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The American Dream Of Upward Mobility Analysis

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What exactly is the American Dream? Some some say it is based on wealth and prosperity while others say it is about equality and opportunity. The beauty of the Dream is that it is a mixture of both - and even more. The American Dream cannot be defined as one thing, as it differs from each individual. To me, the American Dream is about having the opportunity to serve what the heart calls to, despite where one comes from economically and/or geographically. James Truslow Adams defined the American Dream as have a, “better and richer and fuller [life] for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” I would agree. The Dream is about purpose - and having the opportunity to fulfill that purpose equitably. However, what …show more content…

James Truslow Adams stated in the epilog of The Epic of America that the dream is about a, “better and richer and fuller [life] for every man.” Money is essential to the comforts of American living, so it only seems necessary to dream of having an abundance of it. The irony is, that in the pursuit of wealth and economic stability, the risk of economic uncertainty is high. Mark Robert Rank’s Chasing the American Dream, states that “Mounting evidence indicates this economic insecurity has been on the rise, with growing number of middle and working-class Americans struggling to get by” (Source C). While this is true for some, many have also experienced significant economic gains in the past decades. Still, the dream has to be focused on something more than money - it has to have a purpose and intention greater than materialism. Money does not equal fulfillment. You do not make money then find purpose - you have a purpose and then work to make money. It is risky business, but if you find support, learn from your mistakes, and educate yourself best you can, it will make all the difference. Dreams are important, valid, and always worth pursuing no matter what. Jim Cullen states in The American Dream that, “And yet, in spite the risks and struggles, …show more content…

This dream is one of many people (American or not) today. According to John Kenneth White and Sandra L. Hanson in their work The American Dream in the 21st Century, “79 percent said it meant [The American Dream] owning a home,” (Source C). Owning a home often means that you have “made it” and that you have gotten to a place in your career in which settling down is available. With a staggering 79 percent striving toward owning a home, and 62.1 percent owning a home, the chances of success are high. John Kenneth White and Sandra L. Hanson also stated that CBS and the New York Times asked, ‘“Do you think that people who may never own a home miss out on an important part of the American Dream?’ Not surprisingly, 76 percent said ‘yes.’” However, I disagree with that claim. While I believing that owning a house can greatly benefit one’s quality of living, I believe there is more to the American Dream than materialism. Yet, if owning a home brings you the most security, with odds well over than 50 percent, it is definitely worth

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King states that “more and more people now rent their homes instead of buying; a recent study showed a decrease in home ownership from 69% to 66.5% in 2010, and increase in renter households of 1.1 million” (King quote, Page #611, Para. #2). By presenting this survey, King shows that Americans may not have the dream of owning a home as they did in the past. Ultimately, King shows Americans do still believe in the American Dream; however, they are more conservative in their

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The Oxford English Dictionary defines the American dream as ¨ the ideal that every citizen of the United States should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.¨ The best example of the American dream is The Glass Castle written by Jeannette Walls. This is a book written about her traumatic experiences throughout her life and how she has made it through. She has had many struggles she has had to endure throughout her life: poverty, no security, bullies, rape, bad parenting, starvation, etc. Her two main struggles are her parents and poverty which is something that a lot has gone through. In Jeannettes life story, she shows everyone that the American dream is something that

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“The American Dream” The definition of the American Dream is as follows: the foundation idea that the individual can come from nothing and become anything. It’s the idea that the american system of Capitalism allows anyone to fulfill their dreams. However, most people believe in their own American Dream, their own “perfect life.” It can be full of happiness, money, love, food, cars, whatever anyone desires, everyone has a different opinion.

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Since the beginning of time in the United States, the idea of the American Dream has had a heavy influence on society. According to Document C, American Dream is defined as earning enough money to be happy, obtaining a worry-free lifestyle, and running in a high social circle. While working Americans still hold on to the hope of the American Dream, individuals from other countries often move to the United States with the hope that they too may have a piece of the pie. Despite the novelty and allure of the American Dream, it is nothing more than false hope.

