his Dream was attained?
Did Malcolm X realize his Dream?
Some say, that the American Dream has become the pursuit of material
prosperity - that people work more hours to get bigger cars, fancier
homes, the fruits of prosperity for their families - but have less
time to enjoy their prosperity. Others say that the American Dream is
beyond the grasp of the working poor who must work two jobs to insure
their family’s survival. Yet others look toward a new American Dream
with less focus on financial gain and more emphasis on living a
simple, fulfilling life.
Thomas Wolfe said, "…to every man, regardless of his birth, his
shining, golden opportunity ….the right to live, to work, to be
himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can
combine to make him."
Quotes on the American Dream
“The American Dream means being part of a society that allows you to
be or do whatever you want, and to have a sense that your individual
optimism and hard work will be rewarded. It exists outside of the U.S.
as well as inside. People continue to come here because they want to
improve their lives, they want to be able to support themselves and
they want to live in freedom. A lot of people who criticize this
country still send their children here to study.” - Madeline Albright
“I think the American Dream used to be achieving one's goals in your
field of choice--and from that all other things would follow. Now, I
think the dream has morphed into the pursuit of money: Accumulate
enough of it, and the rest will follow. We’ve become more
materialistic. For balance, I think we need to get back to idealism
and patriotism, but also be realistic with our monetary goals.” - Buzz
Aldrin
“The American dream is one of a land in which life should be better
and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each
according to ability or achievement. 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
motor cars and high wages merely, but a of social order in which each
man and each 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.”- James Truslow Adams (The man who first coined the term
“American Dream”)
“America can't work for only some people and become a dream for all
people. It has to work for everyone. And even though everyone might
not end up at the same place, if everyone starts with the same
beginning, then that's the dream fulfilled. We all don't have the same
abilities, but we should have the same opportunities.” – Al Sharpton
“The American Dream is freedom, prosperity, peace--and liberty and
justice for all. That’s a big dream. It’s not always easy to achieve,
but that’s the ideal. More than any country in history we’ve made
gains toward a democracy that is enviable throughout the world. Dreams
require perseverance if they are to be realized, and fortunately we’re
a hard-working country and people. We are the luckiest people in
history, just by the fact that we are Americans.” – Donald Trump
“Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the
difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a
dream deeply rooted in the American dream. 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.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“The American dream is, in part, responsible for a great deal of crime
and violence because people feel that the country owes them not only a
living but a good living.” – David Abrahansen
“We need a new spirit of community, a sense that we are all in this
together, or the American Dream will continue to wither. Our destiny
is bound up with the destiny of every other American.” – Bill Clinton
If the American dream is for Americans only, it will remain our dream
and never be our destiny”- Rene de Visme Willamson
“It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to
believe it." – George Carlin