The American dream

The "American Dream"

  • Term coined by James Truslow Adams in 1931- beliefs and expectations

  • Complex concept, philosophy, religion, history

  • Common references: "land of opportunity", "from rags to riches", "work hard and you'll make it"

  • USA- idea rather than typical country

  • Foundation: Declaration of independence (1776)

  • Concept: belief in progress, manifest destiny, success, liberty and equality, peaceful multiculturism and challenging of frontiers

Problem

belief in progress -> decadence, manifest destiny -> arrogance, success -> materialism, liberty and equality -> racism, peaceful multiculturism and challenging of frontiers -> imperialism

 

Culture Wars

  • Two party system Democrats vs. Republicans

  • Two distinct political/cultural position:

  • Progressive, liberal: support for minorities, for immigration, against guns, for environment, strong state, cities- DEMOCRAT

  • Conservative: against immigration, against active support of minorities, for guns, for business, state shall not interfere, rural areas- Republican

 

Immigration today

  • no more “open door” policy → a limited number

of visas and green cards are now issued

 Issues with undocumented immigrants:

→ they live in fear of deportation

→ children born in the US are citizens: could

be separated from deported parents

→ belief that those who have lived in the US

for a long time should be given citizenship

→ many Republicans want stronger crackdowns

on illegal immigrants and a significant

reduction in immigration in general

 

The Civil Rights Movement

SLAVERY AND ABOLITION

 1619-1808 → slaves brought from Africa

to work on plantations

 1865: slavery abolished after the Civil War

 continued segregation and discrimination

→ Jim Crow laws

1

Civil rights movement

 NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership

Conference, Black Panthers

 Brown v. Board of Education → segregated

schools ruled illegal

 bus boycotts → ended public transport

segregation

 1963: March on Washington for Jobs and

Freedom → “I have a dream” speech

 1968: assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

 from 1972: laws to promote positive

discrimination

 

American Dream today

  • Material AD of house in the suburbs, car, etc. increasingly difficult to attain

  • Ideals of equality, equal chances and openness of the USA not fulfilled

  • Culture Wars and partisanship spoil democracy

  • Still an important concept, a reference and an ideal

  • USA still attracts people