Title: American Dream - Definition, Origin and Historical Phases
Headings: American Dream
American Dream
What is the American Dream?
The Origin of the American Dream
The Many Versions of the American Dream
19 th Century America
The 20 th Century American Dream
Conclusion
Related Readings

Content: They were drawn by the political and economic freedoms embraced in the New World, and the fact that America did not operate on the same class system, nor did it subscribe to the notion that a person could only achieve as much as their class dictated. The American Dream was also significantly shaped and perpetuated by the discovery of gold in the 19 th century. The 1849 discovery in California drew in hundreds of thousands of men believing that they, too, could pan a fortune overnight. While most did not, and in fact, many men spent their families’ entire savings to find nothing, several men did become rich in a matter of days. While it has changed through many years and different political and economic circumstances within the country, the belief that personal success is possible for anyone to attain is a dream that still motivates Americans today. The 20 th Century American Dream
The term “American Dream” became even more popular in the 20 th century, partly on the back of James Truslow Adams’ 1931 book, “Epic of America.” Adams noted how the American Dream had changed over time and how it was difficult for European aristocracy to understand its value or why it drew so many immigrants to the states. Adams went on to say that the American Dream is, “not a dream of motor cars and high wages
Remuneration Remuneration is any type of compensation or payment that an individual or employee receives as payment for their services or the work that they do for an organization or company. It includes whatever base salary an employee receives, along with other types of payment that accrue during the course of their work, which
merely, but a dream of a 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 their birth or position.” The American historian also stressed that, despite the growth of the country, the explosion of the rich and successful, and how such families established a sort of social order where those coming from a position of wealth tended to succeed and have greater opportunities, that the belief was that, regardless of this, anyone could find success and happiness.