What did 1920s americans think of the american dream?

Question

Im doing an english essay and i have been sear ching for a while for some info on what 1920's americans thought of the American Dream little help
oh and by the way it is an essay on the GReat Gatsby if that helps at all
any links about the american dream would be helpful
thankies
x

Answer 1

Actually I don't think Americans thought about the "American Dream" in the 1920's because that term wasn't used until the 1930's. It was in a book called The Epic of America written by James Truslow Adams.

But I did find that the second website listed below might help you with some research.

Answer 2

How about the Wikipedia which has this for the "American Dream" (good article)... "The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States of America in which democratic ideals are perceived as a promise of prosperity for its people. In the American Dream, first expressed by James Truslow Adams in 1931, citizens of every rank feel that they can achieve a "better, richer, and happier life."[1] The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence[2] which states that "all men are created equal"[3] and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights"[3] including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."[3] The "American Dream" has been credited with helping to build a cohesive American experience but has also been blamed for overinflated expectations.[4] The presence of ..." and also this for Self made man in the 1920's or referred more widely as the roaring 20's... "The Roaring Twenties is a phrase used to describe the 1920s, principally in North America but also in London, Paris and Berlin. The phrase was meant to emphasize the period's social, artistic, and cultural dynamism. 'Normalcy' returned to politics in the wake of World War I, jazz music blossomed..."

Answer 3

HaHa. Before I saw your full question, I was going to tell you to read The Great Gatsby. If you've read it, then you should be able to see the answer to your own question. People had the idea that money and popularity would solve everything. Gatsby did everything--built his mansion, became successful, threw parties, etc--because he thought it would give him what he wanted: Daisy. But it didn't because those same things (materialism) were all Daisy cared about. Ironically, Gatsby didn't really care about them if he didn't have her. But she was just a shallow person. She was a terrible parent, a complacent wife who knew her husband was cheating but stayed anyway, and even though she had all the money in the world, she was depressed.

Answer 4

Some recent Immigrants had yet to discover the "land of Opportunity" they were seeking. Many were still in heavy labor jobs and sweatshop manufacturing. For example digging the NY City subway system or dressmaking. The Gatsby character was spoiled and unappreciative of what his father had provided for him. He could afford to wallow in self pity and figure out ways to irritate his father by rebelling against his social standing.