What is the American Dream?

9.55pm

Tuesday 12th of February

Middlemore House

King's College

What is the American Dream?

What is the American Dream? Is a question that was posed for prep tonight, so I did what most 21st century people do I googled it! Up popped American Dream, Pursuing the American Dream and then the 1950s Suburban Dream. 

Reading through the results I came to these conclusions regarding the American Dream.

The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, these ideals include, freedom, opportunity for prosperity and success achieved through hard work. Basically work hard do well and you will have the perfect happy life. The quote defining the American Dream popped up several times through my searching. James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. The idea of this perfect life is set in the foundations of America dating back to the United States Declaration of Independence which states that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights". As time went on the idea of a perfect lifestyle captured immigrant’s hearts and the idea grew blossoming into a cultural motif- repeated over and over in different settings and shapes.

After World War II prosperity set into America as consumerism took hold creating the most prosperous economic times in American history. With victory from the war settling in and money weighing down their pockets Americans were continuing to strive continuously for the American Dream. The return of various veterans shortly after the war created a boom in housing development, America went on a complete building spree and with the baby boom on its way prosperity continued to unfold neatly complementing the four million babies being born each year.

The residential housing demand produced "cookie cutter" modern homes that were simple affordable duplicates made out of dry wall instead of plaster; they were cheap and able to be built fast. The GIs were interested in these deals, Three out of five families became homeowners and suburban living became a national phenomenon.” - Domestic Engineering (Oct. 1981)

American History is littered with idealist searching for the American Dream including Martin Luther King Jr in his letter from Birmingham Jail, his interpretation of the ideals were equality amongst Americans. "We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands...when these disinherited children of God sat down at lunch counters they were in reality standing up for what is best in the American dream and for the most sacred values in our Judeo-Christian heritage, thereby bringing our nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the founding fathers in their formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence."

In conclusion the American Dream took root in America from the time of the First Constitution of America it has grown and become interpreted in differing ways giving hope to the struggling and working class and continuing to pull Americans towards success.

 Kath Bowden :)