What The American Dream is and The Factors Influencing It

Plenty of Americans think the American dream is dead and many are left with unfair opportunities, many say it is surely alive and is given through hard work. Is this true on both sides and views? Or is the dream blatantly dead or alive? Should not focus on if the dream is dead or alive, but more so what this dream means and is it available for everyone to gain.

Asking questions like is the dream available to only American citizens, or can the dream go out to any and every one living here despite being born here or an immigrant. Does your race, sexuality, gender identification or class impact one's American Dream? But first, we must ask ourselves on how, where and why the American dream came to be.

The American Dream is an idea that America is open to the free and within that freedom is granted opportunity for all to improve and live their life for their families. The dream was sought to be something everyone can easily get a hold of to make their life more fulfilling and rich. Post-Revolutionary War in America. Immigration started to arise. As the Industrial Revolution came to be people from outside countries saw lots of opportunity for work.

The transcontinental railroad was needed laborers to be built. The California Gold rush brought many immigrants as well. Around the 1820s’ to 1880’s millions came from Europe and Asia. 3,000,000 came from Germany to escape their past government, and 2,800,000 Irish sought refuge in America to flee the Potato Famine that killed half of their population. Not everyone came because they saw the opportunity or they had a choice, they had nowhere else to come to their aid so they fled to where they could.

During this time immigration was not bad, anyone who could make the trip could stay in America and make a home here, no passports or documentation was needed. “Everyone can travel and settle wherever he pleases. No passport is demanded, no police mingles in his affairs or hinders his movements ... Fidelity and merit are the only sources of honor here. The rich stand on the same footing as the poor...there are no princes and corrupt courts representing the so-called divine 'right of birth.' In such a country the talents, energy, and perseverance of a person ... have far greater opportunity to display than in monarchies.”

Germans and other immigrants were welcomed almost anywhere in America, not sectioned in a separate area. This did end during Civil War, immigrants were seen as job stealers and started to not be as welcomed when they came over. This did not stop immigrants from coming to America though, many continued to migrate into the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Steam-powered boats allow for more to come to America in a drastically shorter time.

This allowed for people from farther away in Europe to move to America. 4,600,000 Italians came over, 4,000,000 from Austro-Hungarian empire, 3,300,000 from Russia and much more from far away. Now just about anyone who knew about America could make it with steam power. Mostly men came here to work for their family and send money back home, but eventually, the mothers and children arrived not so long later. The Chinese Exclusion Act banned immigration from China, making it difficult for people living here.

There are arguments that immigrants make America, bringing jobs and people here. America was still seen as a refuge for many, New York was a hub of opportunity holding many people and jobs. When World War I happened, Americans started to change their mind about immigration, alarmed about foreigners coming to attack. From the start, America has been seen as a land of opportunity, and the ability that anyone can come here for a better life.

Also, the ability that their children could be given the same opportunity or even more than their parents. If people are not given the equal opportunity to get this dream it can create problems. If a woman cannot get her dream because of wage gaps then what is she supposed to do? If black and Latino families do not earn as much as white families than are they supposed to pursue the American dream?

The government is seen as doing these things on purpose that is stopping upward mobility for certain groups of people, which is not right and is the opposite of what America was supposed to be. The ability to get land and provide for yourself was appealing not only to immigrants but also to the US-born. As America grew, in the early to mid-1900’s the Dream was seen as getting a house, children, marriage, car, and the classic white picket fence. This idea was held by the possibility that the government would give Americans the freedoms so they can succeed this American Dream.

Another question we need to ask ourselves does this dream apply to absolutely everyone? If you come from a lower income family does this tamper with your personal dream? Are only certain people given this opportunity? There is a big race disparity in America, as of 2017 white families earn about 10 times as much as black and Latino families. T

his gap is huge and is not just a coincidence. This wage gap leads to families of color with fewer opportunities, most do not own their house or have a car, which means they cannot afford college for their children. Having their children grow up and experience the same thing. This pattern stays stagnant leading to a wider gap.

Looking at gender differences, woman take only 5% of leadership roles in corporations but make up 50% starting positions, men make up the other 50% of starting positions but are more likely to attain raises and go up the ladder getting better job roles. Woman do not lack skill at all they just are not given an equal advantage as their male coworkers. These lead fewer people to earn less money and not getting their desired American Dream. It should be open to all.

What does the American Dream exactly mean? The concept of the American Dream has changed heavily and does not mean what it used to. To gain your American dream is to make it unique to you and your values. It is no surprise that America is extremely diverse, it has been since immigration in the 1800’s. People from all over being their cultures and even business here to seek to live a fulfilling life of freedom.

These people from different backgrounds bring new skills outlooks over here. Bringing business and skill that positively affects America and strengthens it. Not only different cultures have different Dreams but generations have them too. The baby boomers wanted higher living standards after the war. The idea that their hard work pays off, and it pays off in their American dream.

That is having a house, children, car, being able to vacation in the summer, college education for children and etc. These things were not hard to come by back then. It was not as expensive as it is now. Ever since we have been using credit it has been getting less easy for each generation. Newer generations striving for the older generations American dream.

Which is not bad but since the economy has changed it has been difficult to do so. People fear the dream is dead, but it has just changed. Things do not last forever. The American Dream used to be one solid thing and now it has changed dramatically to whatever you make it.

The American dream can be very moldable, anyone can attain it if they can get access to basic necessities and grow from there. The dream is not one specific thing like a white picket fence, one car, two kids. People from different cultures and backgrounds can make their own dream in America. The dream is whatever you want it to be. I don't personally think the dream is dead, it has just changed for most Americans.

If your American dream is to own your home, a car, married with children then you should be able to do that as well. This dream should be available to everyone who lives here but that not exactly is a reality. It has become difficult to achieve the basic necessities for people living here. Most do not own their homes by 30 anymore. It is important that we try and better this country so more people can live and be happy without huge financial worries.

The fact is hard work should pay off and many are working hard and getting little to nothing in return. No one should have to work two or more jobs to make ends meet. America should work better so less are struggling and more are able to realistically work towards their dream.