The American Dream The Origin Of The American Dream

â€Å"The American Dream is a term that is often used but also often misunderstood. It isn’t really about becoming rich or famous. It is about things much simpler and more fundamental than that.† (â€Å"American Dream Quotes†). The American dream: a shining example to all peoples of what true success should be. Or is it? Americans will agree that since it’s conception, the American dream has changed dramatically. However, whether or not the dream has changed for the better is a matter of opinion. In order to discover more information about the American dream, it’s origins, and the state it is in today, I researched in depth the basic principals of the dream, and compared it to my own. Originating with the signing of the Declaration of Independence†¦show more content†¦Alexis observed that in this newly founded country with loads of potential land, there were no boundaries or preset rules that prevented it’s people from fulfilling the ir dreams; additionally, there was no monarchy or higher class that struggled with or ruled over the individual, giving way to people’s own pursuits. It is this spirit, the spirit of democracy, which Americans thrive on, and what gives them the energy and potential to achieve whatever they may. It was not until 1931 that James Truslow Adams, an American historian and writer, officially coined the term â€Å"The American Dream† in his novel The Epic of America. Adams believed that â€Å"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 not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order 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 positio n.† (James Truslow Adams Quotes†). In other words, James Adams believed that the only requirement to achieve the American dream was that the individual succeed to their fullest extent possible. However, today the American dream seems far off of what it wasShow MoreRelatedF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby Essay1490 Words   |  6 Pagesof the American Dream. However, upon deeper of his character has yielded that there are aspects of Jay Gatsby that call into question his so called success. 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