Being rich – isn’t that a beautiful dream? You no longer have to worry about money and you can do whatever you want. But is the dream of infinite wealth even realistic? In fact, people have already managed to fulfill the so-called American Dream and become wealthy. But what actually is the American Dream? And what does it have to do with wealth?
The American Dream is the American beliefthat the US the land of unlimited possibilities are, in which everyone can achieve anything. The American Dream states that every single person in the USA, regardless of social and financial status, can achieve any goal through hard work and believing in yourself.
So the American Dream is that Dream of many immigrants and Americans, regardless of their origin, gender or skin color below of society after all above to accomplish.
But with the American Dream comes the pursuit freedom and equalityG meant. It is not for nothing that the United States is also referred to as the «land of unlimited opportunity» in this context. The American Dream and its values contribute to national identity of the USA with which many US citizens feel a part.
History of the American Dream
The concept of the American Dream can be traced back to James Truslow Adams, an American writer and historian. In his book «The Epic of America» (1931), in which the author reflects on the beginnings of the USA, he used the term American Dreams for the first time. Since then, the term has been on everyone’s lips, and not just among Americans.
American Dream in the US Declaration of Independence
Of the basic idea of the American Dreams that all people in the US are under equal opportunity and freedom after the personal happiness be able to strive is already in the Declaration of Independence from the July 04, 1776 again. The signing of the United States of America’s Declaration of Independence is therefore also known as the birth of the American Dream.
To learn more about the United States’ Declaration of Independence, see the «Declaration of Independence» summary.
After all, for a long time it was unthinkable in the USA that people of different origins and skin color could have the same rights. But the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America says exactly what the American Dream also says: All citizens of the United States of America have the right to life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness. In the Declaration of Independence, these values are expressed through the following quotations:
«All men are created equal…
All men in this context really includes all US citizens.
…, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
This sentence says that Everyone US citizens from their Creator, i.e. God, with certain, inalienable rights have been granted. The rights just mentioned belong to these inalienable rights life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness.
This is an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence (1776).
And that is exactly what lies behind the conviction of the American Dream: The American Dream in the USA can be achieved by all US citizens willpower and determination achieved, since the right to the pursuit of happiness is present from birth.
Immigrants and the American Dream
The American Dream and what it promises has spread all over the world: more and more people left their homeland in the hope of building a better life for themselves. Since most people had nothing to keep them in their home country, they tried their luck in the USA.
The European Immigration USA post provides you with all the information you need about immigration to the USA!
Many immigrants who wanted to realize the American Dream and who came to the USA in the 19th and 20th centuries came from Europe. They came from England, France and Germany, for example, since they politically persecuted were or the living conditions were too bad. Many Irish people also emigrated to the USA because famine had broken out in their home country at the time.
If you want to know more about the Great Famine in Ireland, please read the summary «Famine Ireland».
The United States promised immigrants everything they did not receive at home: Freedom, Equal Opportunities and a better life. The talk of the American Dream continued to spread around the world, e.g. For example, many Chinese tried their luck in the USA.
Fewer people are immigrating to the United States today than back then. Nevertheless, many South Americans in particular, e.g. B. Mexicans, daily, to come across the border to the bad living conditions escape to their home country and be able to participate in the American Dream.
Martin Luther King and the American Dream
Martin Luther King was an American pastor and then civil rights activist who advocated for the rights of African Americans. His speech «I Have a Dream» («I have a dream») from 1963 made him known worldwide. But what exactly does it have to do with the American Dream?
Martin Luther King had a different take on the American Dream: fame and fortune were not part of his definition of the American Dream. His primary dream was that African Americans would no longer be discriminated against in the USA and that they would equal opportunities be offered, like the rest of the population. His speech summarized the demands of the American civil rights movement: African Americans demanded a legal equalitysince black people in particular suffered from racial segregation in the USA.
His interpretation of the American Dream became the American Dream of the black population of the USA, who no longer wanted to endure racism. Origin, appearance or belief should not be factors for which people are discriminated against.
That Civil Rights Movement was a civil rights movement that spoke out against racism against African Americans. You can read more about this in the summary «The Civil Rights Movement».
American Dream: examples and symbols
Especially in the idiom from rags to riches (from rags to riches), the basic idea of the American Dream is found again: What is meant by this is that every person in the USA with hard work and determination can climb to the top socially and financially. You could, so to speak, rise from a poorly paid job to a millionaire with a lot of diligence.
The basic idea of this idiom is firmly anchored in the minds of American residents: The idiom not only shows what can be achieved in America with hard work, but at the same time gives to the poor and (still) unsuccessful citizens of society hope for a better lifen. The quote from rags to riches is a summary of the American Dream and is intended to remind people that the USA is the land of unlimited opportunity, where everyone can really make their dreams come true.
People who have fulfilled the American Dream
Many people from humble backgrounds were able to fulfill the American Dream and became rich or famous. Here you will get to know a few people who, through hard work, managed to get out of their poverty.
John D Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller was the first billionaire in all of human history.
- Born July 8, 1839 in Richford, USA
- comes from poor backgrounds
- began in 1855 as an apprentice at a freight forwarding company
- opened the 1870 with other people Standard Oil Companythe oil company that made him rich.
Figure 1: John D. Rockefeller Source: infamouspeople.com
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger was a successful bodybuilder and later became an actor, entrepreneur and also governor of California.
- Born July 30, 1947 in Thal (Styria), Austria
- lived in a small village
- emigrated to the USA in 1968
- one of the most successful actors in action films
- is considered symbol for the immigrants to the USA who want to fulfill the American Dream and have made it.
Figure 2: Arnold Schwarzenegger Source: taddlr.com
rihanna
Rihanna became the world’s richest musician in 2021 and is a singer, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman.
- Real name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty
- born February 20, 1988 in Saint Michael, Barbados
- used to sell clothes from a stall on the street
- from difficult family circumstances
- her singing talent was discovered in 2003. After signing with a record label the following year, she moved to the United States to pursue her music career.
American Dream Today: Myth or Reality
Despite everything, the question remains as to whether the American Dream actually still exists and whether it is realistic at all.
The American Dream is still anchored in the minds of US citizens today. Many people do not want to admit that this dream is unrealistic, otherwise they will lose their Hope to a better life to lose would.
the implementation of the American Dream is however not as simple as the main idea represents. For some people these days, the American Dream is rather a myth, that is, a narrative that is unrealistic. the poverty rates in the US, for example, are like this high like never before and children as well as teenagers low-income Families have only very low chancesto rise socially and socially.
The prospects for equality are also in these days some points questionable. Equality between white and black Americans does not really exist yet. However, non-white citizens in the USA now wear more recognition won, as you can see from former President Barack Obama or incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris (as of 2022). Both embody the American Dream.
Barack Obama was very popular during his tenure as President of the United States. You can find out more about him in the article «Barack Obama».
Despite everything, many people in the USA are still exposed to severe discrimination based on their skin color, origin or religion. This discrimination and racism block the path to success and wealth for many.
So the American Dream is, above all, more of a myth. He is though feasible, as you can see with Arnold Schwarzenegger or Barack Obama, for example, but the reality is different for the majority of people. Because the truth is, very few actually make the American Dream come true.
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