The American Dream Meaning

America has been held up as the golden standard of living to many regions of the world to the point where a symbolic phrase has been created to describe the idea. The phrase “American dream” first appeared in literature in 1931 in a book written by James Truslow Adams titled The Epic of America. In the book, Adams wrote described what he interpreted as the principal purpose of the life of an American; he wrote of a land where happiness was not based off of material objects like cars or high salaries, but rather where opportunity was given based off of skill and achievement. In addition, Adams illustrates that the American dream means being “recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”