Social Implications Of The American Dream

The American dream is essentially a united conception that we share, however access to this dream has come into question. At the heart of the American dream is the idea of American exceptionalism, the philosophy that visualizes America as the leader of the world, the epitome of civilization, the center of social and political benefits brought by our superior democracy and the personal liberties it stands for. People wrongfully assume that being an American benefits all americans equally, but it has become increasingly apparent that some Americans are benefiting more than others. These benefits are heavily influenced by one’s wealth, education, and social status. The limitations of American society and inequalities imposed on an individual influences their social economic mobility. As a result for the majority, the possibility of gaining upper mobility affects the prospect of the American dream. As stated by K amp, there have been several recalibrations of definition of the American Dream. (1) Wealth, rank, …show more content…
Who are they to tell us how to live? Eventually this mindset led to the American revolution, a fight for independence that generated a strong individualistic culture. Subsequently the Declaration of Independence declared that “all men are created equal” and are given the right to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” exemplifying the idea of equal opportunity all the while having an individualistic mindset. The New Deal created reform by promising benefits like social security to everyone through collective action, thus improving equal opportunity. However, Kamp explains that when american’s living standards dramatically improved after World War II, americans purchasing power increased than ever before, and (2)consequently, Americans became primarily consumers and reduced their attention on publics