Preview

Research Paper On The Pursuit Of The American Dream

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
852 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Research Paper On The Pursuit Of The American Dream
The Pursuit of “The American Dream” The “American Dream” has always existed as a primary fundamental of American culture. The idea of the “American Dream” is that every US citizen has the right to receive equal opportunity to attain success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative because it is an equal opportunity offered for everyone, personal to each individual, and extremely rewarding. The pursuit of the American Dream is chased after by many individuals from numerous diverse backgrounds. Thomas Wolfe once said, "…to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity ….the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him." (Wolfe) …show more content…
My interpretation of “The American Dream” will more than likely be different compared to most other people. My American Dream consists of three different aspects - success, independence, and pure happiness. Over the years, I have learned from my elders that success is earned, not given.There are no boundaries to what you can achieve in America and becoming successful is part of the ultimate dream. Independence is a privilege that we should all take advantage of. The ability to obtain freedom has molded the United States into the melting pot it is today and continues to attract many immigrants who have faith in the “American Dream”. In my opinion, I believe that immigrants coming to America appreciate the opportunities offered much more than US born citizens. “Statistics show that if you are born elsewhere and later acquire American citizenship, you will, on average, earn more than US native-borns, study further, marry at higher rates and divorce at lower rates, fall out of the work force less frequently and more easily dodge poverty.” (Giridharadas) These statistics motivate me to work even harder because I do not plan on wasting my opportunity to achieve my American

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    The American Dream is a national ethos of the united states in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success. In the definition of the American dream by james truslow adams in 1931. “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement” regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. The idea of the American dream is rooted in the United States declaration of independence which proclaims that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights including life liberty and the pursuit of happiness…

    • 3025 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” (United States Declaration of Independence). In much the same way as the authors of the founding fathers, the American Dream can be defined simply as the pursuit and the achievement of happiness. Clarifications, like not needing to use underhanded means, are not necessary because it is readily apparent that these means do not provide happiness nor liberty. In other words, the American Dream is attainable through hard work, determination, and the fruits of honest labor, even though it is embodied negatively in literary contexts and positively in historical terms.…

    • 1571 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    According to the author, the American Dream is the ability to be able to live a life that you are capable of living; a life that allows you to reach your full potential regardless of who you are or where you come from. The author states this in paragraph one, when he says: “. . .in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”(214-215). He believes that everyone should have a chance to be who and what they want to be and that everyone has a certain right to achieve it.…

    • 504 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    If you were to ask a person what the “American Dream:” is, each response would be completely different, due to the fact that that everyone has a different opinion on what the “prosperity of life is”. To some it may mean riches and materialistic possessions, while for others it could represent freedom, happiness and love. Every person is an individual that has individual thoughts, never the same as anyone else’s, therefore the “American Dream” varies from person to person. For some people, happiness and love may not be enough to satisfy that emptiness they feel inside and that is why there are people that crave riches, social status and power as their “dream”. Over the last few decades many immigrants have come to America to pursue the Freedom…

    • 342 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The origin of The American Dream began with the poor immigrants looking for opportunities. The Declaration of independence states “all man are created equal and that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights among which are life, liberty and persuit of happines.”(The Declaration of Independence). The American Dream is different for every individual you come across. To some people it means financial success, to other people it means freedom of expression, while other people want to practice their religion without fear. The American Dream is a complex concept providing immigrants with hope of better life.…

    • 419 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    An American immigrant will not define the American dream the same as a natural born citizen because they were both brought up different ways. Immigrants will not have the same goals and accomplishments as anybody else. They may have lower standards and be satisfied with things people would not usually be okay with. For this reason, many American immigrants may take the jobs nobody wants and are satisfied with it because it was better than their previous life. Many U.S. immigrants view the American Dream as simply getting a job that will barely support their families and pay the bills. America is the "Land of the Free," which means that you can do anything you desire as long as you work hard enough and that everyone living in America has equal opportunity. This is why people from other countries look at America and want this life for themselves, as well as their loved…

    • 550 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Is the American Dream as easily accessible as it was before? The American Dream is essentially “making it” in the United States. This dream differs from everyone, but it is always going to be one of the main reasons immigrants move to the United States. America does provide the American Dream to the “tired, the poor and the huddled masses” due to it being very capable of reaching now, and the fact that it is easier to get into America as of today.…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    American Dream - 3

    • 1185 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The American Dream is “the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American.” (Dictionary). When immigrants started coming to America everyone had different ideas about the “American dream”. Everyone believed it was possible to achieve, and had no doubts about being successful, owning a home, or being happy. These days’ people question whether or not the American dream is still around, and if America even provides access to the dream. America provides access to the American dream because people can own a home, go to college, and have freedom of religion.…

    • 1185 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American dream is something that people all over the world yearn for. They long to leave their native countries and come to America to escape religious persecution, unstable government, or something similar. Even well-established American citizens can have an American dream of their own. Many young adults, myself included, dream of a successful life where we work hard for what we wish to have. While many foreigners’ American dreams are of a life of freedom in the “Land of Opportunity”, my American dream is to find happiness, success in my life and career, and economic stability.…

    • 507 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    American hopes and dreams are different from everyone. We who know wrong from right even have different views on the same thing. Who’s to say I am wrong and vice versa. I believe my hopes and dreams for America are just that hopes and dreams. Until, we all agree or the majority of us will agree we will not have a great future ahead of us. My hopes and dreams for the United States of America will most likely not happen while I am alive because my hopes and dreams seem so far from what is happening now in America. I dream of one day being able to not be judged by the color of my skin or the tattoos I have on me. I dream of all of us coming together and find better ways to do things. We research on helpless and innocent animals and it is horrible what they go through. This is 2010 there are other ways to research on simulated animals or dead animals. Animals are not humans and that kind of research means nothing to me it does not help America only hurts us. Why do we have so much hatred in our hearts why do we hurt God’s creatures like we do. My hope for America is for everyone to have a heart and care…

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    As James Truslow Adams wrote in his novel “The Epic of America”, he states "The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement”. Also in many people’s opinion it means, working hard to accomplish your dreams, protecting your country, and making others happy through happiness of your own. Although the American dream may be achieved through many different forms and standards of living by citizens across the nation. Si Robertson sufficiently embodies the idea of the American dream through a traditional lifestyle, a diligent and hardworking character, and withholding the position of a retired veteran.…

    • 987 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Why do people really come to the United States for? Many say it’s for the American dream but what is the American dream in reality? Why do some people even risk their life’s to come to the United States in order to obtain the American dream? For many people the American dream is the only hope that they have for a better future but not just for themselves but for their family as well. The American dream for many is the idea of having better opportunities of prosperity and success in this country. Even though they have never stepped for in the United States before they know that there is opportunities for a better life; better education for their kids, a better living for their family, in general having things that would have never been likely…

    • 433 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    My mother’s side of the family is from a small farm town in southeastern Kansas. Growing up they were very poor, and at one point resorted to hunting rabbits in the yard just to eat. The average American family would have reached out their palms to the government for handouts before the thought of hunting rabbits for dinner, but not my family. My grandfather is and always has been a very proud man. He would be the last one in line for any kind of assistance. He runs his own oil drilling business and is always at work a half hour before sunrise and returns only after everything has been completed, as well as being covered in oil, scrapes, and bruises. You could say that my grandpa is a very hard worker.…

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American Dream is different for every person. People of different races and ethnic backgrounds have different ideas of the American Dream. People of different areas of the world have different perspectives of the dream. People from a third world country would have a different dream than someone from a major country like America or like a person from a rural setting would have a different idea than someone from the city. As someone who lives in the suburbs of Chicago, has a good family, and a decent about of money to live with, the American Dream is to have a healthy family, good job, nice house, nice car, and a decent paycheck. If someone from a poor family were to think about the American dream some may believe that it would be a…

    • 1111 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “I still have a dream. It is dream deeply rooted in the American dream (MLKJ 4).” Martin Luther king wanted everyone no matter what race, religion, and more to have a chance to live their life to the furnal. The American dream can be explained as the wants out of a persons life and the steps people take to actieve the dream. The American dream gives you a purpose in life. Having a dream challages a person try new ideas. Also, the dream fouces a person learn new situitions through the dream. The American dream is most important aspect in a person life because the dream gives a purpose and focus for life and builds self- motivation to accomplish difficult task.…

    • 583 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays