This is 500 Years of the American Dream
The phrase “American Dream” is attributed to a 1931 quote by John Truslow Adams’ book, “The Epic of America”…
“That American dream of a better, richer, and happier life for all our citizens of every rank, which is the greatest contribution we have made to the thought and welfare of the world.”
Although coined at the start of the 20th century, the sentiment has been present since the discovery/colonization of the “New World” (i.e., North America, South America, and the Caribbean) as a means of liberating oneself from the entrenched institutions of the “Old World” (i.e., Europe).
The notion of a physical place promising a better individual place is at the heart of the American Dream: one’s life will be better by the mere fact of being within the geographic, political, or cultural confines of the United States. For over 500 years, this ideology has inspired people inside and outside of the United States, inspiring millions of immigrants to brave global travel and millions more citizens and residents to their own individual aspirations.
But the power of the “American Dream” as a phrase comes from the fact that it means different things to different people. Like snowflakes, no two American Dreams are the same, but the term is often used without differentiation. We are told that the American Dream is both alive and well and dying. The phrase is used in every aspect of our lives, from journalism to advertising, from sports and entertainment to government and politics. Invoking the phrase can excite and infuriate, to elevate and to demonize. According to Cullen’s 2003 book, “The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea That Shaped a Nation”…
“There are many American Dreams, their appeal simultaneously resting on their variety and their specificity.”
Ultimately, this paradox is at the heart of the history of the American Dream, which has always meant opportunity for some at the expense of others.
Table of Contents
- Part 1: Defining the Dream
- Part 2: The Psychology of the Dream
- Part 3: 16th Century Discovery vs. Colonization
- Part 4: 17th Century Land of Opportunity vs. Genocide
- Part 5: 18th Century Independence vs. Slavery
- Part 6: 19th Century Destiny vs. Reservations
- Part 7: 20th Century Consumerism vs. Civil Rights
- Part 8: The Digital Dream
Part 1: Defining the Dream
As a phrase, the “American Dream” was coined by John Truslow Adams in the 1931 book, Epic of America in 1931. The American Dream has emerged as a national ideology, that one’s life will be better because they are in the confines of the United States, physically, culturally, or even rhetorically.
Part 2: The Psychology of the Dream
The American Dream of a better, richer, and happier life is the promise of a higher class or social rank. It is rooted in social comparison; that is we determine our social and personal worth based on how we compare against others.
Part 3: 16th Century Discovery vs. Colonization
When we refer to “America” or the “United States,” we are speaking about the modern manifestation of a specific section of the North American continent that was established by European colonists during the 16th century or the Age of Discovery. However, for those already living on this landmass, it was an Age of Colonization.
Part 4: 17th Century Land of Opportunity vs. Genocide
The 17th century saw a mass migration of Europeans looking for a new life in the land of opportunity, free from the barriers of the Old World, while at the same time systematically decimating the indigenous communities.
Part 5: 18th Century Independence vs. Slavery
This ideology is then written into the founding documents during the 18th century in the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States. Individual equality is ratified as is chattel slavery of people of African descent and systematic disenfranchisement of women.
Part 6: 19th Century Destiny vs. Reservations
In the 19th century, there was a massive national movement westward looking for gold, looking for land, homesteading by creating this new world. There was simultaneous recognition of the social atrocities of slavery and a lack of recognition of the ongoing forced displacement of the indigenous communities.
Part 7: 20th Century Consumerism vs. Civil Rights
The 20th century was defined by mass media. The emphasis on materialism and consumerism in dominant communities emerged in sharp contrast with the demands for full rights and citizenship by marginalized groups.
Part 8: The Digital Dream
The American Dream was and is founded on principles of diversity established by homogenous groups. This centuries-long pattern is then reinforced in the digital 21st century wherein that relies on data that is built upon and perpetuates discrimination against marginalized groups while also promoting the illusion that everyone can make it.