Seminar paper from the year 2007 in the subject American Studies - Literature grade: 2 0
University of Constance (Uni) course: American Literature and Culture language: English
abstract: Since the end of the Second World War the United States of America has been the most
powerful country in the world. American power has included cultural power. Writing or talking
about America means invoking the American Dream which remains a major element of the national
identity.The American Dream encompasses the myth of America: a myth defined by another familiar
phrase - the New World. In its origins America was conceived of as a new world a new
beginning a second chance. The contrast of course was with Europe - the Old World -
characterized by tyranny corruption and social divisions. The American Constitution
guaranteed all Americans life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is the heart of the
American Dream. People believed that the American dream was from the beginning part and
parcel of American history culture and language including the early colonial period. America
was born out of a dream. But the American Dream has come to mean at a popular level. It is to
go to the West and become a millionaire. The American dream is conceived of in terms of success
and of material success in particular: getting rich quick is what it is all about. But in its
true sense it has never been limited to material success alone. So what do we actually
understand under the term American Dream and what is the origin of this phrase? When did it
first appear in the language? And how has the phrase itself evolved over time?Only during the
time of political and cultural upheaval could the concept of the American Dream enter the
national lexicon. The true origin of the phrase was first mentioned in 1931 by a middlebrow
historian James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America. In this book the phrase appears
for the first time in the Preface when Adams refers to the American dream of a better richer
and happier life adding that that dream or hope has been present from the start. In the
Epilogue which was probably written before the Preface Adams goes into more detail and
broadens the scope of the American Dream concept explaining that the most distinctive gift
that America has made to the world is the American dream that dream of a land in which life
should be better and richer and fuller for every man with opportunity for each according to
his ability or achievement.