Socioeconomic Changes In The United States

Improved Essays
Although an array socioeconomic changes have been made in the United States since the 20th century, the United States is still a land of opportunity for people of diverse backgrounds. Many people, such as immigrants and foreigners, perceive and believe that the United States is a country where one can start a new slate and achieve their dreams with the the right hardwork and passion. This belief originated from the early beginnings of the nation where people migrated in search of freedom and a new life. This main elements of the idea still proves true despite the changes in the economy, government, and social dynamics. These factors both helped and harmed the chances of success of the people living in the United States.
Since the 20th century,
…show more content…
Societal reforms and changes by the government, such as affirmative action and working rights to people of all ages, races, and background, has increased the chances of minorities obtaining an honest job in the U.S. and have a higher likelihood to be successful, regardless of their social and economic background. However, these government actions have also posed an overall challenge for everyone. With the equal opportunity for everyone to get a job and the preference of making the workplace racially equal, the competition for jobs has increased, thus causing an increase of specialized labor in accessibility for the employers. Because of this, Americans who are not skilled or specialized in a craft are at a disadvantage than the rest because their qualifications cannot compete with the abundant supply of skilled workers. Another problem that Roosevelt Thomas Jr. has captured with affirmative actions is that, “The problem is not getting them in at the entry level; the problem is making use of their potential at every level, especially in middle-management and leadership position” (Thomas 6). Opportunity is not limited to the context of having the chance to get the job; It also captures the overall possibility of a life in which the people have dreamed …show more content…
The meaning of opportunity has changed from having the chance to be whoever the person wants to achieve the ideal life and standard of living. To attain this new goal, new obstacles are set such as job competition, education, and social status and background. The new hopes and dreams of Americans were able to change because of the changes of the economy, government, and social dynamics, which allowed the United States to change and develop. Despite the new goals and obstacles in mind, the opportunity and possibility remain present for the ones who have the drive and motivation to reach their

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    When Barbara lived in Florida she stated that “most, but by no means all, of the working housekeepers I see on my job searched are African Americans, Spanish-speaking, or refugees from the Central European post-Communist world, while servers are almost invariably white and monolingually English-speaking” ( Ehrenreich 29). People who worked with Barbara in Florida seemed to be separated by ethnicity, thus limiting their ability to find success. In other words, people are not given the equal opportunities to succeed as stated in the ideal of the American Dream. Even if they work hard, the racial barriers inhibit some to find success.…

    • 1123 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The American Dream The early twentieth century marked a significant time period in history of America and its well-known reputation as a nation of prosperity and great opportunities. During this time, a massive wave of immigrants from Eastern Europe arrived in the land of hope and richness seeking for jobs, and fulfilling their American dreams. However, reality of the “great” America hit them hard and crushed all their expectations of what the land of freedom could offer. As a result, immigrants fell down to the bottom of the “food chain” and could not escape the ruthless cycle of capitalism in the twentieth-century America.…

    • 964 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    After Christopher Columbus “discovered” the new world in the late 1492s, people were on board to immigrate with mere knowledge of its long lasting natural resources. Furthermore, immigration has provided the new world with diverse individuals from all around the world, with different skills, beliefs, ideas, etc. As some might believe, the issue of immigration left the country’s legal residents with no jobs or work. However, under a democratic nation such as this, people tend to be more superior to others. Currently, research shows that the estimated population of immigrants in the United States is around 11 million within the year 2014 (Porter).…

    • 1297 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The “American Dream” is a lifestyle ideal that attracts people from all over the world. This ideal is that in America, everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve success, homeownership, and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. However, even with hard work, determination, and initiative, obstacles can arise that can impede one’s achieving of this success. Gender, socioeconomic class, education, and traditional culture can influence peoples’ pursuit of the “American Dream”. Gender plays an important role in the pursuit of the “American Dream”, but more importantly, gender bias plays a key role in woman’s pursuit of the “American Dream”.…

    • 831 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Broader Lens

    • 2206 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Look Through a Broader Lens For centuries, people have arrived on American land with little more than a suitcase and a dream of a better life. The promise of freedom and equal opportunity continues to attract foreigners to America, even though many thought that with hard work and dedication could lead an American immigrant to success. Having reached the promised land, immigrants find themselves faced with unimaginable obstacles. My family came to America to pursue a better life. Both of my parents came from middle class family in Dalian, China.…

