The American Dream Essay - 1480 Words

The American Dream is a concept that has circulated around the world and has caused people from other countries, and those who live in America, to come to our nation and take advantage of the opportunities in place to better their lives. The definition of the American Dream, provided by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America (1931), is â€Å"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 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† (214-215). While this definition may not be exact to the†¦show more content†¦In addition, the family values practiced in this time were solely based off of religion and God, and by following this way, success would come. Clearly, with this strong familial bond and faith to guide the way, there was no need for materialistic goods to fulfill their American Dream. The change into an American Dream that became more driven towards materialistic things started after World War II. At this time, once soldiers returned from war, the American Dream started to morph. In Redesigning the American Dream: The Future of Housing, Work, and Family Life by Dolores Hayden, Hayden describes that during this era, the American Dream began to be obsessed with the ability to obtain what everyone else had and wanted. In addition, this is the generation where the â€Å"baby boomers† were conceived and born, showing a change in the way couples and families viewed sexuality. Everyone tried and hoped to get â€Å"a white picket fence, green lawn, living room with television set built into the wall, kitchen with Bendix washing machine built into the laundry alcove. Every family is expected to consist of a male breadwinner, female housewife, and their children† (Hayden 21). Thi s had become the American Dream. While the family ties and values stayed the same as in earlier history, the wanting and need to obtain things had surfaced and continued to grow throughout the masses. Suddenly, the American dreamShow MoreRelatedEssay On The American Dream1004 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Dream: Is it Only a Dream? From the moment colonists stepped foot on American soil, freedom flowed through their skin. The new country would bring endless opprotunities to anyone who wished to pursue their dreams. Through years of effort, the United States was born and along with it a sense of equality and meaning. Today, America has much to stand for. Although times were rough along the way, the American dream is one of being free and having a voice. 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But of course, as many other families in America did and still do, they had a dream. The American Dream. Which was to come to America for a better life and provide a better future for their family and the future generations of the family. And I am proud to say that they accomplished that American dream. Because I, as an American who comes from Latino origins am the American dream. My family s past has had a very profound influence on me as a person. Since I was a child, I