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: American Dream - Definition, Origin and Historical Phases
American Dream
What is the American Dream? The “American Dream” is a sort of ethos or set of beliefs that drive many U.S. citizens as they work toward creating a life for themselves. This set of ideals – which includes notions of individual rights, freedom, democracy, and equality – is arguably centered around the belief that each individual has the right and freedom to seek prosperity and happiness, regardless of where or into what circumstances they were born. A key element of the American dream is the belief that through hard work and perseverance, anyone can rise “from rags to riches”, becoming financially successful and socially upwardly mobile. American writer and historian, James Truslow Adams, best captured the definition of the American Dream: “ 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.”