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Do you know the origins of the American Dream? Discover the story of James Truslow Adams!
The "American Dream" refers to an American concept that believes that everyone has the freedom and opportunity to pursue success and obtain a better life. The term was first mentioned by James Truslow Adams in 1931 during the Great Depression. At that time, he believed that the core of this dream was not only material prosperity, but also the pursuit of social order. Let everyone get a fair chance regardless of where they are born or where they are.
"It is a dream of a better, richer and more fulfilling life that everyone has a chance to realize according to his abilities or achievements."
The meaning of the American Dream has evolved over time. From the original democracy, freedom and equality to the current emphasis on material wealth and upward social mobility, these changes respond to the actual situation of American society. According to Adams' definition, the American Dream is an ideal that everyone can achieve and everyone should be recognized by their abilities regardless of their starting points. This belief is also reflected in the Declaration of Independence, which mentions that "all men are equal" and have the inalienable rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
These ideals show the roots of the American Dream, and its connection with modern society is reflected in people's high expectations for social mobility. However, there is growing evidence that social mobility has gradually declined in the United States over the past few decades, while income inequality has increased. This situation contrasts with many European countries, especially the Nordic countries, and shows how confident Americans are in believing that they can achieve social mobility. According to the 2020 Global Social Mobility Index, the United States ranks only 27th. Even so, 54% of American adults believe that the American Dream is achievable for them, while 28% have a negative attitude.
“The American dream is not just material abundance, but also a dream that enables all human beings to fully realize their potential.”
At the heart of the American Dream is the opportunity for everyone to succeed and prosper through individual effort. While there are significant gaps in belief in achieving the American Dream among different social groups, with blacks and Asian Americans being more skeptical than whites and Latinos, their age and gender also play a role. Perspectives on the American Dream. This suggests that social structure and identity play an important role in achieving the American Dream.
Belief in the American Dream is often negatively correlated with feelings of national disillusionment. Some critics point out that mainstream American culture places too much emphasis on materialism and consumerism, placing responsibility for success and failure on individuals. Perhaps, as the decline of the labor movement affects the middle class, realizing the American Dream is no longer as easy as it was in the early days, especially from 1983 to 2024, when the proportion of union members dropped from 20% to only 10%.
James Truslow Adams' concept of the American Dream has received considerable attention in modern literature and social commentary. The ideal society described by Adams is undergoing a test of heightened skepticism. Some people point out that the real American Dream is hidden under the political and economic structure. It is not only about individual efforts, but also about social distribution and fair opportunities. All of this reminds us that the road to realizing our dreams is not smooth, and even for the same efforts, the results can vary greatly depending on the circumstances.
“The American dream is now inextricably linked to income inequality and reduced social mobility.”
In many literary works, from Benjamin Franklin's "The Autobiography" to F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby", we can see the presentation and reflection of the American Dream. The characters in The Great Gatsby, in particular, demonstrate the bleak reality of the American dream through their pursuit of getting rich quick.
With changing social and economic circumstances, do the ideals Adams advocated still exist? While pursuing our personal dreams, are we constantly ignoring the reality of hardship and inequality? Such interactions are worth pondering and trigger deeper reflections on the meaning of the American Dream. So, in the future American Dream, will everyone have equal opportunities to achieve their ideals?
