How did the American dream change throughout the 20th century?

How the American Dream Has Changed Over

Time

Gale Student Resources in Context, 2016

The beginnings of the idea of the American Dream can be traced to the Founding Fathers, who

declared their independence from England because of their belief in unalienable rights. Those men

believed people inherently possessed the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They

created a country where people could break free from class restrictions and pursue the life they chose

despite the circumstances of their birth. In time, writers dubbed this idea the American Dream, but

people’s definition of the American Dream has changed greatly over time.

Origins

The term American Dream is often traced back to James Truslow Adams, a historian and author. In

1931, as Americans suffered through the Great Depression, Adams wrote a book called The Epic of

America in which he spoke of “a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone,

with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement … regardless of fortuitous circumstances

of birth or position.” In the beginning, the American Dream simply promised a country in which people

had the chance to work their way up through their own labor and ingenuity. Immigrants fled the

entrenched class restrictions of their homelands for the United States in the hope of obtaining land and

gaining religious and other freedoms.

Revolutionaries fled England in search of freedom. This promise of a better life attracted people from

all over the world to the United States. They came to America ready to work hard.

Evolution of the American Dream

Colonial America saw the dream realized in the interaction among classes. People of the time wrote

about the new experience of equality. Employees could speak openly to their employers and believed

that with dedication they could improve their status. During westward expansion, the American Dream

led many to race for land and live rugged lives on the frontier. By nature of their hard work, they could

set down roots on a piece of the expansive land open to homesteaders and pioneers. This idea of the

American Dream was rather competitive and individualistic—people fought others to own a piece of

land for themselves. In the early twentieth century, Americans discovered a shared dream in which

citizens worked together to make life better for the American masses. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s

(FDR’s) New Deal programs promised safe, healthy futures for every American—a new

understanding of the American Dream.

Many people who encouraged Americans to get involved in World War II did so believing that people

all over the world deserved their chance to realize the American Dream. Participating in the war

allowed Americans to put their national concept of idealism on display for the world. Americans fightingin the war were fighting for the preservation of the American Dream, which was summed up by FDR

as the possession of four essential freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from

want, and freedom from fear. People who could feed their families, keep them safe, worship as they

pleased, and say how they felt were living the American Dream, he said.

After World War II, men returned from the war with a new American Dream in mind. Americans

fantasized about homes filled with happy families who vacationed every summer. Veterans used the

GI Bill to obtain low-interest mortgages on homes, resulting in a building boom and the creation of

suburbs across the United States. The American Dream became closely tied to home ownership, and

the American marketplace filled up with products to help improve life at home.

The American Dream transformed into an ideal that relied on people being able to afford all the

modern accessories: cars, television sets, and college educations for one’s children. Television

greatly helped define the American Dream as the acquisition of material goods. Americans dreamed of

living ideal lives like those portrayed in shows such as Leave It to Beaver and Father Knows Best.

Many Americans fueled their purchase of the new American Dream with credit cards, a choice that

eventually affected the state of the American Dream.

The Modern American Dream

As more people used credit to purchase goods, Americans accrued a lot of debt. Keeping up with the

American Dream was growing into a costly endeavor. People still strived for lives like the ones they

saw on television. Those televised lives were becoming increasingly extravagant and unrealistic,

however. Furthermore, saving was no longer necessary. The American Dream could be purchased on

credit.

.

The American Dream has evolved from a belief in success through hard work to a concept marked by economic and social challenges that have made many question its attainability. It faced scrutiny and was challenged, especially during economic downturns like the Great Depression and the 2008 recession, leading some to regard it as a myth or a 'dream deferred.' The future of this dream remains uncertain, reflecting the changing socio-economic conditions of the United States.

The American Dream has evolved significantly over the 20th century. Initially, it was the belief that through hard work and determination, anyone could find success and upward mobility in the United States. Immigrants, in particular, were drawn to this promise, crafting a society that believed in meritocratic advancement. However, the realities of economic and social change, particularly during periods like the Great Depression and the 2008 recession, have challenged this ideal. Employment struggles and changing societal values, such as increasing rewards for conformity over individuality, made many question whether the American Dream was still attainable.

