The American Dream Essay, Research Paper

American Dream

What is the American dream? Many people have different opinions on the

definition of the American dream. Some writers think of the American dream as a

Utopian society. In a Utopian society, the people are an example of the way the Earth should be, without crime and punishment. The common person may think the American dream is how rich other people are or how many expensive possessions they own. Years ago the American dream was to have a home with a white picked fence, two children and live happily ever after. The American dream, in my opinion, has changed during time. Today people are rushing to find the American dream but do they really find what the American dream once was? There are many writers that have different opinions on what the American dream means. The American dream has changed tremendously as a result of the literary impact it had on its early civilization in England.

The new world perfected its vision of a new American dream, the dream of

freedom and wealth. Benjamin Franklin Information to Those Who Would Remove to

America inspired people in Europe to come to the new world. Other writers like Phillip Freneau illustrated the new world and brought out the beauty of this new land. In the early eighteen-century authors like Emerson and Whitman used Romanticism and intuition to build up the idea of the American dream.

The puritans were among the first Europeans to inhabit the northeast area and they also had an American dream. Their dream was to escape the religious persecution of England and come to the new world to build a Utopian society. John Winthrop s A Model of Christian Charity is one of the best examples that portrays the dreams of thenew individuals. He refers to this place as a city upon a hill (225) the dream of workingtogether along with the help of God to overcome the dangers of the new world. Towards

the end, he tells his people: Therefore let us choose life that we and our seed may live by obeying His voice and cleaving to Him for he is our life and our prosperity (225:38).

After the first puritans settled the land, colonization ruled this new world for many years. Subsequently others followed and the colonies grew very rapidly. With a remote control of government in place, the people developed new dreams. The writings from this period of time greatly influenced the people to pursuit their new dreams. Convincing and forceful writing became the main style during this time period as the need for independence and the new American dream grew very swiftly. Thomas Paine clearly persuaded the people with new methods of thinking. Thomas Paine s Common Sense stressed the need for independence from the British with sentences like The cause of

America is in great measure the cause of all mankind (693:4).

The discovery of the new world brought up this idea of a dream. This dream is not limited to one idea but to many others. Columbus hope was to find admiration and riches even thought he denies it in his famous Letter to Ferdinand where he writes I did not sail upon this voyage to gain honor or wealth (14:6). The Spanish dream in the new world was to kill, conquer and take the natives captives and make then slaves. Authors like Bartolome De Las Casas claims [All] the people that could do so fled the mountains to

escape these inhuman, ruthless and ferocious acts (17:5). The Spanish dream was a frightening experience to the native residents.

The American dream has changed over time. Beginning with the fantasy of

freedom to the belligerent need for expansion, it helped shape the nation that it is today. Influential writings encouraged this dream and it leads to migration of people from all overthe world. Today the American dream has taken a different view. We put a lot of emphasis on money and how many possessions we own. The American dream will continue to shape human society in many years to come.