The American Dream Death of a Salesman. TEXT The American Dream The term was first used by James...
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Transcript of The American Dream Death of a Salesman. TEXT The American Dream The term was first used by James...
The American Dream
The term was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America which was written in 1931. He states: "The American Dream is "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.
It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it.
It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest 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."
Declaration of independence
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —
“THERE IS A TIME IN EVERY MAN'S EDUCATION WHEN HE ARRIVES AT THE
CONVICTION THAT ENVY IS IGNORANCE; THAT IMITATION IS
SUICIDE; THAT HE MUST TAKE HIMSELF FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE, AS HIS
PORTION; THAT THOUGH THE WIDE UNIVERSE IS FULL OF GOOD, NO
KERNEL OF NOURISHING CORN CAN COME TO HIM BUT THROUGH HIS TOIL
BESTOWED ON THAT PLOT OF GROUND WHICH IS GIVEN TO HIM TO TILL. “
RALPH WALDO EMERSONESSAY ON SELF RELIANCE
AND WHILE THE LAW OF COMPETITION MAY BE SOMETIMES HARD FOR THE INDIVIDUAL, IT IS BEST FOR THE RACE, BECAUSE IT
ENSURES THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST IN EVERY
DEPARTMENT.
ANDREW CARNEGIE, INDUSTRIALIST, 1913
Rag to Riches Stories
HORATIO ALGER JR. AUTHOR
OF RAG TO RICHES STORIES.
WHO ARE THESE RAG TO RICHES
PEOPLE?
BY THE 1950S, THE AMERICAN DREAM INCLUDED ACCESS TO EDUCATION. A SYSTEM OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES MADE IT
POSSIBLE FOR MANY PEOPLE TO GAIN AN EDUCATION.
WITH A PUSH FROM BUSINESSES SELLING REAL ESTATE, OWNERSHIP OF A HOME WAS INCLUDED IN THE
AMERICAN DREAM
PART OF THE AMERICAN DREAM IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SELF SUPPORTING. ORIGINALLY THIS WAS
FARMING, BY THE 1950S, THIS WAS MORE LIKELY A PAYING JOB WITH THE EVER EXPANDING AMERICAN
ECONOMY.
CRITICS OF THE AMERICAN DREAM NOTED
THAT THE PROMISE OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY WAS NOT TRULY EQUITABLE. THE EXPENSE AND
VARIOUS SOCIAL PROHIBITIONS BASED ON RACE, GENDER, AND CREED DENIED THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
MANY.
CRITICS OF THE AMERICAN DREAM NOTED
THAT THE PROMISE OF PROPERTY RIGHTS AND HOMEOWNERSHIP WAS CORRUPTED BY
CORPORATE BANKING AND UNREGULATED MORTGAGE BUSINESSES
THE EXPENSE AND VARIOUS SOCIAL PROHIBITIONS BASED ON RACE, GENDER, AND CREED DENIED
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MANY.
CRITICS OF THE AMERICAN DREAM NOTED
THAT THE PROMISE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY WAS MORE OFTEN A FORM OF WAGE SLAVERY AND THAT THE CORPORATE CULTURE DID NOT
VALUE THE INDIVIDUAL.
CRITICS OF THE AMERICAN DREAM NOTED
THAT THE IDEAL OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY AND ITS VALUES MADE LITTLE ROOM FOR DIVERSITY AND
WAS EXCLUSIVE.
Is This The New American Dream?
Traditionally, Americans have sought to realise the American dream of success, fame and
wealth through thrift and hard work. However, the industrialisation of the 19th and 20th
centuries began to erode the dream, replacing it with a philosophy of "get rich quick". A variety
of seductive but elusive strategies have evolved, and today the three leading ways to instant wealth are large-prize television game
shows, big-jackpot state lotteries and compensation lawsuits.