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The American dream is a dream of land in which life should be better and richer for everyone. It’s a land where people succeed to accomplish their ambition of a better life. Most of the people have a different way of defining this American Dream. Unfortunately, for some, it could mean wealth,status,or power whereas for others it could mean companionship, good morals,love,and amity. According to our Declaration of Independence, it entitles every man and woman the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

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Source A argues that the American Dream is still a powerful ideal that inspires and motivates Americans. The article cites statistics showing that most Americans still believe in the American Dream and see it as a crucial aspect of the national identity. The American Dream has always been an essential part of American culture. It continues to be a source of inspiration and motivation for many Americans, even though it has become increasingly challenging to achieve. Source B argues that the new American Dream is about finding purpose and fulfillment in one's life rather than accumulating wealth.

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The American dream at one point was what drew people to American; the right to life, liberty, and the happiness. The American dream is the hope to acquire currency, large homes, raise a middle-class family, and pursue what brings people joy in life. But in the year 2016, the American dream becomes hard to believe in. The American dream may still exist, but it is not equally accessible to all Americans. This is true because the American dream is not affordable for everyone, it is not available to everyone from different degrees of education, and race and ethnicity creates large social barriers.

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What is the American dream? America always had that impact in other countries, as the land of dreams, opportunity, freedom of speech, and the list goes on and on. The American dream is about working hard to get were you want to be, make ours children lives better then what we had as child. Fitzgeral explains in his book, in 1920’s

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The American dream is an illusion that is deeply implanted in the minds of the people, it sets a bar for life achievement and offers hope to work hard to achieve their dreams. As for Americans, they are raised in a society to where they are expected to make lots money and to have a healthy family. After all in our society success is largely based off positions of power and financial stability. For example, in The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there were multiple interpretations of the ideal American dream in the 1920s. In the 1920s, due to the growth of materialism, people advertised and fancied the power of money to fulfilling their dreams.

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The American dream is always an opportunity for anyone in this world, but the way they you achieve the dream is what really matters. Anyone seeking the American dream has a lot of work on their hands. Some people want this dream because in their own country they do not have safety or freedom. Some people also wants this dream because in their lives they do not have happiness, so they look towards this "dream" to help them financially.

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The term, “American dream,” was first used by historian James Truslow Adams. James stated that the American dream was, “That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement.” Although the quote states a perfect definition of the American dream, this term can be interpreted in several ways. The American dream is achieving a goal that before was seen as impossible or unlikely, making a decision that could improve the life of future descendants, and having goals that you want to accomplish.

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The American Dream was created for all to be equal with the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A dream is a series of thoughts on possibilities one can attain, hence, only one can choose to believe in the American Dream and if it’s achievable. In particular, Steve Tobak’s article called The American Dream is Alive and Well focuses on the opportunity Americans have unlike others and that the dream is attainable by all who work for it. A book by John Winthrop called City Upon a Hill implies that all men are capable of anything if they put God first. The American dream should make life fuller for all, provide happiness, and lead every American to believe they can do anything.

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The American Dream is a happy way of living that any Americans can achieve in the United States, especially by working hard and becoming

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but the definition of The American Dream really isn’t just as simple as “the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative”. Its complicated, diverse and every person you ask will tell you something different. Sometimes the answers will be vague, but some will also be specific. So, let’s see what people really think. Some immigrants say that “The American

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The American Dream begins with an affordable living arrangement and a good job, but with remorse, these two pieces are not connecting (Thompson, 2014). A college graduate can expect expensive housing with a job not reflective of the high housing price. In an article published in The Atlantic, “Why it’s So Hard for Millennials to Find a Place to Live and Work” Derek Thompson talks about the inequality between upward mobility and the housing market. For example, Dayton has one of the most affordable housing markets in the United States, however unlike California there is no social mobility (Thompson, 2014). The American dream is different for everyone and changes the course of action an individual may take.

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