The American Dream
Past, Present, and Future
Information gleaned from an article written by
Matthew Warshauer
Where did the idea come from?
James Truslow Adams, in his book The Epic of
America, which was written in 1931, stated that
the American dream is..
"that dream of a place where life should be better and richer
and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according
to ability or achievement… It is not a dream of motor cars
and making a lot of money merely, but a dream of society
in which each man and each woman can succeed according
to their abilities, and be recognized by others for what they
are, regardless of the uncontrollable circumstances of birth
or position." (p.214-215)
In Other Words…
A country where ALL people CAN be successful
if they work hard.
Not about fancy cars and materials, but
about getting an equal chance to make a
life.
How does one achieve the
American Dream?
 Well,
that depends upon one’s
definition of the Dream, and there
are many to choose from.
Colonial America’s Traditional
“Dream”
 Americans
have focused on saving
and hard work.
 During
the Colonial Period,
Benjamin Franklin helped
people on “The Way to Wealth.”
Poor Richard’s Almanac

His almanac, a popular
type of book in colonial
America, contained
many of Franklin’s
proverbs (advice) on
frugality and industry.
Key Terms
Frugal (adj)- Not spending a lot of
money; be careful with resources;
not having a lot of materials.
Example: Mr. Quinonez tries to be frugal with his
money by buying only what he needs.
Industry (n)- Energetic, devoted
activity at any work or task; hard
work:
Example: Her teacher praised her industry.
Poor Richard’s Almanac

According to Franklin, the key to wealth
was industry:
– Industry pays debts.
– Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man
healthy, wealthy, and wise.
– There are no gains without pains.
– At the working man’s house, hunger
looks in but dares not answer.
– Diligence is the mother of good luck.
– Industry gives comfort and plenty and
respect.
– Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets have put
out the kitchen fire.
American Dream: Post Civil War

After the Civil War, many Americans
experienced serious hardship because the
money and works was very poor.
They found comfort in the
stories of Horatio Alger, whose
characters overcame
hard times through industry,
perseverance, self-reliance,
and self-discipline. The “rags
to riches” legend became
popular in American society.

Key Terms




Perseverance- Staying strong, even when things
get difficult or when there are obstacles.
Self-reliance- When a person begins to think,
believe, and act like he/she can do something
without the help of others.
Self-discipline- Discipline and training oneself,
usually for improvement
“Rags to Riches”- The belief that someone can
rise from the bottom to the top.
The Rise of Industry

Work values changed dramatically when
the assembly line production and machines
took the jobs of skilled
workers: there was no
individual rise – only
the “company” rose.
World War II
After World War II people begin to shift
from Franklin’s original ideals (hard work)
to a focus on consumerism.
 Americans became obsessed with
material goods.
 One critic noted, “consumed by desires
for status, material goods, and
acceptance, Americans apparently had lost
the sense of individuality, thrift, hard
work, and craftsmanship that had
characterized the nation.”

Key Terms
 Consumerism-
The idea or belief that
the more we buy the better things
will be.
 Entitlement-
To give (a person) the
right to have or do something.
The Dream Changes

Instead of focusing on hard work,
the Dream has become more of an
entitlement than something to work
towards.
The New Dream



Many Americans no longer entertain a vision
for the future that includes time, sweat, and
ultimate success. Rather, they look for a
shortcut to wealth.
They see work as a necessary
evil until they strike it rich.
The new Dream is spurred on by massive
marketing efforts (Commercials, ads, and
shows) that spread the message that wealth
can be obtained quickly and easily.
The New Dream Cont…

Americans are told again and again
that the road to being rich is more a
matter of luck than hard work.
Reflection

After learning the previous
information, please reflect. Do you
think this “new” American Dream is a
good thing one? Why? Why not?
– Think of an example from society. Is
this a positive or negative example?
 What
problems may come in the
future with this dream?
 What kind of people is it creating?