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The American Dream is the concept that all people; despite gender, race, or

class, can succeed through hard work and can live happy and successful lives. It began in the 1600s when the colonists came to the New World with hope and aspirations for the new country lled with opportunity. They believed that in order to reach happiness that you must work hard, and that anything was possible through a strong work ethic. The concept of the dream describes the possibility of a classless society where everyone can succeed, but the US in all honesty has a society based on class distinction. The denition of happiness according to the dream is prosperity, but many disagree that money can provide complete happiness. The idealistic vision of the American Dream supports that people are not discriminated on race or religion but by their hard work and assets in a community. Yet, through American history these factors have played a huge role as barriers to success. Overall the American Dream, is a reality for a very small population of the US. For the majority of Americans, the American Dream is simply a dream, that can not be met despite their hard work.

1. Letters from an American farmer, by J. Hector St. John Crevecoeur (from "Letter III," 1782)
He becomes an American by being received in the broad lap of our great Alma Mater. Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world. Americans are the western pilgrims, who are carrying along with them that great mass of arts, sciences, vigour, and industry which began long since in the east; they will finish the great circle. The Americans were once scattered all over Europe; here they are incorporated into one of the finest systems of population which has ever appeared, and which will hereafter become distinct by the power of the different climates they inhabit. The American ought therefore to love this country much better than that wherein either he or his forefathers were born. Here the rewards of his industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labour; his labour is founded on the basis of nature, self-interest; can it want a stronger allurement? Wives and children, who before in vain demanded of him a morsel of bread, now, fat and frolicsome, gladly help their father to clear those fields whence exuberant crops are to arise to feed and to clothe them all; without any part being claimed, either by a despotic prince, a rich abbot, or a mighty lord. I lord religion demands but little of him; a small a small voluntary salary to the minister, and gratitude to God; can he refuse these? The American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas, and form new opinions. From involuntary idleness, servile dependence, penury, and useless labour, he has passed to toils of a very different nature, rewarded by ample subsistence. -This is an American.

This letter is a prime example of the establishment of the American Dream, Crevecoeur is not only an immigrant, but also a simple farmer that loves the work he does in order to reach prosperity. For him the American dream is possible, for an American the rewards of his industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labour; his labour is founded on the basis of nature, self-interest. The letter describes that the amount of work you do is equivalent to success. The letter describes America as a country that brings everyone together full of change, and education that is available to all. America is an amazing country for him because his country of origin, and his class do not matter and he is seen as an American and seen for his hard work not anything else. This document emphasizes the beginning of dening the American Dream, a country where prosperity is in reach for all.

2.  The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin establishes the rst example of the fulllment of the American Dream through a novel. Franklin demonstrates the possibilities of life in the New World through his own rise from the lower middle class as a youth to one of the most admired men in the world as an adult. Furthermore, he asserts that he achieved his success through a solid work ethic. He proved that even undistinguished persons in Boston can, through industry, become great gures of importance in America. When we think of the American Dream today--the ability to rise from rags to riches through hard work--we are usually thinking of the model set forth by Franklin in this autobiography.

3. Quotes from The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass "A single word from the white men was enough-against all our wishes, prayers, and entreaties-to sunder forever the dearest friends, dearest kindred, and strongest ties known to human beings. But, by this time, I began to want to live upon free land as well as with Free-land; and I was no longer content, therefore, to live with him or any other slaveholder." Religious slaveholders are the worst. I have ever found them the meanest, the most cruel and cowardly, of all others Instead of spending the Sabbath in wrestling, boxing and drinking whiskey, we were tying to learn how to read In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass an American Slave talks about his life as a slave and his escape to the north. He also talks about how as a slave he learned about to abolitionist movement. Even though he was a slave and worked hours in the elds, he managed to teach himself how to read and write. He realized that his only way to freedom was through knowledge. Douglass used his education to try and abolish slavery, and become a speaker for freedom and equality. He overcame slavery, and was another person who lived the American Dream. Through hard work, and education he gained success and played a major role in abolishing slavery. 4. "My Heart Is a Large Kingdom": Selected Letters of Margaret Fuller 1832 She demonstrates that social harmony must derive from a balance relationship between the sexes, that her own society was grossly imbalanced from the overvaluation of that considered male and comparable undervalued of that considered female. then and only then, will mankind be ripe for this, when inward and outward freedom for women as much for man shall be acknowledged as a right  Margaret Fuller was one of the female journalists and was also an advocate of women. She wrote and lectured about the inequalities between men and women during the 19th century. Her book Women in the 19th Century expresses how women and men are equal. The feminist movement allowed the American Dream, to include females as well as males. Female equality was difcult to achieve because it went against culture roles and beliefs. Fuller argued that all humans were equal and that was the basic foundation of America. This document plays a part in dening the American Dream because it includes women, and also gives them the opportunity to make a better life for themselves.

