what is the american dream?

Question

what is the american dream? use evidence from the 1900's - 1940's to support ur answer

Answer 1

Simple:

To provide for their families food and shelter,
To own property and a home
To be free from tyranny and oppression,
be it in in daily life or to have rights as a worker
To be able worship as they wished
To see their children have opportunities for education and "better lives"

All the above every reason why people traveled across land and great seas to come to America, as to avoid senseless wars, lack of civil rights and religious freedoms, to not fear some "knock on the door" at midnight.

To be paid a fair wage and not be enslaved with no hope as
it most of the world.

Say the causes were: famine in Europe, wars, constant wars, persecution because they were of a different faith or ethnic background: hence why folks left Russia, Eastern Europe, Ireland, Italy, Greece, as the late 1800's until WWII the world was just a place of meager options and no future.

Not all Europeans were "oppressed" but my family from Wales wanted more, they still mined coal in America but unlike in the UK they could save and buy a farm, a ranch: they did.

It was not alwys easy but their was hope and no fear of some Cossack running you down with his horse and saber as he attacks your female children, etc.

It was a "dream" that became a reality. Not unlike Canada and Australia, very much alike.

Richness I guess was my grandmothers born in Europe in the 1800's living to see what their children, grandchildren and great-greatgrandchildren accomplished in less than 100 years.

(The cost: losing a few in WWII and such)

Answer 2

The American dream is an ideal that has existed since the rising of marketing after the war of 1812. There has been the existence of it since then, peaking at certain times, such as the industry booms of the late 1880's. It is the ideal that any once no matter how poor will be able to rise themselves up into the society. The idea existed, and still exists today. While it is not commonly as drastic in some era's than others it always exists.

I'm not sure of reference of that specific time, although the industry of teh late 1880's sticks around until the early 1900s. As well as social developments to improve working conditions. As well as in the great depression, the American dream then was to simply have a job and to do well enough to get a job...

Answer 3

The american dream = possibilities. If you're looking at the period between the 20s and 40s, look at big business in America and the guilded age. The point to the american dream isn't necessarily to be rich, it's just to have possibilities, which can mean being rich or being middle class (among many other things). Of course, you wouldn't say that someone living in the lower east side of Manhattan at the turn of the century had achieved the american dream simply becasue they made it to america from a poor situation in their own country, but they are looking for the american dream (they were looking for possibility).
At the beginning of the 20th century when millions of immigrants came to America, it was a common belief that America was the "land of opportunity" and that the street were "paved in gold" but often the only people reaping the benefits of opportunity and possibiltiy were the big business owners like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockfeller among others. Also look at the Newport Mansions, I'm sure there's a website. These places are huge, with marble and gold throughout. The mansions were the "summer homes" of the big business men.
Hope that helped!

Answer 4

Boorstein continues with this idea as he states:

The American dream was the most accurate way of describing the hopes of men in America. It was an exhilaration and an inspiration precisely because it symbolized the disparity between the possibilities of new America and the old hard facts of life …if America was also a land of dreams come true, that was so because generations suffered to discover that the dream was here to be reached for, and not to be lived in .

Boorstein’s last statement hits home: "The unprecedented American opportunities have always tempted us to confuse the visionary with the real".

Answer 5

the Great Gatsby is all about that in the 1900's

Answer 6

To be the most successful, as fast as possible, with the least work. To have the two story house, two cars, 2.5 kids, a white picket fence, pool, barbecue, Fido and Felix as pets, and everything right now. And to not wake up one day totally bankrupt and in debt up to your eyes.

Answer 7

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

Answer 8

to be rich