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- DictionaryThe American dream
- ▪ the ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved
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Jul 5, 2024 · The American Dream is the ideal of opportunity, freedom, and equality for people who work hard in the United States. Learn about its origins, evolution, and current challenges from Britannica's experts.
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The American Dream is the national ethos of the United States, that every person has the freedom and opportunity to succeed and attain a better life. Learn how the phrase was popularized by James Truslow Adams, how it evolved over time, and how it relates to social mobility, inequality, and exceptionalism.
- What Is The American Dream?
- Understanding The American Dream
- Advantages and Disadvantages of The American Dream
- How to Measure The American Dream
- Special Considerations
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The term "American dream" refers to 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.
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 Europe...
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 a...
Disadvantages
Terming the concept 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 dreamis at least as old as the idea itself. The spread of settlers into Native American lands, slavery, the original limitation of the right to vote to white male landowners, and a long list of other injustices and challenges have undermined the...
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. Ent...
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: 1. The belief that other nations should replicate America's development; 2. Faith in a free ma...
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 ...
The American dream is the belief that anyone can achieve success and happiness in a society with upward mobility and equal opportunity. Learn about its history, advantages, disadvantages, and how to measure it with examples.
Aug 5, 2024 · Learn the meaning of the American dream, a phrase that describes a happy and successful way of life in the U.S. See how it is used in sentences from recent news sources and explore related words and games.
How did the phrase "American dream" evolve from a vision of social order to a pursuit of material success? Explore the origins and meanings of the American dream through historical and political contexts.
How did the phrases "American Dream" and "America First" change over time and across political contexts? Learn about their origins, meanings, and controversies from a new book by Sarah Churchwell.
May 22, 2024 · Images in a new book explore the concept of the American Dream – and how it came to represent both a utopia and a dystopia.
