17 American Dream Facts: A Lifestyle Full Of Freedom & Elegance!

What is the American Dream, which is so diffused among the population worldwide and for which people are crazy about?

It is a belief or mythology which says that one can be successful if they work hard and try their very best. The ideas that are the basis of the American Dream include having individual rights, freedom, democracy, equality, and class mobility.

The key element that drives people towards the American Dream believes that one can become wealthy from poor through perseverance and hard work.

The concept of the American Dream goes back to the time of the American Revolution. Great personalities like Benjamin Franklin emphasized the importance of hard work, perseverance, diligence, and economy. According to him, if anyone brings these virtues into their life, they would be prosperous.

The US Declaration of Independence, which the founding fathers of America drafted in 1776, states two essential things primarily responsible for framing the actual meaning of the original American Dream. The definition of the American Dream had considerably changed over the course of the history of the US, both after and before it got independence.

However, its central belief of happiness and freedom was unchanged in every form of definition.

The common public opinion is that it is self-evident that not everyone is created equal or is innately capable of buying motor cars or houses in the US. If you interpret the meaning of the American Dream adequately, hard work and perseverance will take you on the path of people who attained paradise in the USA.

Read on for some interesting aspects of frontier life that can help you understand what the American Dream is all about. Afterward, also check raccoon symbolism and Beijing facts.

Historic Importance

During the 18th century, the definition of the American Dream was centered around the westward expansion of life in the United States. The governor of Virginia stated in the year 1774 that most Americans believe that lands that are farther off are better than where they are already settled.

He also figured out the dissatisfaction of Americans and the desire for more even when they had enough already.

In the 19th century, there was an evaluation in the definition of the American Dream, which was brought about by mass emigration from Europe. One prominent example pertains to the era of 1848 when the German Revolution failed and led to a mass exodus of educated young Germans to the United States.

All these natives of Germany were attracted to America thanks to the economic and political environment prevailing in the USA.

The country doesn’t work on the same class system, nor that a person’s success depends upon their background or surroundings but on their hard work and dedication.

The American Dream also changed significantly after discovering gold in the 19th century. Numerous individuals got allured after the discovery in 1849 in California, thinking that they could also earn a fortune overnight. But unfortunately, many did not make it, but some. Although the definition has molded various times, the core value remains throughout, still motivating the American.

The 20s are considered the best representation of accomplishing the American Dream by most people. The approach to achieving the American Dream was that anyone could become prosperous by working hard regardless of any social status and background.

In Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, the culture of the 20s is about how dreams changed dramatically from the past American Dream.

After World War I, America became the new world power by the 20s. It became one of the most certified countries to want more frequent goods. The American Dream values such as hard work, freedom, independence, and egalitarianism were overpowered by materialism.

This showed how America was getting drawn towards materialism more than happiness. People’s desire to make more wealth overshadowed their other values of morality. Getting financial success by all means without considering things other than money made America corrupted in the 20s.

Political Leaders Opinion

The American Dream theme is among the people and the American society and is used by the politicians to gain votes and keep their constituents pleased. Because of the heavy competition in politics, every politician plans to achieve their American Dream.

On the one hand, the Democratic party advocates labor unions and union contracts to raise their wages for the everyday worker. In this case, they guarantee them work and salaries even when their work is not productive enough at the cost of everyone else.

But the Republican party always wants any business system to remain a private enterprise for competition, essentially free of state control. Their basic principle is to reward those who are overall successful and wealthy at the expense of others.

To sum up, both the political parties and interest groups who contribute to the election campaigns all try to bring the political version of the American Dream at the expense of others.

Public Sentiment

Many people come to America from other countries. They are attracted explicitly to America because they believe that they will have a better life with no income inequality in this country.

There is the freedom to become prosperous and wealthy in America, not dependent on anyone’s social background, ethnicity, and race. The iconic symbol for the American Dream in the US is the Statue of Liberty.

In recent years there has been a wide gap between the original definition of the American Dream and the current definition of the American Dream. For the previous generation, it was about prosperity, people working hard to lift their family to the middle class, continuing in the next generation.

And as everyone knows, this difficult dream which requires hard work and intergenerational mobility, is shared among 95% of the population who are not American.

James Truslow Adams, the American writer and historian, best described the definition of the American Dream in his words, ‘Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement,’ with no social class, race or background being a hindrance on the way to success.

In simple phrase, James Truslow Adams meant that success depends on how much input one gives in, and it is never dependent on one’s identity and background.

But still, it is called the American Dream because the United States was the first country around the world where this dream came true for numerous people.

It meant that every fundamental right of individuals, including freedom and democracy, must be given due respect.

However, while writing these inspiring passages along with the expected list of social and economic mobility, he also warned about the imminent danger that the Americans would not make the necessary efforts to save this dream, as he wrote, ‘Too many of us… have grown weary and mistrustful of it’.

Over Optimistic Dream

America is considered exceptional when it comes to citizens’ extraordinary optimism. According to the 2014 study, the survey said that most Americans described their day as particularly good than many wealthy Europeans.

However, there is a flip side to it that Americans are ‘too optimistic’ about the odds of the poor getting richer by their hard work.

Subsequently, it led to Americans not supporting or advocating any large federal anti-poverty programs, which would help the American Dream achievable by many more people since they believe that they are already living among the throngs of Horatio Alger.

Most of the people who come to America to claim their own American Dream want a comfortable life for especially their own children. In many developing and underdeveloped countries, the opportunities available to people from non-privileged classes are very limited.

As a result, their chances of fulfilling their ambitions are pretty bleak. This lack of opportunities is a crucial element behind the decision of the individuals to move to America and live their own American Dream.

But one must remember that life in America might not be as rosy as it is usually made to be. Life here in the initial days can be full of challenges.

Though, perseverance and hard work hold the key here. Success is never too far away if one is willing to work hard and ready to take on new challenges.

Equality of opportunities in the USA has been ensured by the members of older civilizations. Even the present administrative setup has been designed to ensure that everybody is able to access equitable and just chances of becoming successful in life.

The American Dream Today!

The belief in the American Dream is still there across the nation and around the world. Even after triumph and despair, both brought by the dream, Americans, as well as people from other regions of the world, keep on dreaming about their interpretation of the dream.

Has the American Dream changed to what it was visioned by those founding fathers? Many believe that it has, while others remain optimistic about the evolution in the definition of the American Dream.

Currently, the American Dream is about getting a good education, good jobs, equal opportunities, physical and mental well-being regardless of any unwanted barriers, and it is about a free flow of good life for many people and freedom of leading the life one wants.

The American Dream is still alive today with various interpretations of different people, and it can still be achieved with the right perseverance. The true meaning of the American Dream can be called a simple human dream of one’s children’s lives and own lives being led with dignity, respect, and kindness.

All humans are created equal and must be treated so. The dream originated in the land of free and brave and has developed into a global vision for other nations to follow suit too.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for American Dream facts, then why not take a look at Bill Gates facts or facts about Gallium?