what is the definition of the American Dream ?
American Dream :
The American Dream (American Dream engl.) referred to in the American society deeply rooted belief that everyone - especially if it has a moral can improve through hard work and his life with his own willpower steadily rising income - leads decent lifestyle. Or put another way: "That every American with nothing in their pockets, without a single U.S. dollars , to be prosperous . can work your way up, "This is also the phrase has become proverbial" rags to riches ".
The term was during the economic boom of the U.S. in the first half of the 20th Century influenced and encouraged many emigrants to the United States überzusiedeln.
The basic idea of the "American Dream" is also part of the Declaration of Independence . It says that the population of unjust rulers - was meant, among other things, the English king - and sell yourself should be a political order. While absolutist rulers in Europe of the 18th Century, people are still oppressed by force, secured the U.S. Constitution to humans inalienable fundamental rights and in particular the right of resistance against the government. Only then could one of the most basic human rights are guaranteed: the Pursuit of Happiness (English pursuit of happiness).
The "American Dream" is a frequently recurring theme in modern Anglo-Saxon art, for example, in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson , The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald , Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller , The American Dream by Edward Albee , Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck or even America (original title: "The Tortilla Curtain") by TC Boyle . Films like Pretty Woman or The Pursuit of Happyness is based on the idea of the "American Dream". Directors like Dennis Hopper , David Lynch , Jim Jarmusch , or Ang Lee sat down in her films critically examines the "American Dream".
In this respect, the "American dream" is based on ideas that the U.S. has a power company or a meritocracy represented as recent studies on social mobility , that in this society, the achievable social status of a person much more than elsewhere, as in Western Europe, from his birth family and their social class depends.The cause of this, the strong rising economic inequality above, which the Equal Opportunities hazardous.
Definition and Conceptual History :
The "American Dream" is not precisely defined . It is based on the dreams and aspirations of different people . These are similar in regard to certain elements, such as can be the foundation for the individual and national levels split.
The desired properties should be moral integrity, justice, honesty, hard work, ambition and perseverance.
The national level should focus on a social order that allows every citizen to realize his full potential - regardless of their social, economic or ethnic background.
The basic American values of individual freedom , independence , competition , equality of opportunity , hard work and success can be called the principal elements of the "American Dream".
The term "American Dream" is the American writer and historian James Truslow Adams back. . He used it first in his book The Epic of America in 1931 "American Dream" was very quickly to a fixed formula, because the idea had long been widespread, E. Hemingway puts him in opposition to "American Nightmare" in To have and Have Not (1937): "... Colt or Smith and Wesson, those well-constructed implements that end insomnia, terminate remorse, cure cancer, avoid bankrupcy and blast at exit from intolerable positions by the pressure of a finger ; those admirable American instruments so easily Carried, so sure of effect, so well designed to end the American dream when it becomes a nightmare ... "
History :
Strengthened after the founding of the United States at the end of the 18th Century saw millions of people their only and best chance in the emigration to the United States, for example, because they were home to their religion or political views or persecuted because of disadvantages had to take into account. Since the 19th Century swelled the enormous emigration to the United States in several waves. The majority of the newcomers took on this venture in order to escape poverty and hopelessness in the country.
This contrasts with the situation of the Indians who lived on the territory of the United States and further back or eliminated were, and millions of black African slaves who had been made against their will to North America, and their descendants. Compounded by the modern racism , the situation was increasingly desperate and hopeless.
Ethnicity and "American Dream"
America Through Immigration has become a country that includes many different ethnic groups and peoples. Many immigrants came to America with hopes that were part of the American Dream. The American Declaration of Independence is overwritten with the pursuit of freedom and happiness. This was rejected in the countries of origin of emigrants often. Often the dreams were not as easily accessible as intended.
In the United States of America today there are a variety of different ethnic groups, each with a different view of the "American Dream". The vision of the "American Dream" differs from person to person, but there is a general consensus that the "American Dream" includes. The origin of a person shapes the view of the "American Dream" and the view as you realized it.
