Steven Jeremia Lumaksana - American Dream.docx

Steven Jeremia Lumaksana 17202244004 English Language Education – B

American Dream Many people will define ‘American Dream’ as a dream of America citizen, but it is not. This term is not referred to an imagination or a dream, but more than it. American dream is an ideal that talks about the way of living or we can say it is a belief of United States citizen that emphasizes to be successful and prosperous, we need to pass through the process of hard working. It is explained more, the term of American Dream by Investopedia (n.d) that this achievement need a sacrifice, risk-taking and not by chance. The American Dream is referred to support citizens’ right to achieve their potency, improve their lives, to make a progress for the better future. Based on the recorded usage in Collinsdictionary.com, the frecuency of using this term was started in 1937. The frecuency of using this term was started to culminate in 1999. The term of American Dream is an overworked phrase that did not just show up by itself. This term was thought by a writer and historian named James Truslow Adams in 1931. At the same year, he published a best-selling book titled ‘The Epic of America’. According to the quotes of James Truslow Adams (1931) “The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement... 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,” he would like to convey that there should be a progression in citizens’ life and also everyone has to get the same

treatment from the government, both of men and women, no matter if they are native citizen or immigrant. The meaning of this American Dream term had long been expressed in example of the Declaration of Independence. It is emphasized there about the equality of human. The exist of this declaration did not work well actually in the citizens’ life. There was no strong policy to make this declaration applied in their life. This condition seemed from the slavery that happened in America. Most of the citizens with the dark skin or mostly called “Negro” trapped into this slavery. Not only slavery, womens also lost their rights. Everything had changed in 1920s. The government made a tight policy to protect the society from the slavery and also the women’s right. But, the real meaning of American Dream was also changed. At first, it talked about the movement to make a better life, but then the perception was changed that is to become wealthy. Hard working they did intended for material. This condition made some change such as in Bill of Rights of Economic to support their economic life. The development of this economic side made people from the other countries intended to move to America, in other word immigrating. They were also considering of some factors from the opportunity to get the prosperity. The first factor, that is from the geographical condition. It provides a large land mass. It has long shorelines and a flat terrain that make easier for transportation. This good condition is also supported by many resources of nature including oil, rainfall, and plenty of rivers. Other than that the climate in there is quite good. This condition supports the development of economic. Second, the diversity population in America. It can be discerned the diversity either from language, politic, and the other things are united. This condition makes them creative and innovative. It made them become a superior population than the small population in producing and develop something. That is why they were able to compete on the global market. Those good things are not running well. The good economic system actually made different percentage of income in some groups of society.

Other than that the positive thing that seemed from the country showed up a bad stigma for the country itself. The other countries think that the action to be a superior country is a part of the American Dream, which is actually is not true. The idea of American Dream is not running well in today’s times. Many citizens doubt on the movement of getting their rights. Many questions will come up in citizen’s mind to consider the essential of American Dream. The application of American Dream is not realized perfectly yet. That is because the different perception and also less strict of policy.

References: Anonymous. (n.d). American Dream. Retrieved https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/american-dream.asp

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Amadeo, Kimberly. (n.d). What is American Dream? The History That Made It Possible. Retrieved from https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-the-americandream-quotes-and-history-3306009 Brandt, Anthony. (1981, May). Now and Then The American Dream. Retrieved from https://www.americanheritage.com/content/american-dream