The American Dream Death of a Salesman

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The American Dream The term was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America which was written in 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. —

THE UNITED STATES IS A COUNTRY OF IMMIGRANTS

NEW IMMIGRANTS ARRIVING AT ELLIS ISLAND. AT ELLIS THEY WILL BE "PROCESSED"

“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 EMERSON ESSAY 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

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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.

AND OF THE COURSE, THERE IS THE ALL AMERICAN FAMILY.

Miller’s first wife

American Dream Where it fell short

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.