5. I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman (1900) I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear, Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong, The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam, The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work, The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck, The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands, The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown, The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing, Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else, The day what belongs to the dayat night the party of young fellows,robust, friendly, Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

 I hear America Singing by Walt Whitman, brings importance and value to the working class of America. The poem only describes those who have jobs involving physical labor, and the fact that theyre all singing displays the joy they feel in their lives. It can be inferred based on the time period, that most of these workers were immigrants that came to America in order to work and make better lives for themselves. This poem supports the denition of the American Dream because it emphasizes their work ethic and at the end of the day the sing with their mouths open enjoying the prosperity theyve gained through all their work, displaying that happiness is achievable for all men and women (who are both mentioned working in the poem) and immigrants through labor.

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 The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald reected the care free and dangerously illegal life based on prosperity lived during the 1920s. The novel criticizes the American Dream and declares how awed and unachievable it is. One of the main characters Jay Gatsby, climbs up to the top of society from a simple middle class lively hood through illegal means and is killed at the end of the novel. Gatsby portrayed the American Dream, he overcame the odds but in the end he was killed displaying how the Dream really cant provide true happiness. While the novel does not support the idea of the American Dream, it does support the ideas of critics and makes the dream more realistic.

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 The previous excerpt comes from Babbit, the novel also criticized the American Dream, and the American life style during the 1920s. Novels such as Babbitt and the Great Gatsby display that the denition of the American Dream changes with the time period/societys values. The 1920s were a time of economic boom, and living the perfect life. The American Dream during this time period was articial, the dream was to live with money and live luxuriously and put on a mask for the rest of society. The excerpt is important in dening the American Dream, because it shows that the people are the ones that shape the denition for better or worst.

8.  The migration of immigrants to America displays how everyone saw America as the land of opportunity. The previous text describes all of the immigrants specically the German and Irish, coming to the US. The immigrants took physical labor jobs in order to live the dream. They were prided for their hard work, and willingness to do any job available. Yet, the majority of 2nd generation Americans disliked them and did not welcome them to the country where anything was possible despite race, or country of origin. This helps dene the american dream, because it shows how not only americans were pursuing the dream but everyone could.

9.I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. - I Have A Dream Speech, Martin Luther King

 The following quotes come from a momentous speech in American History, Martin Luther Kings I have A Dream Speech. The speech showed the change in Americans society on prejudice towards African Americans. It was an example of hope and change in America, so that despite race even African-Americans could live the American dream. The speech represented the American Dream itself, but the dream of equality. The challenges America went through such as racism, shaped the denition that is the American dream today. America became a land of opportunity, but only through struggle did it bloom into the country of freedom it is today.

10.Get Rich Quick The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill on January 24, 1848 unleashed the largest migration in United States history and drew people from a dozen countries to form a multi-ethnic society on America's fringe. The promise of wealth forever altered the life expectations of the hundreds of thousands of people who ooded California in 1849 and the decade that followed. The gold also red up the U.S. economy and fueled wild dreams like the construction of a cross-country railroad line. - The Gold Rush PBS lm

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The California Gold Rush, was a situation that completely represented the concept of the American Dream. It was a land lled with chance, and opportunity, that was open to any man that was willing to take the risk. It caused thousands of people to ood California, in hopes of a better life. The event itself opened doors and caused a huge economic boom. It promised prosperity and thats what everyone coming to America looked forward too. It granted the wishes and dreams of most families allowing them to reach their dreams through hard work in mining.

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 In the Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck the Joads American Dream is to have a good paying job and place to live. In the book the American Dream is corrupted by greed, exploitation, and lack of compassion. During this time of depression the Joad family can not achieve their American Dream. Its exploited by Californians and even by people in Oklahoma. When the family goes into town to sell their things the buyers want buy but for the bare minimum. The Dream turns others on each other and it is no longer a fanciful dream, but becomes a cruel nightmare. During the Great Depression the American Dream was unachievable, to many it was a gment of imagination. The Dust Bowl ruined the lives of many american citizens, and displayed how the Dream in reality could not reach perfection. 12.

America
Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tiger's tooth, Stealing my breath of life, I will confess I love this cultured hell that tests my youth! Her vigor ows like tides into my blood, Giving me strength erect against her hate. Her bigness sweeps my being like a ood. Yet as a rebel fronts a king in state, I stand within her walls with not a shred Of terror, malice, not a word of jeer. Darkly I gaze into the days ahead, And see her might and granite wonders there, Beneath the touch of Time's unerring hand, Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand. Claude McKay

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The American Dream, A Dream or A Cruel Joke?

eliza johnson