The population shift from farms to cities and the increasing inclusion of women in the workforce catalyzed significant cultural shifts. Opportunities, or the lack thereof, were redefined, both in terms of what constituted success and who had access to pursue it. The mythologized image of the American Dream faced critical scrutiny, with economic analyses like Gunnar Myrdal's 'An American Dilemma' casting it as a 'dream deferred' for many.

Despite these challenges, America's status as a global superpower has maintained a level of aspirational allure. The ongoing recovery from economic setbacks shows promise, yet the debate remains: in modern America, how attainable is the American Dream? This question presses on, signaling a future in which the American Dream may continue to evolve or even be redefined in accordance with contemporary socio-economic landscapes.

which is the best definition of Direct Characterization?

HELP THE FIRST WHO WILL ANSWER THE FIRST WILL GET THE BRAINLIEST ( if it is the right answer )

Read this excerpt from The Outsiders.


I was wishing I looked like Paul Newman—he looks tough and I don’t—but I guess my own looks aren’t so bad. I have light-brown, almost-red hair and greenish-gray eyes. I wish they were more gray, because I hate most guys that have green eyes, but I have to be content with what I have.


What is a universal theme found in the excerpt?


Be happy with the person you are.

Outside appearance does not matter.

Beauty fades, but character does not.

Dreams come true with hard work.

How is a cliffhanger used?
A. To show the reader the private, internal thoughts and feelings of
B. To provide background information about the characters that is
C. To give readers a series of clues about events that will happen later
D. To end a section of a story on a moment of high tension that the characters relevant to the story on in the story leaves the reader in suspense

How does Richard Lovelace depict war in this excerpt from “To Lucasta, Going to the Wars”?

And with a stronger faith embrace
A sword, a horse, a shield.

Yet this inconstancy is such,
As you too shall adore;
I could not love thee, Dear, so much,
Loved I not honour more.

Explain the benefits of reading a vocabulary section at the beginning of a text.

Please answer ASAP!!!!

Where does Susan B. Anthony first state the purpose of “Speech After Being Convicted of Voting”

Write 2–3 sentences that reflect on how unfair judgment affected you ​

What is a sentence consisting of a noun and a verb phrase in its simplest form called? a morpheme ,a transform ,a kernel sentence, none of the above

Read this excerpt from journey to the center of the earth : “but we have not come into that part of the world to be prudent”

Which character is the focus of this statement?

The professor

Hans

Harry

Gretchen

Choosing the correct definition of a word with multiple meanings often involves looking at _____.

1.) context
2.) opposites
3.) spelling
4.) synonyms

Which phrase from this passage is a subjective element that makes the passage less trustworthy? A- cruel and vicious logging practices B- forests of the western United States and Canada C- Population continues to decline D- 30 breeding pairs left in the wild

Which is a sentence fragment?


It’s overdue.


Watching a scary film with my friends at the theater.


If you do not understand, ask your teacher for help.


Call me.

what error does this sentence contain? Which was her mothers favorite vase in all the world

Which two sentences are written using correct punctuation?

Marsha—who was working at the front desk—forgot her keycard and had to run back up to her dorm room to get it before her roommate left for class.

After cramming for the final exam late last night—even though I knew the material forwards and backwards—I accidentally forgot to set my alarm and almost missed the bus.

Sheila was exhausted, but she couldn't hide her joy after completing the marathon with her personal best time and ahead of Ronald, who ran out of steam before the finish line.

It was the middle, of the night and the crickets would not stop their continuous chirping when I had to concentrate fully on beating this game before Samantha.

It was all Priya could do to stop, laughing when she saw that she had aced her final when she had struggled with chemistry all semester long.

Choose the correct chronological order of the time periods. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Answers
A) Height of the medieval period
b) Height of the Roman Empire
c) Gregory 1 becomes pope
d) fall of roman empire

Which is an example of plagiarism? summarizing an article and referencing the author rewriting an author’s opinion, with different words writing an opinion on an author’s work quoting a book and referencing the author

Which adjective best describes Josephine? -- "The Daughters of the late colonel"
a. funny
b. self-confident
c. proper
d. straightforward

HURRY PLEASE! ILL MARK YOU AS BRAINLIEST, ILL RATE YOU A 5 AND THANK YOU!

