American Dream 2
Has the American Dream turned into the American nightmare? The ideals stated in the Declaration of Independence, life, liberty and happiness, are no longer the ideals of today. Now, it is the pursuit of happiness that overshadows everything. Life and liberty are taken for granted. Americans today are constantly reminded and told how to pursue "the dream". And more often than not, it is someone else's dream. The old-fashioned idea of a simple life with a decent house in a quiet neighborhood, with a steady job and a couple of healthy children is no longer enough. Today, both spouses must work so they can afford bigger houses, drive fancier cars, take better vacations and accumulate more "things". Kids come along later, if financial security is more certain. Today's generation finds itself unable to duplicate or surpass their own parents' standard of living. When and how did it all change?Achieving the American dream dates back to the time when Christopher Columbus discovered America. Since then, there have been deals, agreements, treaties and even laws passed to reach the dream. During most of the 18th century, Great Britain ruled the area that was to become the United States
Welles, Edward O. "It's Not The Same America." Inc. Magazine Archives. 19 Goodwin, Neva R., Frank Ackerman and David Kiron. The Consumer Society - Following the Revolutionary War, Americans pursued the dream rather ineffectively. The new nation, without tradition or wealth, expanded almost in spite of itself as new frontiers and new settlements were made. Some measure of success was achieved and America's politics, economy and government stabilized as the nation grew. But by the middle of the 19th century, one issue stood out in opposition to the dream that all men were created equal - slavery. This issue was so hotly contested that the nation was divided into two. Only eighty-five years after achieving independence, the nation fought against itself to either abolish or uphold slavery. Losing sight of the dream and what it meant, the four-year Civil War caused more casualties than all wars from the Revolution through Vietnam combined. When the war was finally over, America started on a period of great economic growth. As great wealth was accumulated by the cattle barons, the railroad companies and the industrial giants, most Americans did not succeed to anywhere near the same degree. American society was split into those with money and those without. The richest few achieved the dream of freedom, wealth and happiness, but left the vast majority in an almost hopeless state. For most, the hopes of reaching the American dream would remain just that - a dream. Finally, and most important, is the state of the American family. The model of two kids, a dog and a house in the suburbs may not be reachable for many Americans, but it can also be looked down upon by many that are pushed and driven to surpass it. What makes it sad is that while they are attempting to acquire even more wealth, status and power, they can lose sight of their marriage and their children. You often read of highly successful businessmen who state that they deserve their success because they work fifteen to twenty hours a day, six or seven days a week. What time does that leave for anything else? Kansas City; Andrews and McMeel, 1996. Consumer Paradise, New York; William Morrow & Company, 1985.
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Approximate Word count = 2117
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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