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The American Dream is an idea that has influenced American identity and culture for millennia. It is the notion that everyone, no matter what their circumstances, can succeed and find pleasure by working hard and being persistent. So what does the American Dream mean now, and how has it evolved?
The American Dream, as defined by Dictionary.com "a collection of values that includes opportunities, equality, and freedom. It is the idea that, in a society where upward mobility is attainable for everyone, anyone may achieve their own definition of success, regardless of where they were born or into what class."
James Truslow Adams first used the phrase "American Dream" in his 1931 book The Epic of America. The American Dream, according to him, "is not merely a dream of automobiles and high salaries, but a dream of a social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the full 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," he wrote.
The Declaration of Independence, which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and have the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," is where the American Dream's roots may be found.
Millions of people have been motivated by the American Dream to pursue their ambitions throughout American history, whether they were immigrants looking for a better life, explorers seeking out new lands, businesspeople generating wealth and innovation, or activists promoting social justice and civil rights. The American Dream has also served as a vehicle for American soft power and cultural influence abroad.
The American Dream, however, has also come under attack from a number of perspectives. The American Dream, according to some detractors, is predicated on a myth of individuality and meritocracy that downplays the systemic injustices and impediments that many Americans experience, including racism, misogyny, classism, and other types of oppression. However, some detractors claim that the American Dream encourages a consumerist and materialistic way of life that is unsustainable and destructive to society and the environment.
Given the diminishing rates of upward mobility and growing wealth disparity in the United States, some critics also question whether the American Dream is still attainable or relevant in the twenty-first century. Only 54% of Americans, 28% of whom feel it is not possible for them personally, and 9% reject the idea entirely, according to a 2020 poll by the Pew Research Center. The American Dream is likewise less likely to be believed in by younger generations than it is by older ones.
