What is the American Dream?
Have you ever wondered what the American Dream is? Business, money, a beautiful Cadillac, and palm trees in Hawaii? Yes, but that’s not enough. Patriotism and the fight for freedom? In a sense, but that’s not quite it either. A neat little house with a lawn, lemon pies on weekends, a wife with a pin-up style, and kids like in an advertisement? That’s part of it, but still not quite accurate.
American Butler has traced the entire journey of the American Dream — from its birth during the Great Depression to the present day. Read the article and discover what Americans dream about and how one ambitious freelancer from Brooklyn uttered a single phrase that changed the world.
The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better, richer, and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.James Truslow Adams
Who First Started Dreaming
The American Dream, or the "American dream," is one of the most significant and perhaps the most paradoxical cultural concepts, not only for the United States but for the entire world. Its importance is relatively clear — these are ideals that have intrigued people’s minds for centuries. But why is it paradoxical? Because, in reality, no one knows exactly what it looks like. Yet, there are many speculations, which we will discuss further.
Like any grand idea, it all began in difficult times. Imagine: 1931 — the height of the Great Depression. Yesterday’s industrial giants are collapsing, businesses are bankrupt. Children are starving, unemployment is rampant, the economy has been in free fall for three years, and it seems there’s no hope in sight. James Truslow Adams, who recently worked in banking but became a freelance writer, couldn’t bear to watch everything crumble. He observed people losing their humanity, turning to radical movements, and doing whatever it took to survive. Sitting in a small room in Brooklyn, he set out to write, no less, "The Epic of America," to remind Americans who they are and what their great mission is. And it worked.
In fact, the term "American Dream" in this treatise is mentioned quite indirectly — as a path to prosperity and equality through labor. Virtually the same was described in the Declaration of Independence in 1776; in modern times, Adams would be charged with plagiarism. But it sounded grandiose and vague enough for the powerful to adopt the term as a motivational slogan for generations.
Since the 1930s, no election campaign in the United States has been complete without this phrase. It has been used thousands of times in advertisements and sermons. While William Safire or Donald Trump might speak of its greatness, William Faulkner and Hunter Thompson would tear it apart. In other words, it firmly entrenched itself in culture.
What the American Dream Looks Like
The American Dream is too abstract to be given a single definition. Historians, philosophers, and cultural critics have yet to agree on one interpretation. However, over the years, many social stereotypes and versions of its realization have accumulated, forming a certain picture.
This concept encompasses a whole range of aspects:
- Values and Ideals — Politics, religion, public consciousness, etc.
- Everyday Life — What material possessions one should have.
- Social Relationships — How to interact with other people.
Let’s delve deeper into the main points and the most important components — what needs to be done for the dream to come true.
How to Achieve the Dream
The American Dream is one of the most renowned concepts that has shaped not only the consciousness of the United States but also the worldview of millions of people. It is a dream of the possibility to start from scratch and succeed through hard work, perseverance, and entrepreneurship.
What to Think About
Since the country's founding, the society's primary ideals have been freedom, democracy, and self-realization. Of course, with some caveats — women gained the right to vote only in the 1920s, and tensions with the African American population only began to ease in the 1970s. The election of Barack Obama as president or the career rise of Oprah Winfrey is considered unprecedented achievements even for a deliberately democratic and tolerant country like the USA.
Nevertheless, it is believed that reliance on freedom and the concept of self-made (developing into a competent person through one's own efforts) can work wonders and turn anyone into a socially significant, open-minded individual with a beloved and profitable job.
What to Acquire
The stereotypical lifestyle of an American with a fulfilled dream looks like this: a large, bright suburban house with the Stars and Stripes flag waving, a neat garden, a close-knit family with two or more children. After work on weekdays, there are family dinners and passive leisure. Every Saturday, there are family celebrations or barbecues in the yard, every Sunday, there’s church, likely Protestant. Food, clothing, cars, money for entertainment, education, and anything else — always in abundance, even a little excess. And, of course, it is assumed that all this will be earned through honest labor and commensurate efforts.
Not that all this is unattainable in an apartment, just the format changes. Material goods should be enough to maintain a high quality of life. Well, maybe a little more. And a little more. Until the need to have them and spend them gets tiresome.
Who and How to Communicate With
Communicate with everyone, but differently.
- 01.Business — these are the most important contacts. Here, all means are good, and there’s no room for error.
- 02.Family and Relatives — they are second; they will always understand and forgive.
- 03.Image in Society and Maintaining the Image of a Confident and Influential Person — third. Even if it’s not always the case, the facade should be maintained. Otherwise, all that is needed is courteous mutual respect and friendliness.
Does anything sound familiar? It’s practically the same concept of an ideal society as in the USSR, only flipped to a capitalist perspective. The same rules of existence for feeling good and earning the approval of others. The American Dream allows individualism and encourages money accumulation as a resource for achieving happiness. Its Soviet counterpart prefers to say "all in the family" and doesn't like those who stand out.
Essentially, they are two utopias with one significant difference. The first at least appears on the horizon; even if it’s distant, there will always be a hero who wants to reach it and genuinely becomes a different person. The socialist paradise, however, has yet to be spotted through any telescope.
The Modern Meaning
In the contemporary world, the American Dream has undergone changes, adapting to new challenges and conditions. In the context of globalization and technological progress, it has acquired new meanings:
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The modern American Dream emphasizes the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship as means of achieving success. Many startups and tech giants started their journey with the dream of changing the world. - Social Justice
Today, the American Dream includes striving for social justice and equality. This means fighting discrimination and supporting diversity. - Environmental Sustainability
An important part of the modern American Dream is striving for sustainable development and environmental protection.
Examples of the American Dream
The American Dream has manifested itself in the stories of many successful individuals. Let’s look at some of them:
- Oprah Winfrey
An example of how persistence and determination can lead to success. Born into a poor family, she became one of the most influential women in the world. - Elon Musk
His dream of space travel and sustainable transportation inspired him to create SpaceX and Tesla. - Jeff Bezos
The founder of Amazon, who started with an online bookstore and turned it into one of the largest companies in the world. - Andrew Carnegie
An immigrant from Scotland who became one of the wealthiest people in history through his work in the steel industry. - Steve Jobs
The co-founder of Apple, who started in a garage and built one of the most influential companies in the world.
Influence on Culture and Society
The American Dream has significantly impacted culture and society, serving as a source of inspiration for literature, film, and art. It encourages people to achieve and strive for better. Even despite the challenges that may arise on the path to realizing this dream, its ideals continue to inspire.
It’s always better to see once than read a hundred times. American Butler can help bring you as close to the American Dream as possible. We organize the most exciting tours and assist with relocation and adaptation in the USA. Our clients are ordinary people from different countries, and you can also reach America.
Contact us through the chat window or any other convenient method, and consider your journey already begun.
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