Jefferson's Perception Of The American Dream

The meaning of the American Dream and how people interpret it has changed tremendously over the years. It has not always been having materialistic possessions, a meaningful life, and spending time with family and friends; in fact, the original meaning was to live where there is opportunity for achievement and a richer and fuller life for everyone. Thomas Wolfe, and American Novelist 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" (Wolfe). He is saying The American Dream means to achieve personal goals and dreams. Today, many believe the American Dream is not achievable because of barriers …show more content…
Although this seemed realistic, the dream was meant mostly for white men who owned land. Jefferson stated, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” (The Writers Presence). Him saying this shows he meant the dream to be for men instead of everyone. Jefferson’s dream and Martin Luther King’s dream were the same in that they wanted equality, but Martin Luther King’s was a bit contrasting. Martin Luther King Junior’s vision of The American Dream was for everyone to be treated equally, mainly African Americans. In his “I Have a Dream Speech” he says, “We must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free” (King). African Americans did not have the same opportunity as whites. They did not have the same job opportunity or the same freedoms. Even though America was supposed to be a free country, the African Americans were not treated equally. This made Martin Luther King’s Dream similar to Jefferson’s because they both wanted …show more content…
If the career they choose to pursue is hard to live off of, then they have to work harder to fulfill their needs and to make their career go with their expenses. Americans then learn to respect hard work and time productivity through this tactic. Damon Brown said; “Remember that money can come as quickly as it goes, but time, once it is gone, never comes back." (Brown). Brown is stating that American’s not only should strive for better lives, financially but also socially. They should look at the time they have like a ticking clock, they cannot get back what has been done and is in the