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: Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement,” with neither social class
Demographics Demographics refer to the socio-economic characteristics of a population that businesses use to identify the product preferences and
nor the circumstances surrounding their birth being a barrier to success. The Origin of the American Dream
The American Dream is rooted in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. That document, created by America’s founding fathers, says two key things that are largely responsible for shaping what the classic American Dream is. The declaration says that “all men are created equal” and that each man/woman has the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” It’s important to note that the U.S. Constitution – the legal foundation that delineates how the government shall operate on a daily basis – reiterates this idea in its Preamble, noting that its purpose is to help “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” The Many Versions of the American Dream
Throughout the history of the U.S. – both before and after it became an independent nation – the American Dream has changed, going through a variety of forms and meanings while maintaining as its essence the core beliefs of freedom and happiness in place. In its earliest years, the dream was centered around the lure of westward expansion and frontier life within the U.S. In 1774, Virginia’s Governor, John Murray, said that most Americans were constantly imagining that “the Lands further off are still better than those upon which they are already settled.” He also noted the constant dissatisfaction and desire for even more and even better when he said that, “If they attained Paradise, they would move on if they heard of a better place farther west.” 19 th Century America
In the 19 th century, the beginnings of mass emigration were affected by and affected the American Dream. A perfect example of this is the emigration of many highly-educated Germans, who ran to the U.S. after the failure of the 1848 German revolution and the attempt to break down hierarchical standards.