Who Is The American Dream - 1326 Words

other necessities but he chooses to throw it away week after week just because there is a slight chance he could win. The get-rich-quick solutions, such as winning the lottery or inheriting a large amount of cash at a young age, are unlikely. Therefore, they are not realistic or practical ways to achieve success and certainly no way to achieve the American Dream. Critical to ensuring any chance of achieving the â€Å"American Dream† in this day and age is to obtain a college education. Although it is possible to attain without attending college, it is extremely unlikely. For those with an education, the dream still at least has a pulse. For the majority of people who either do not think they need an education or cannot afford one, the dream probably lost. Adults are often saying â€Å"when I was a kid, I had no help with college tuition, I was hardworking and paid it all myself.† There is a lot of truth behind that statement. It was much easier to afford college back in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1970, the annual tuition for Yale was $2,550 (Muskus) and minimum wage was $1.45 (Wage and Hour Division (WHD): History of Federal Minimum Wage Rates Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, 1938-2009). This means the average student with a minimum wage job in 1970 needed to work 4.8 hours a day to pay for tuition. That is about 33.6 hours a we ek which is a variable full-time job. In 1970, it was easy to graduate from college debt-free. Today, in 2015, the annual tuition at Yale is $47,600 (notShow MoreRelatedWho Is The American Dream?1490 Words   |  6 PagesAmericans because they often think of The American Dream as a way or path to greater times. The American Dream gives hope for Americans because it gives them freedom, hope and it also encourages us to achieve goals that will make our life a lot easier in the future for future generations and ourselves. A real life situation of the American dream, for example is like other people from other countries coming to America to find jobs to support their families, build new ones or simply have a better lifeRead MoreWho Is The American Dream?1650 Words   |  7 Pageslife to be the American dream. I must have inherited that dream for my mother; she came to the United States from Mexico when she was merely 15 years old. She came to pursue the same dream; she wanted to have the opportunity to achieve wealth and success. Growing up in a traditional Hispanic household is something I will always cherish, but a characteristic of Hispanic culture is the mindset that women were made to be housewives and mothers. This trait blended in with my American dream, I thought asRead MoreWho Is The American Dream? Essay1679 Words   |  7 PagesAmericans because they often think of The American Dream as a way or path to greater times. The American Dream gives hope for Americans because it gives them freedom, hope and it also encourages us to achieve goals that will make our life a lot easier in the future for future generations and ourselves. A real life situation of the American dream, for example is like other people from other countries coming to America to find jobs to support their families, build new ones or simply have a better lifeRead MoreWho Stole The American Dream?1108 Words   |  5 PagesAre we chasing after a dream that no longer exist? While reading Who Stole the American Dream? by Hedrick Smith and The Next America by Paul Taylor, I started to ponder this concept of the American Dream. The American Dream has been central to America s identity for centuries now, it is a concept in which people have the freedom of opportunity for prosperity and success, and through hard work the ability to move up in social class. In Smith s book he argues that due to the consolidation of wealthRead MoreThe American Dream : Who Are You?1396 Words   |  6 PagesWho are you? This is a question many people struggle with, as Identity is key in today’s society. Knowing who you are, what you identify as, or your ancestral lineage speaks volumes about how an individual will be treated due to public perception. For example, America is a growing world power that has strong social, economic and political influence on the world stage. It is this status symbol that many Americans identify with, irrespective of race, gender or sexual orientation. Identifying as AmericanRead MoreWho Stole The American Dream?756 Words   |  4 PagesMy Critique In Who Stole the American Dream? Hedrick Smith paints a clear and accessible but grim portrait of how economics, politics, power, and democracy have vastly changed in the United States. I agree with Smith that wealth and power inequality are extremely harmful. That a few individuals have prospered at the expense of the many is extremely unethical and unjust. I appreciate his critique of the current system, and historical perspective regarding how democracy has been systematically andRead MoreWho Has Access to the American Dream1152 Words   |  5 PagesResearch Essay: Who has access to the American Dream The American Dream originated in the early days of the American settlement, with mostly poor immigrants searching for opportunities. It was first manifested in the Declaration of Independence, which describes an attitude of hope. The Declaration of Independence states: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, LibertyRead MoreEdward Franklin Albee IIi : The American Dream, And The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia?1313 Words   |  6 PagesENG3U0 Research Essay Edward Franklin Albee III is an American playwright mostly known for his works such as Who s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Zoo Story, The American Dream, and The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? Albee is perceived to be a leader in the creation of the American absurdist drama theatrical movement. Specifically, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Opened on Broadway the same month the world was facing heated nuclear tensions between Soviet and U.S. powers during the Cuban Missile CrisisRead MoreAn avowed nationalist, who had impact on the American dream, Theodore Roosevelt brought presidency1200 Words   |  5 Pages An avowed nationalist, who had impact on the American dream, Theodore Roosevelt brought presidency and nation into the twentieth century. (Theodore) Theodore Roosevelt was the twenty sixth president of the United States, a president that had great impact in politics. He was born into a rich family, and he suffered from asthma during his childhood (United States. National Pa rk service). He studied at Harvard University, and the Columbia law school (United States. National Park service 2). He attendedRead MoreThe American Dream By James Truslow1643 Words   |  7 PagesThe American dream is a term often used as motivation for people who are seeking a better life outside of their torrid country. According to James Truslow, who coined the term American Dream, the definition is, â€Å"a dream of a social order in which each man and woman shall be able to attain to their fullest stature of which they are innately capable.† (68) The American Dream is sought out by many, but they are often denied the privilege of prevailing in a predominantly successful society run by the