The History of the American Dream
Procedure
What is the American Dream? Is it the same for all Americans? Is it a myth? Is it simply a quest for a better life?
How has the American Dream changed over time? Some see their dreams wither and die while others see their
dreams fulfilled. Why? Everyone has dreams about a personally fulfilled life ...what is your dream?
Your job is to research the dreams of others at the turn of the century (1870-1910). You will then create and
publish your interpretation of the "American Dream."
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Divide into teams by research roles (photographer, lawyer, poet, politician).
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Reflect upon your personal dream — for the nation and for yourself. Write your own personal American Dream.
Define the American Dream with your group.
Search in the American Memory collections and document the dreams of those who lived in the past.
Identify and publish your interpretation of the "American Dream" according to your research role and the evidence
you found.
Getting Started
Choose a Research Role
Choose one of the research roles to create your project:
Team
Description
Product
Photographer
Design a photo essay that shows the American Dream. Show
With your artful eye, you capture
how the Dream has been affected by time, cultural influences,
the images of the American Dream.
and significant historical events.
Lawyer
Your passion for controversy and
debate guide your vision of the
American Dream.
Poet
Create a poet's notebook that shows the American Dream. Your
Using your poetic grasp of language,
notebook includes samples of your poetry that shows how the
you seek out the heart and soul of
"Dream" has been affected by time, cultural influences, and
the American Dream.
significant historical events.
Politician
With a finger on the pulse of the
American people, you trace
significant political events that
shape the American Dream.
Write and deliver a speech that traces the political events that
shape the American Dream. Your speech shows how the
"Dream" has been affected by political response to cultural
influences and significant historical events.
Reporter
On the newsbeat you report and
chronicle the events which shape
the American Dream.
Write a news article that reports the results of your research on
the American Dream. (Article includes: title, who, what, when,
where, and how.) Your news article describes the events that
have shaped the American Dream through the decades.
Prepare a legal brief about the status of the American Dream.
(Legal brief includes: title, who vs. whom, statement of facts,
argument, conclusion, references.)
Analyzing Documents
Use the Primary Source Analysis tool and questions provided by your teacher to practice reading and interpreting
sources with sample materials. Your team will look at resources through the lens of your research role.
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Photographer - Mr. & Mrs. David Vincent and daughter, Martha, by their sod house: near White River, South
Dakota
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Poet - "Dedication," Robert Frost's presidential inaugural poem, 20 January 1961
Politician - "Americanism", Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923
Producer - Arrival of immigrants, Ellis Island
Lawyer - Petition for change of venue: Evidence from the Haymarket Affair, 1886-1887
Reporter - The Independent gazetteer, or, The chronicle of freedom, 1788
Research — Gather Evidence — Create Product
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Each project must use at least 3 Primary Source documents which help to explain the American Dream at
the turn of the century. You may work with one other student to conduct your research, but the FINAL
PROJECT MUST BE YOUR OWN.
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After completing your research consider how the American Dream compares to today. Use the questions
at the beginning of the assignment, the Jon Meacham article and the evidence from your project to write a
minimum 1-page, double spaced essay.
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Final projects are due Tuesday, September 4, 2012
The History of the American Dream
Answer the questions using the Jon Meacham article from Time Magazine (July 2, 2012).
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Where did the term “American Dream” come from? What is its original definition?
Where do the roots of the American Dream originate?
Define the Peabody-Roosevelt Gospel.
Where does the heart of the American Dream lie? How many Americans define themselves as
lying here?
How do middle-class Americans define themselves?
Why is it becoming increasingly more difficult to achieve middle-class status?
Historically, in what two areas has the American Dream typically revolved around? Provide an
example for each of the two areas.
Define the “myth of the West”.
How does the signing of the Pacific Railroad and Homestead Acts support the pursuit of the
American Dream?
How did the passage of the Homestead and Morrill Acts contribute to the Dream?
How did the New Deal impact the Dream?
How did the “I Have a Dream” speech reflect the idea of the American Dream?
What impact did the 1960s have on the American Dream?
How does capitalism impact the American Dream?
What makes the American Dream so different today?