The Evolution Of The American Dream

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The Evolution of the American Dream What is the American Dream? If one were to ask this question to a person from each century since the birth of America, he or she would receive an assortment and a large number of answers. A person from the 18th century would explain that the American Dream emphasizes the concepts of opportunity and independence. Someone from the 19th century would also demonstrate the American Dream as being one of freedom and new possibility, similar to the 1700s, but he or she would also tie the ideas of devotion toward America as well as equality of all the American people. An individual from the early or mid 20th century would claim that to achieve the American Dream, though hardly attainable, one must have a big house, fancy car, and a lot of money to attain every pleasure desired. A person in today’s contemporary society would combine all of the key principles from each century and call it the ideal American Dream. It is evident that the American Dream has evolved and mutated in both positive and negative ways throughout America’s history. It has constantly fluctuated from highest peaks of superior morality, to the lowest depths corruption and dissipation, and has continued to zigzag everywhere in between. With the shifts from new opportunity to independence and liberty, to devotion, to equality and justice, to wealth and pleasure, and to a varied mixture of everything, it is reasonable to avow that the American Dream may never be stable and will continue to transform with the times of American society. Before the 18th century, Europeans were in search of a place where “religion demanded but little of” them, one of economic prosperity and of possibility. They sought a new beginning with few restrictions, “new modes of life,” a “new government” to obey, and a “new rank” to hold (De Crèvecoeur). They had a dream of a new nation on American
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