Laura Jiménez Díaz

The American Dream

THE AMERICAN DREAM

The “American dream” is the idea of a “land in which life should be better and richer and fuller
for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” (Truslow Adams,
1931). Put differently, according to it, everybody has the chance to improve their social status and
be rich with hard work if they want to.

This concept originated due to slavery, the settlers in Native American lands, and the voting
restrictions. Those people had no control over their lives just because of the family and social
group they were born in and had to put up with so many injustices. Of course, the situation has
changed since then but this idea will always be part of American values.

However, it is a never-ending cycle because, according to this belief, the American dream is
achieved with education and homeownership. Those are expensive things which not everybody
can afford. Consequently, they do not have the necessary resources to start climbing the social
pyramid and face more difficulties in doing so. Therefore, social inequality is even more
noticeable, and their dream seems impossible to fulfil.

Resources and further information:

Vance, J.D. (2016). Hillbilly Elegy: a Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis. Harper Collins.

Barone, A. (2022, March 28). What is the American dream? Investopedia. Retrieved
May 21, 2022, from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/american-
dream.asp#:~:text=The%20term%20%22American%20dream%22%20was,accord
ing%20to%20ability%20or%20achievement.%22

Scorza, J. (2014, May 30). Global education and the 'American Dream'. University
World News. Retrieved May 21, 2022, from
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20140529110744340#:~:t
ext=Many%20criticisms%20of%20the%20American,is%20overly%20materialisti
c%20and%20consumeristic.