The American Dream Equality and Opportunity for EVERY...

Unkept promises diminish day by day. What once may have given people ambition and zeal has transformed into a superficial and consumerist ideal. In the nation’s youth, the American Dream was a promise to the people which has failed to impart its values to future generations. This promise traces back to the foundation that â€Å"all men are created equal† and Dictionary.com’s first definition defines the American Dream as â€Å"the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American.† This is closest to the originally intended meaning of the American Dream which perhaps only a minority of the population still recognizes. Politics and economy have contributed to the significant change in meaning and†¦show more content†¦Immigrants into the the states were given the same promise of the American Dream as the citizens already there. This dream was meant to release them from a previous suppression and give them the opportunity to better their life. They had the right to work towards this better life with fairness and without discrimination. Once a group had taken full advantage of the dream and substantially improved their own quality of life, they were able to destroy this opportunity for others. The dream that was once â€Å"held to be available to every American† became difficult to achieve. The problem was that individuals were looking out for only themselves and forgetting to take into account the welfare of their nation and fellow citizens. The American Dream as it is defined cannot simply hold true without preservation of it’s ideals. An ideal is maintained by the people. Enjoying the benefits the American Dream promises requires each person to uphold its ideals among his fellows. If this were the case, the original definition might have been preserved. The problem is that other factors kicked in which prioritized wealth and status among people which interfered w ith the ability of others to pursue the dream. From there, the American Dream gradually changed from hard work to status. For some, the American Dream still holds its true definition, but the majority maintains the later, materialistic version. Since theShow MoreRelatedAmerican Dream in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry827 Words   |  3 Pagesnice house with a white picket fence. This was the cliche American dream. It is what most people think of when they think of the American Dream. The definition of American dream is the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every american. Well does it exist? If people work hard enough towards the dream yes, it does still exist. Moving on from the big picture, two contributions of the American dream are personal happiness and material comfort. For exampleRead MoreThe American Dream By The Declaration Of Independence886 Words   |  4 PagesThe American Dream Introduction The American dream is the hope in freedom which enables all citizens to achieve their goals through hard work. The American dream is a belief of equality and prosperity in America. The American dream is a set of ideals that allows society to have high standards of living through hard work of citizens. The country has no barriers and every member who works hard has an equal opportunity. The hope of having a sense of social equality is the American dream (Stalp). ItRead MoreThe American Dream : A Toxic Fantasy910 Words   |  4 Pages The American dream is full of promises and aspirations, that every American someday shall have opportunities and potential to attain self-actualization. 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Equality and opportunity are elements in involved in the song, â€Å"This Land isRead MoreGoals of Public Education Essay780 Words   |  4 PagesGoals of American Public Education TJC National University Foundations of Education/TED 602 January 13, 2012 Professor KL Goals of American Public Education Public education in America began in the early to mid-19th century with the simple goal of â€Å"uniting the American population by instilling common moral and political values† (Spring, 2012, p. 5). Our country was founded by men who designed the constitution so that it could be amended to accommodate changing political and social climatesRead MoreRed Convertible1014 Words   |  5 Pagesthe â€Å"American Dream† Word Count: 1013 The â€Å"American Dream†, an idea that success, freedom and equality exists according to each mans capabilities regardless of social status and ethnicity, is one that appeals to every American from all walks of life. 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