    • 2206 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Richard Rodriguez explains this “ The dream of the outsiders, the immigrants, that ‘ I will come to America and I will change my life’. For those born in the United States, there’s a different notion. It’s not about changing one’s life. It’s about acquiring more” (King,…

    • 565 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Many people view the United States as the land of opportunity. People from all around the world immigrate to this country to reinvent and improve their lives. Unlike other countries, America gives them options. With education, perseverance, and good morals, the opportunities here are endless. During the Gilded Age, the theory of Social Darwinism was developed.…

    • 1068 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    American Dream Many immigrants come to America with hopes of achieving their dreams and living a successful life. “The American dream is the idea that everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve success that can be earned through hard work, determination and inicative.” People are beginning to question whether the American dream is still achievable. The American dream is no longer available to everyone.…

    • 763 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Immigrant Social Movement

    • 147 Words
    • 1 Pages

    From the advent of recorded history people have been moving and this kind of movement has been and always will be one of the key features of civilisation that will continuously transcend time regardless of culture, place or society. People’s movement can be attributed to a number of different reasons, nonetheless, whether it may be for personal advancement, protection, or survival, people have been moving and always will be moving. This social phenomenon has not only contributed tremendously to shaping the various diverse and rich cultural heritages of all the nations of the world but also has greatly influenced the political systems of the immigrant’s respective nations. The United States, often referred to by many as the land of the free…

    • 147 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Upward Mobility

    • 1991 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Humans are instilled with the quality to dream. Without the drive to work hard, Americans would not be able to accomplish the American Dream or any type of mobility. The American Dream is the idea that every citizen should be able to obtain success and mobility through hard work. There are three main types of mobility: upward, economic, and social. All three types have a correlation to the American Dream.…

    • 1991 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Fallacy of ‘The American Dream’ The American identity is built on the notion that if one works hard then he/she can get ahead regardless of their social condition. This notion is based on the concept of the American dream, which refers to the ideology that every American has an equitable and equal opportunity to achieve prosperity as long as he/ she is determined and works hard. Most economically successful people always claim to have attained the American dream.…

    • 1155 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Distance Between America

    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The topic of immigration has become a common talk in our everyday lives. A variety of forces seems to be pushing people towards taking the option of moving to a foreign country rather than staying home. Several studies have implicated economic hardship as the primary motivator of immigration. The logic behind such a statement is that economic status of a particular country tends to impart all the other domains of life, i.e. social and political. Most emigrants often have the aspirations of exploring better economic opportunities present in the receiving states to allow them to get out of paucity.…

    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Reality of the American Dream America has been viewed as the “promise land” and the “land of opportunity” for many generations. America has built itself on the concept of opportunity, individualism, and self-reliance which are the factors that assembled the “American dream.” The American dream has fueled the aspirations of many. Many believed that through hard work and dedication, prosperity and success is achievable. Success varies from individual to individual depending on one’s own personal desires.…

    • 1546 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    American Dream Synthesis Essay The American Dream, or the idea that each American has an equal opportunity at success, is becoming untrue as certain people who are able to achieve higher education through financial abundance or are American-born have an unfair advantage compared to less wealthy immigrant citizens. People who have not received higher education, such as college, have a much diminished chance at achieving the American Dream. In today’s society, being unable to attend college leads to having minimal career choices. In reality, this is highly unfair, as people become practically forced into a job they do not want just because they can not pay to get into a university.…

    • 1150 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Affirmative action policies allow for equal opportunity and throughout history have helped end discrimination in the workforce as well as many different type of organizations. Minorities are given the opportunity to compete for job opportunities and admissions to educational institutions. However, not everyone agrees with these types of policies and believe that this is a form of “reverse discrimination” against white individuals (1). These individuals argue that minorities that include people of color and women are given preference and although the qualifications may be the same amongst all, the minorities will be granted the opportunity simply because of their skin color or gender. In “Affirmative Action and Fairness” Robert Fullinwider discusses how affirmative action is viewed differently…

    • 1136 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays