The American Dream Declaration Of Independence

The Declaration of Independence, which proclaims, “all men are created equal with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Jefferson), is the root of The American Dream; however, James Truslow Adams, a historian and author, is often credited with the term “The American Dream” because of his book, The Epic of America. In this book 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. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream
Michael Brady, founder of Generosity Wealth Management, states in his article Money and Minimalism: The New American Dream, in a 2014 analysis by USA Today, research showed that living the American Dream would cost upwards of $130,000 a year for a family of four. The publication goes on to cite a U.S. Census Bureau statistic that revealed only 1 in 8 households even earned that much in 2013 (Brady). This proves that it would be challenging for the average American to own expensive cars and large homes while achieving The American Dream at the same time. To achieve it, money is required. Many people will say that money is not everything, but it is. Food, water, a house, and college all cost money and most people cannot survive in this world today without these necessities. College tuition has become increasingly expensive; for example, a full-time student earning their Ph.D. at The University of Pennsylvania in 1960 would only have to pay about $1,000; in contrast, the tuition is now up to about $26,000 (Lloyd). Paying for all of these expenses has not only put Americans in debt, but the United States as a whole. In the year 2000 the United States was about $5,656,270,901,615 in debt, in the year 2016 it spiked 32% and is now $18,150,617,666,484 ("REPORTS."). Americans enjoy spending money even if they do not have it, and that is why Americans have accumulated so much debt. Money is a barrier when it comes to
Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister and prominent leader in the Civil Rights Movement, gave multiple speeches throughout his life and became an extremely successful man because he worked hard and never gave up on what he believed in. One of his most famous speeches, “I Have a Dream”, mentions The Declaration of Independence, stating, “This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (King). King believed that with time and effort Americans would come together as one; however, in today's society, people still do not work as one. That is why working hard to be one and striving to achieve success are key parts in attaining The American