The American Dream: Origins and Foundations
The American Dream is a fundamental concept in U.S. history and culture, embodying the ideals of freedom, opportunity, and success. This page explores the historical and philosophical foundations of this enduring national ethos.
The American Dream is built upon key values such as freedom, liberty, and democracy. These principles have played a crucial role in attracting immigrants to the United States, offering the promise of a better life and equal opportunities for all.
Definition: The American Dream is the belief that anyone can achieve prosperity and success through hard work, regardless of their initial circumstances.
The concept encompasses two major ideas:
- Success is attainable through strong will and hard work
- Anyone can rise from poverty to riches ("rags to riches")
Highlight: The American Dream is supported by four pillars: political foundation, Puritanism, Manifest Destiny, and the frontier experience.
The political foundation of the American Dream includes:
- The Declaration of Independence, which asserts that "all men are created equal" and have inalienable rights
- The U.S. Constitution, establishing a system of checks and balances
- The Bill of Rights, ensuring individual freedoms and limiting government power
Example: The Puritan belief that "if a man does not work, neither shall he eat" contributed to the emphasis on hard work in the American Dream.
Manifest Destiny, a 19th-century philosophy, justified westward expansion and territorial growth as a divine right to spread progress, Christianity, and democracy.
Vocabulary: Manifest Destiny - The belief that American settlers were destined to expand across North America, often used to justify territorial conquest and expansion.
These historical and philosophical elements have shaped the American Dream, creating a powerful narrative of opportunity and individual achievement that continues to influence American society today.