After Josh Sides consisted of the "American Dream" for African Americans in the first place was to escape the ghetto, where they were forced to live. They wanted to get away with this environment of rampant crime and increasing safety in the outskirts of the city to move. That they wanted to achieve, for example, by their children to break the cycle of poverty through education. Jennifer Hochschild (2001) says that African-Americans in this way follow the "American Dream".
Black intellectuals and militants reported in the 20 Century, the conformity of the "melting pot" (ger melting pot ) back.
In the early and mid 20th Century was the "American Dream" for the possession of a home expanded, driven by the National Association of Real Estate Agents.
Education and the "American Dream"
Since the founding of the United States education was a prerequisite for success. Hochschild writes, "... the American Dream promises that all who live in the United States, have the opportunity to succeed through their own efforts and abilities." (Hochschild 2001:35) Many people believe that education is an important opportunity to realize the American dream. formation determined for the most part, the professional ability of any person and the amount of their income. It is now common belief that it is impossible to achieve without the education to the goals of the "American Dream." Education has become the basis to realize the American dream This writes Hochschild.. "Schools are a valued opportunity to teach children enough so they can determine their own goals and gives them the opportunity to realize this" Here, one must remember that Not all public schools in the U.S. are equivalent. This leads to unequal opportunities and unequal income level.
Examples include Jennifer Hochschild's article Public Schools and the American Dream (2001) and Heather Johnson's book The American Dream and the Power of Wealth: Choosing Schools and Inheriting Inequality in the Land of Opportunity (2006). Both Hochschild and Johnson write about the role of public education to make up differences. Both authors argue, by separation in public schools, economic inequality, racial segregation and inequality of inherited wealth, which is in direct contrast to the American ideology of meritocracy. Exists Therefore, according to Hochschild, would in such public schools are often the children of the working class and ethnic minorities for the first time encounter obstacles to realize their dreams. These schools are therefore not adapted to the possibilities, but are the place to see the Americans of the classes affected their first failures.
Hochschild believes that help special education strategies can help children with unequal educational opportunities are at reaching their goals of the American dream, particularly desegregation, school choice, school finance reform as well as requirements-based changes. The benefits of these changes are great, but the power it lies in the hands of America's rich people who do not consider these changes necessary.
Social class and the "American Dream"
Americans like to see their society as one based on performance, decide on the personal efforts and abilities, how successful it is in his life Thus, many Americans also believe that the individual can determine his fate. This is the "American Dream" focuses on individualism, as in order to attain prosperity. Evidence shows that hard work alone is no guarantee for success, yet it determines the position of a person in society. Johnson (2006) introduces the " working poor "(German:" working poor ") as an example: They work hard all their lives and yet never attain prosperity and success.
Research has shown that social class is a factor that has great influence on the history of a person:
"Form the layer can bind to influence knowledge, beliefs, characteristics, motivation and character."
- Aries and Seider, 2007: 138
In simple words, the social class of people placed in different positions, which are either forwards or adversely affect in their pursuit of the "American Dream". Poverty reduction and opportunities can be a major obstacle to success. Therefore influenced perceive the class in a very large extent the way the people and how they realize the "American Dream".
Wealth and the "American Dream"
As seen in the United States itself proudly as a society "assures all its members ... that is completely independent of the circumstances of her birth with all the hard work and determination have the same opportunities in life" (Johnson 2006:102) asserts that performance-based system to all men, that they compete on a fair and equal field, which allows everything to be in the running for the "American Dream" have the same opportunities.
No man or no group is placed above or below a / an other. Everyone has the right to equality. The actions and behavior directly affect a person their rewards or punishments. But this is really always the case? According to 'Johnson (2006) and her book The American Dream and the Power of Money (The American Dream and the Power of Wealth), there is a direct contradiction between the ideal of the "American Dream" and a performance-based society. Performance has to do with prosperity, but not with income and the way is instilled, already distributed.
The "American Dream" of Martin Luther King
As mentioned above, the "American Dream" is not necessarily material values . It is the widely popular individualism of the "American Dream" to thank for that on the one hand a way of life, and second to the realization of idealism , which is reflected in ideas such as equality, justice and fraternity values, the Martin Luther King in 1963 as the highest good in his speech " I Have a Dream "in Washington warned us.
