could not otherwise achieve in their homeland. The American Dream is the pursuit of prosperity
and opportunity that drives people to push their own limits and persevere in order to lead
successful lives and achieve whatever goals they set. The American Dream is a reality; every
citizen of the United States of America has the opportunity of its achievement no matter what
prejudices they may face, depending on their perseverance and luck.
The term “ The American Dream” has a few interpretations, but one of the most popular is “ Life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Declaration of Independence1) which is the dream
that most Americans strive for. In simpler terms, The American Dream is the opportunity of
the pursuit of freedom, opportunity and satisfaction of needs and wants. As Thomas Wolfe
said, “ ...to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity ...the right to live,
to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine
to make him” (Wolfe2). This quote explains how everyone in the United States gets the right
to fulfill this American Dream: to function as a member of modern day society and to pursue
their hopes and dreams. If you come to America underprivileged or destitute, then you have
the chance to turn that around through hard work and determination. As the explanation of the
term states, everyone has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream, depending on how
much effort they put in or how fortunate they are. In other words, some people will be able to
work hard and achieve their dreams, while others will work hard and not end up being fortunate
enough to complete their goals.
Even though the concept of the American Dream is relatively well known, most people don’ t
realize how long ago it originated or it’ s true meaning.