People come from all around the world looking for their American dream, little due they know they really can have it only if they just believed more into themselves. Aaron and I can teach you, we are doing our dream and paying it forward with our profits, so if we can do it so can all of you. let us teach you all.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The American Dream is a subjective term usually implying a
successful and satisfying life. This term usually implies financial
security and material comfort, but can also imply a dream of fame,
exceeding social, ethnic, or class boundaries, or simply living a
fulfilling life. Perceptions of the American dream are usually framed
in terms of American capitalism, its associated purported meritocracy, and the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Bill of Rights. The term is not easily defined, and has subjective meaning to many who claim it. The American Dream is often associated with immigration, as the dream of religious freedom, economic prosperity, and opportunity has historically driven immigrants to the United States.
The term is used by many modern Americans to signify success in life as
a result of hard work (as in, "living [or pursuing] the American
Dream").
[edit] Historical background
The
Statue of liberty was for many immigrants the first glimpse of the United States. It signifies
freedom and personal
liberty and is iconic of the American Dream.
The origin of the American Dream, a term coined by James Truslow Adams in his book "The Epics of America" (1931), stems from the departure in government and economics from the models of the Old World. Additionally, from the American Revolutionary War well into the later half of the eighteenth century,
many of America's physical resources were unclaimed and held out the
promise of land ownership and lucky investment in land or industry in
the nineteenth century. The development of the Industrial Revolution combined with the great natural resources of the enormous and as yet unsettled (by Europeans) continent created the possibility of achieving wealth and transitioning "from rags to riches".
The living conditions in Europe and the hope of a better standard of
living in America led to the migration of hundreds of thousands to the
new world. Impoverished western Europeans escaping the potato famines in Ireland, the Highland clearances in Scotland and the aftermath of Napoleon
in the rest of Europe came to America to escape a poor quality of life
at home. They had heard about the government in America and hoped for
an escape from their old life.
The Industrial Revolution was one of the great forces that developed
the American Dream. The Industrial Revolution, amidst all the
government corruption of the Gilded Era, resulted in the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs. The development of big business, the Transcontinental Railroad, and the increase in oil production greatly increased the American standard of living. "Rags to riches" stories of business tycoons like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller
led to the belief that if you had talent, intelligence, and a
willingness to work extremely hard, you were more likely to live a
successful life.
[edit] The Dream in recent history
In the Nazi rule, the American Dream had its challenges. The Great Depression
caused widespread hardship during the 30's, and was almost a reverse of
the dream for those directly affected. Racial inequality and legal
discrimination prevented African-Americans across the country from
attaining the American Dream.
Since the end of World War II, young American families have sought to live in relative comfort and stability in the suburbs
that were built up around major cities. In modern times, the American
Dream is seen as a possible accomplishment, as all children can go to
school and get an education. Though the drive to it waned during those
years, the dream itself has never died out. In terms of governance, it
should be noted that each current amendment to the United States
Constitution has expanded personal rights, rather than restricted them.
The advancements in technology in the late 20th century resulted in unparalleled economic growth. The arrival of computers, the Internet, and other modern technologies created hundreds of thousands of high-paying jobs and increased the national standard of living.
[edit] Criticism
The United States has been criticised for failing to live up to the
ideal of success available to everyone who is willing to work hard.
High paying jobs in the United States increasingly require some sort of
college or university degree, but higher education can be very
expensive, around $10,000 per year at public institutions on average,
going up to as high as $40,000 per year at the most prestigious private
colleges.[citation needed] Financial aid is widely available, whereby the poorest students are increasingly being given guarantees of a high proportion (up to 100%) of grants,
removing the obligation to pay back their university; or generous
student loans. However, for those without scholarships, the costs of
higher education can be prohibitively expensive, which can act as a bar
on children from poorer families from entering professions that require
a college degree.
However, there are also those who think that the American dream is not even a good ideal to try to live up to:
[edit] Literature expressing the American Dream
There are many books, plays and other forms of literature which have
defined, explored or denounced the American Dream. Some more well known
examples are:
Also, the song "American Dream" by the Christian rock band Casting Crowns focuses on the idea of the American Dream, as the title implies.
The song Know Your Enemy by Rage Against the Machine,
in an exploration of the negative aspects of American life, ends with:
"Compromise, conformity, assimilation, submission, Ignorance,
hypocrisy, brutality, the elite, All of which are American dreams."
The movie Scarface can be seen as a warning on the corrupting power of the American Dream.
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