The American Dream: Life, Liberty And The Pursuit Of Freedom

Improved Essays
American was founded upon the preservation of the unalienable rights that are, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” (Jefferson.) Thomas Jefferson’s quote is based on John Locke’s “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Property” (Locke.) but its change was no attempt to avoid plagiarism but to define what would become the United States of America. From the very start American was a land of opportunity. Captain John Smith and the residents of Jamestown came to make a living which they accomplished through hard work. Europeans value status while Americans value work ethic. Emma Lazarus writes, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, lift my lamp beside the golden door!" The golden door of opportunity that is America accepts …show more content…
The American Dream is the opportunity for anyone to achieve success through hard work. However, now more than ever the American Dream is threatened. The American Dream is in danger of ceasing to exist because of economic, social and immigratory obstacles.
Today’s economics presents an obstacle that prevents many of the pursuers of the American Dream from ever reaching it. In recent years the economy of the US has been less than optimal. With stagnant national growth businesses are hiring less and investing more back into themselves. How are individuals supposed to achieve success if they can 't find work anywhere that pays more more than minimum wage. Even someone who works minimum wage full time in the US can expect to find themselves below the poverty line. Minimum wage has been increased steadily since its inception in 1938 but according Lynda Tran at USNEWS when adjusted for inflation minimum wage has decreased in value every year since 1968 when it reached a high point. Though the majority

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