The Américain Dream

The American Dream

Sommaire :

1. Presentation

4. History's representations

2. Advantages

5. Litterature's representations

3. Disadvantages

6. Conclusion

1. Presentations

Deeper roots

Oxford's definition

History

Epic of America

"The ideal that every citizen of The United States should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination and initiative"

Oxford English dictionary

1931: Epic of America, James Truslow Adams

"life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement"

"not a dream of motorcars and high wages merely, but a dream of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."

Deeper roots

Declaration of independance : "All men are created equal (...) with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

July 4, 1776

History

• End of the 19th century, "rags to riches" stories

• 20th century, the American Dream overshadowed by the Great Depression and WWII
• 20th century, racial tensions
• Idea of the American Dream changed in the 1920s.
• 1980 : Ronald Reagan reaffirmation of the American Dream.
• Modern times, declared dead by many

2. Advantages

Advantages :

- numbers of opportunities avaible once it is achieved. -opportunity to have a better life and provide better lives to their relatives. -better education and job opportunities. -anyone has the right to make both large and small decisions that affect their lives. -provides freedom and equality plus requires rules of law and private property. -freedom to follow one's own values, to accumulate wealth, to aspire to bigger and better things and lead a dignified life -subjective

Disadvantages :

- huge risk of failure which lead to financial loss,poverty, physical and mental injuries or debt. -it is a "dream", only ideas and not always what has played out. -slavery, limitation of vote to white landowners male only which leads to injustices. -anyone has the right to make both large and small decisions that affect their lives and had undermined the Dream. (inequalities persisted) -Is it still achievable ? Rising housing costs, internet payments on loans. -American citizens have to safe for their retirement, health care and higher education. Leads to debt or poverty.

4. History's representations

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed : we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal" Dr. Martin Luther King

• African Americans never had the chance to access this American Dream

4. Litterature's representations

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerlad => pervesion of the Dream in the 20s, meaningless opulence and unreachable Dream Epic of America, James Truslow Adams => Adams invented the term American Dream, opportunity for each regardless of social classes Rags to riches stories, Horatio Alger Jr. =>served as the basis of the AD but readers ignored moral qualities and focused on their success.

1776

Declaration of Independace, roots for the futur American Dream

End of the 19th century

Rags to riches stories, served as the basis of the AD, readers focused on their succes instead of moral qualities

1920s

AD became about acquiring possesions,luxuries and the house with the white picket fence

1931

Epic of America, James Truslow invented the term "American Dream",opportunities and success regardless to birth or social classes

1980

Ronald Reagan reaffirmed The American Dream

20th century

American Dream overshadowed by the Great Depression and WWII plus racial tensions

Modern time

Declared dead by many, Trump's political decisions about immigration

Biography

Horatio Alger Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King

James Truslow Adams

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Thanks