The author Rana Foroohar wrote the article “What Ever Happened to Upward Mobility?” which was published in the New York Times on November 14, 2011. This article can be divided into seven sections. In the introduction, the author states how hard it is for Americans to climb the ladder of success. In the second section, the author explains that America is no longer the leading country of opportunity. It’s in such critical state that there is only a 17% chance for people born in 1970 to move from the bottom one-fifth of the economic sector to the upper two-fifths. In the next section, the author asks the following question about upward mobility, ‘what happened?’ He compares our economy to other countries like Canada and France. Ethnic minorities
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In 1492, colonization of the newly formed America began (Polk). America was known from the very beginning as the land of the free. 1760 marked the start of the American Industrial Revolution which provided much hope for prosperity. The signing of the declaration of independence in 1776 began a rise of upward mobility that lasted many centuries. The declaration states that “all men are created equal” and are given the right of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. In 1929 when the US Stock market crashed, the rate of economic growth was negative. 1930 marked the beginning of what is now known as the great depression. In 1931, New York’s bank collapsed making it the largest single bank failure in history. Many people, unemployed and unable to find work, started food riots. This was also the year in which the phrase “American Dream” was first used in Adams’ book The Epic of America (Adams). In 1932, the newly elected president Roosevelt pledges a “New Deal” to America and in 1933 it takes affect. Programs under the New Deal included modified interest rates, farm subsidies and short-term job programs. In 1936, many people were ragged, hungry, and broke. The Great depression finally ended in the year 1940. The 1940’s saw the rise of consumerism which started to redefine the American dream. People wanted more, they wanted it newer, and they wanted it better. The housing market crash at the end of 2008 forced the US to enter into another recession. Upward mobility started to dip and the American dream seemed to be slipping away. The issue of the lack of upward mobility has became a growing concern once again in recent decades. More currently in 2013, Americans are questioning if the American Dream is still alive. In a 2013 survey, 41% of American believed that the American Dream is impossible to
In 1492, colonization of the newly formed America began (Polk). America was known from the very beginning as the land of the free. 1760 marked the start of the American Industrial Revolution which provided much hope for prosperity. The signing of the declaration of independence in 1776 began a rise of upward mobility that lasted many centuries. The declaration states that “all men are created equal” and are given the right of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. In 1929 when the US Stock market crashed, the rate of economic growth was negative. 1930 marked the beginning of what is now known as the great depression. In 1931, New York’s bank collapsed making it the largest single bank failure in history. Many people, unemployed and unable to find work, started food riots. This was also the year in which the phrase “American Dream” was first used in Adams’ book The Epic of America (Adams). In 1932, the newly elected president Roosevelt pledges a “New Deal” to America and in 1933 it takes affect. Programs under the New Deal included modified interest rates, farm subsidies and short-term job programs. In 1936, many people were ragged, hungry, and broke. The Great depression finally ended in the year 1940. The 1940’s saw the rise of consumerism which started to redefine the American dream. People wanted more, they wanted it newer, and they wanted it better. The housing market crash at the end of 2008 forced the US to enter into another recession. Upward mobility started to dip and the American dream seemed to be slipping away. The issue of the lack of upward mobility has became a growing concern once again in recent decades. More currently in 2013, Americans are questioning if the American Dream is still alive. In a 2013 survey, 41% of American believed that the American Dream is impossible to