The "American Dream"

[SuperWoman7700]

I have to write a paper about the American Dream. So I was wondering who, or what, do you think is an example of the American Dream.

[mps]

check out a guy called langston hughes...he was very much a part of trying to make the american dream a reality for black people during the harlem revolution...sorry if its completely unrelated to what you want! haha

[richter915]

I have to write a paper about the American Dream. So I was wondering who, or what, do you think is an example of the American Dream.
it's a tough question. The typical "american dream" was going from rags to riches...so Rockefeller or Carnegie would be good examples of that...but then you have the social "american dream" where the civil rights movement works perfectly...the US is one of the few places in the world where a minority group could've moved from slavery to middle class/upper class life in 150 years...you can always talk about the movement of jews to the US in the late 1800s to escape religious persecution...there're lots of ways you can look at this.

[Blackout.In.Red]

Hmm..Manifest Destiny is a good example of the American Dream. It was a phrase used by leaders in the 1840's about expanding the United States to reach the West Coast. The American people thought (and still think, I.E. American Army in Iraq) that it was their mission to extend the "boundaries of freedom" to other people able to govern themselves. Clearly back then, they excluded the Native Americans, thinking them savages, and they thought the same about others who weren't of European origin. For a lot of the colonists, new land meant new wealth, and self-advancement in society. There were political, social, and economic pressures on society of that time. Here are some examples:
-Increases in population due to high birth rate and immigration, plus agricultural advancements meant big families were needed to work the farms. New land was necessary to accomodate all of these new people.
-Economic Depressions of 1818 and 1839 drove people to find new living in frontier areas, because frontier land was inexpensive or free. This expansion also made opportunities for new commerce and self-advancement.
-You have to remember that owning land was such a big thing to the first Americans, as it was associated with wealth and the ability to make it on your own. It also gave you political power at that time.
-Merchants saw an opportunity to build trades with Pacific countries by putting ports on the West Coast.

Ehh, need some more? IM me. MyPilotLight or xxLastFalling

I fucking love history. :)

[staygold]

I have to write a paper about the American Dream. So I was wondering who, or what, do you think is an example of the American Dream.

O.J. Simpson

[YourLatestVicti]

it's a tough question. The typical "american dream" was going from rags to riches...so Rockefeller or Carnegie would be good examples of that...but then you have the social "american dream" where the civil rights movement works perfectly...the US is one of the few places in the world where a minority group could've moved from slavery to middle class/upper class life in 150 years...you can always talk about the movement of jews to the US in the late 1800s to escape religious persecution...there're lots of ways you can look at this.


I don't really consider Carnegie and Rockefeller to have lived the American Dream, simply because of how they achieved their wealth. I know for a fact that Rockefeller used real shady business methods and was despised by the public, and I am pretty sure Carnegie wasn't much better. As for my view on the American Dream, is that you work your way up from the bottom to a comfortable living. You don't need to have mansions, just a nice house in safe neighborhood with a family around you.

[justsomenumber]

The sterotype "American Dream" was having your own house, car, stove ect. and a family in a neighborhood. Now, if you really wanna get in depth with it you can talk about how the "American Dream" was almost unatainable exept by white citizans because of segregation. The walls of segragation have been "torn down" but still exist. You could talk about how gas station owners from the Middle East are ridiculed because they can run a buisness with low to no taxs and make a living to feed their children. Then the country turns on them because their ethnic background and origins. So ya, the "American Dream" is just that, a dream. Many thought about it, tried to attain it, atleast the sterotype one. You could ask many and they would say that they are living the "American Dream" by driving around the country in a R.V. or if they own a house in a neighborhood with good schools and a good community. It really is what you perceive the "American Dream" as. I think your teacher is asking you to write on a broad topic. Many reason to say that the "American Dream" was to perfect to attain. But that is just my opinion... take it or leave it.

[richter915]

I don't really consider Carnegie and Rockefeller to have lived the American Dream, simply because of how they achieved their wealth. I know for a fact that Rockefeller used real shady business methods and was despised by the public, and I am pretty sure Carnegie wasn't much better. As for my view on the American Dream, is that you work your way up from the bottom to a comfortable living. You don't need to have mansions, just a nice house in safe neighborhood with a family around you.
oh believe me dude...my point was to get across how corrupt and greed based the old "american dream" was...people didn't care what means they took as long as it put more money in their pockets...that was the american dream...$$$.

but I doubt he can write such an offensive paper and still pass.

[cht9989]

When all else fails...write about The Great Gatsby...

[shane hennessey]

the american dream is an idea protrayed on television in the 1950's-60's. you should incorporate how leave it to beaver and other shows brainwashed an idea in to american viewer's heads that women should be in the kitchen while men work, everyone has 2 kids and they live in a nice rural area. thats why there was segregation in this country during this time because none of the characters were black, they lived in white communities and were all successfull whites. there was an idea put into people's mind, both black and white, that said white people are rich, live nice, are happy and black's get no recognition. yet again this is my opinion, i am writing it as it pops into my head. and there technically is no american dream because peoples ideas of success varie. my freshman year, an alum of my high school who is from spain created the most successfull pizza store in europe. he came in and told everyone that being happy is having money. to this day, no one thought he was right. my american dream is to have a happy family and live comfortable with no problems. im sure its the same way with some of you

hope that helps

[End is Forever]

im not being funny when I say this, but P.Diddy could be an example.