Which of these is a compound-complex sentence?
A. Some schools have found ways to offer music instruction to their students.

B. These schools receive money from outside organizations that donate money.

C. A foundation is an organization that raises money for causes, and some foundations focus on music programs

D. Music may raise students’ test scores, so these foundations see music programs as an investment in the future.

6.
What is the meaning of these lines from "Martin Luther King"?

His love so deep, so wide, / He could not turn aside. / His passion, so profound, / He would not turn around.

A. Martin Luther King was too loving and passionate to work effectively.

B. Martin Luther King was too stubborn to change the way he worked.

C. Martin Luther King's love and passion kept him going in a straight line.

D. Martin Luther King's love and passion drove him to accomplish his mission.

Which is the main claim in "Say No to LIbrary Cuts"? The most important effects of the library cuts will not be limited to children, senior citizens, or other specific groups. The budget cuts at the library also mean the end of the Children's Story Hour. According to Library Director Sarah Tomlinson, whom I interviewed on May 6, the budget cuts will force the library to discontinue many popular programs and services. The funding of the public library should be protected because the library offers important programs and services that benefit the whole community

Read this excerpt from The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.

I used to talk this matter of slavery over with them. I would sometimes say to them, I wished I could be as free as they would be when they got to be men. "You will be free as soon as you are twenty-one, but I am a slave for life! Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?" These words used to trouble them; they would express for me the liveliest sympathy, and console me with the hope that something would occur by which I might be free.

What is the children’s attitude toward Douglass?

A. They are annoyed by his thought-provoking question.
B. They hope he will learn to be happy, no matter what happens.
C. They are convinced that he should remain enslaved.
D. They wish his fate could be as favorable as their own.

Which techniques does the author use to develop her idea in this excerpt? Check all that apply.
metaphors
facts and statistics
contradictions
neutral language
loaded language
imagery

Which line of dialogue most clearly presents the main conflict? (5 points)

Select one:
a. You know, hardly anyone ever needs to do a three-point turn anymore
b. I am probably going to fail the driving test because I can't do it
c. Listen, you need to take a few deep breaths
d. I would be the oldest kid at school without a license and be humiliated

Read the last line from The Moon. Which best describes the effects of this line?

What does the speaker in "The Sun Has Long Been Set" focus on more directly than the speaker of the other poem? (5 points) The speaker in "The Sun Has Long Been Set" focuses on nature more directly than the other speaker does. The speaker in "The Sun Has Long Been Set" focuses on birds more directly than the other speaker does. The speaker in "The Sun Has Long Been Set" focuses on reflection more directly than the other speaker does. The speaker in "The Sun Has Long Been Set" focuses on winter more directly than the other speaker does

Practice: Complete each sentence with who, whom, who’s, or whose. ______________ is the leader of the conspirators? To ________________ does Cassius look for help? It is Caesar _______________ life is in danger. It is Calpurnia __________________ here. I know to ___________ Brutus refers.

10 POINTS!! Somebody please help me. I'm stuck on this question!

The following excerpt from an argument features a counterclaim and a rebuttal. Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows:

Some argue that television is a good influence on teens. They say that educational broadcasts, historical programs, and news broadcasts help students learn about the world. Each of these options would certainly benefit teen viewers, but research shows that teens rarely watch them. A 2011 survey on TeenLife.com explored teen viewing habits. It showed that 93% of teen viewing hours were spent on comedies, teen or police dramas, and reality programs. Only two percent of teens admitted to watching news of any type, one percent listed historical programs, and zero percent named educational broadcasts.

Which of the following is true about this excerpt?

It addresses the opposition respectfully but does not use researched facts to refute the counterclaim.
It presents researched evidence to refute a counterclaim but not does treat the opposition respectfully.
It refutes the counterclaim ineffectively because it offers opinions and uses a disrespectful tone.
It uses a respectful tone and offers researched evidence to effectively refute the counterclaim.

Which sentence describes the rising action of the story

Why does Holden regret visiting Mr. Spencer?

What is Ekphrastic poetry