American Dream

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AMERICAN DREAM

The American dream is the idea (often associated with the ) held by many in the  that through hard work, courage and determination one can achieve prosperity. These were values held by many early European settlers, and have been passed on to subsequent generations. What the American dream has become is a question under constant discussion.

THE AMERICAN DREAM TODAY

In the 20th century, the American dream had its challenges. The Depression caused widespread hardship during the Twenties and Thirties, and was almost a reverse of the dream for those directly affected. Racial instability did not disappear, and in some parts of the country racial violence was almost commonplace. There was concern about the undemocratic campaign known as  carried on against suspected Communists.

Since the end of , young American families have sought to live in relative bourgeois comfort in the  that they built up. This was aided as a vision by the apparent winning of the .

The American Dream appears to have enduring appeal to many in other countries. The United States remains a magnet for immigrants today, receiving 1 million legal entrants annually--the highest such rate in the world. Whereas past generations of immigrants tended to come from , a majority of contemporary immigrants hail from  and . Unknown numbers of illegal immigrants also enter the country annually, chiefly from across the southern border with .

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CRITICISM OF THE AMERICAN DREAM

The concept of the American dream has been the subject of much criticism. The main criticism is that the American dream is misleading. These critics say that, for various reasons, it simply is not possible for everyone to become prosperous through determination and hard work. The consequences of this belief can include the poor feeling that it is their fault that they are not successful. It can also result in less effort towards helping the poor since their poverty is "proof" of their laziness. The concept of the American dream also ignores other factors of ...

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