American Dream

Written By Jonathan Milner

The American dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society in which upward mobility is possible for everyone. The American dream is believed to be achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking, and hard work, rather than by chance. The term was coined by writer and historian James Truslow Adams in his best-selling 1931 book Epic of America. He described it as "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." Whether the American dream is still obtainable is a matter of opinion, but recent research has shown a decline in levels of social mobility in American society in recent years.

 
 

Questions

  1. Translate the American Dream into plain English.

  2. Is the American Dream still alive?

  3. How has the idea of the American Dream impacted your life or your family’s history?

  4. How would the two different US political parties view the reality of the American dream today?

  5. Describe an example of the American Dream in current events:

  6. What emoji does the best job of representing the meaning of the American Dream?

  7. What emoji does not do a good job of representing the American Dream at all but is still really cool?

  8. What do you think is the Canadian Dream?

Remember!

Now, let’s commit this term to our long-term memory. On a scrap piece of paper, take 10 or 20 seconds to draw the American Dream! Draw with symbols or stick figures if you wish. Nothing fancy. Don’t expect a masterpiece. No one else will see this but you. Look at your drawing. That’s all - now it’s downloaded into your memory. Destroy the piece of paper in a most delightful way.

Further Review

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Jonathan Milner

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