When Did The American Dream Begin?
The idiom “American Dream” became a catchphrase in 1931 when James Truslow Adams featured it in his best-selling book, The Epic of America. He wrote, “The American dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society in which upward mobility is possible for everyone. The American dream is believed to be achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking, and hard work, rather than by chance.”
At the time, the country was in an economic depression following the stock market crash of 1929. Half of U.S. banks failed, and unemployment was at 30%. Adams believed the country had forgotten its foundational principle, promised in the Declaration of Independence, that all people could achieve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He wrote The Epic of America to inspire people to dream once again, and he wanted to remind people that the United States was different from England and the rest of Europe, where upward mobility was limited by the family and place in society where one was born. Comically, James T. wanted to title the book The American Dream, but the publisher didn’t think people would spend $3.50 for a book about a dream.
Historian James Truslow Adams (from Boston Globe) and Unemployed men at the White Angel Breadline in San Francisco, California 1933 (Photo by Dorothea Lange)
James Truslow Adams also commented on the country’s obsession with material things, which had reached a new level during the “Roaring 1920s.” He felt that Americans were obsessed with money and mass consumerism, since many people could afford to buy automobiles and live a lavish lifestyle. Reflecting on the American Dream, he wrote: “It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of a social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”
The essence of James T.’s vision of the American Dream was the idea that every person in the U.S. has the opportunity to achieve their personal goals. And this idea of opportunity for personal fulfillment for all citizens was documented in our Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.
The American Dream Today
According to Gallup Research, 70% of Americans believe the American Dream is achievable. And 31% of U.S. adults report their families have achieved the American Dream, with another 36% saying they are “on their way” to achieving it.
However, there is no consensus on what the American Dream is.
The American Dream is often portrayed in our entertainment media as a sole focus on acquiring tremendous wealth and material things. After all, Madonna sang about being a “material girl.” And a long-running TV reality show was called “Who Wants to Marry a Multi-millionaire?” And let’s not forget the movie “Jerry Maguire,” in which Cuba Gooding, Jr.’s character told Jerry, played by Tom Cruise, to “Show me the money!”
Although endless material wealth is some people’s dream, that idea is more theater than reality. A truer picture is that America is a land of dreams where anything is possible—which might or might not include huge financial success. In fact, many people measure the rewards of their dreams in non-monetary terms, such as achieving freedom from their countries’ political restrictions or finding work that makes a positive impact on the world.
