American Dream

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and dreamed of a rich and cheap land -> concept on hope to find success in America resembles the American Dream in the Manifest Destiny Frontier: ~ term which referred to line of settlement moving westward concept of frontier is related to American idea of manifest destiny and explains the Americans need for new frontiers (Grenze) Melting pot: ~ everybody lives together -> blending in "Letters from an American Farmer" Crevecour wrote: "Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men Salad bowl: ~ people live together but separate and keep their citizenships and cultures -> immigrants don't blend in but adapt to general characteristics of culture -> mixture of both represents USA of today Democracy: ~ belief in American from government of people, by people and for people Pilgrim fathers: ~ English settlers that created Mayflower compact to create functioning social structure to prevent catastrophic conditions Westward movement: ~ "Manifest Destiny" to expand the country westward to the Pacific Ocean and Mexico ୮ Social mobility in the US Content: the US is a land of grotesque inequality -> the rich and poor live in separate Worlds the rich ones insulate themselves from the rest who earns less US is the richest country with biggest poverty ~ hardly any Americans believe that the gap between rich and poor people should be closed -> because America is a wealthy country ~ American's accept the inequality because of the American Dream -> believe that anyone has a chance to reach to the top ~ in US there were no nobility that helped poor people result is that US lacks public provisions American -> ideal has centered not on protecting the poor, but on giving them the chance to become rich ->writer: Jonathan Freedland ୮ The American Dream Definition: The American Dream is the Ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspiration and goals to be achieved. Hopes: - live a better and happier life - hoped to find political or religious freedom, justice or social equality, cheap land or better economic opportunities Reality: ~ did not come true for all of them - ethnic groups (blacks etc.) often suffered due to prejudice and discrimination - others fitted in and been given the opportunities they needed to succeed - for all immigrants has meant: giving up certain traditions and adopting new costums