What is the American Dream. The connotation of the American dream at different times

Foreword

In connection with recent political events in the world, people have increased negative attitude to the United States and its citizens. Obama's ratings fell, Putin's ratings soared. It feels like your memory is like a floppy disk! Yesterday you were against it, and already today you are saying: "Handsome, Vladimir Vladimirovich!" Once again, I am convinced how many cattle live in this world, whose opinion can be so easily influenced by juggling everything in the right way. I will not discuss politics - a swamp to sort out a common person just not able to. I can only emphasize one thing with confidence: there is no such policy that is not beneficial to someone. Naturally, neither you with me.

But back to the defense of the United States. Like the old colonel said N" from the city " H": "America main enemy Russia, it has always been and will be, no matter how they smile at us and say the opposite. "And he is right. But military service is to blame for everything, and I don’t even want to remember its bloodiest and most terrible victims ... So you could do it without hesitate to drop an atomic bomb on a city of one million? psychological preparation from a soldier in order to kill hundreds of thousands of their own kind, knowing in advance in what torment they would die ... In the Third Reich, German shepherd puppies were given to soldiers and the goal was to raise the best dog. Soldiers dedicated huge time dogs, took care of them, played with them, raised and protected them, became very attached. A year later, the soldiers were ordered to kill their dogs. This is how the most prepared brutal soldiers. And I think it was not easy during the Second World War that there were such a huge number of cases when, due to the killing of a German shepherd (for example, undermining it by partisans), entire settlements were killed.

History lesson

But closer to the topic. "American Dream" increasingly throw mud, and Stars and Stripes want to tear and burn. But is it really that bad? "the American dream"? The concept goes back to the very origins of the formation of the United States as an independent and integral state. And to me personally, it is extremely clear the desire of people to get out from under the colonial heel of England. Then people really believed in a good goal, and those who led them also believed. Create an independent strong state with a developed economy, where everyone will be equal and everyone will have the opportunity to get what he deserves. You can remember the unfortunate Indians, but is it really the only example genocide in human history? People believed in the idea, that's the point!

Safire's New Political Dictionary, Random House, New York, 1993, says:

The American Dream is the ideal of freedom or opportunity that was articulated by the "Founding Fathers"; spiritual power of the nation. If American system is the skeleton of American politics, the American dream is its soul.

The source of the phrase "the American dream" considered to be written during the Great Depression, a historical treatise by James Adams, entitled "The Epic of America" ​​(eng. The Epic of America, 1931):

…the American dream of a country where everyone's life should be better, richer and fuller, with opportunities for everyone according to their abilities or achievements - regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.

Really, "the American dream" justified itself, and the United States became pioneers and innovators in many areas of human activity. They managed to subjugate the whole world to their economy, trends mass culture ; they have good weapons, huge scientific potential; the whole world looks them movie, listening them music, enjoys them gadgets, takes over"their" way of life, which is served from the "box".

Their policy is being successfully introduced into states, they are excellent at pushing peoples head-on, they won the Cold War!

Summarizing

And now the most interesting, in my opinion. AT "American dream" There is nothing bad. Freedom, equality, all according to their abilities. Is it bad to have a spacious house, a good car and confidence in the future? The idea is wonderful, but it is a pity that no matter how noble it is, sooner or later it turns into something opposite. The same thing happened with "American dream". The endless pursuit of money, the desire to be only the very first and the best! Stay up to date with the latest trends! Don't have an iPhone yet? You are fool!!! Everything was distorted, and then mentioned "American dream". Everyone hid, everyone is dissatisfied. Americans are diabolical tempters, sowers of debauchery and sins. But only you and I are to blame! We were only shown how it is possible, but the choice was only ours! We were offered "freedom", money, a luxurious easy life, parties and fun, sex without obligations and permissiveness. America has proven that man is not much different from an animal that satisfies basic instincts. The world is our reflection in the mirror!

The typical modern American is in many ways similar to us, but in many ways completely opposite. They are very simply dressed, and as someone can say - tasteless. Their problem with obesity is much more acute. Mental disorders and more quirks too. You shouldn't call them stupid - not dumber than our smart ones! They also drink less than ours, and in general, the laws are stricter with alcohol and tobacco there.

Americans are not indifferent people - they readily come to the aid of even strangers, help the poor, donate to charity and volunteer. And this is the norm of life. They never push, do not climb out of turn, polite and attentive to others. By the way, the guys there handle the instrument better than we do!

They are the same as we are people! Many of them treat Russians as badly as we treat them. But I'm sure there are those who look at what is happening like me.

Anyway globalization goes on and on and on show it's just for distraction. But everyone should have their own opinion about what is happening. The only question is Is this your opinion?

It's safe to say that almost every American has at least heard of the American Dream. For years politicians have praised her in their speeches or warned the people that she would be endangered if their opponent was chosen. Popular songwriters from Neil Diamond to Tanya Tucker have sung about the pursuit of this very dream. Hundreds of books are full of the words "American dream" on their covers; and some of them are guidelines on how to achieve it. There can be no greater compliment for an American citizen than to say that he or she has achieved the American Dream.

Given the fact that Americans are so in love with the American Dream, it's even more bizarre that few people can actually agree on a definition of the term. For some, it is the belief that everyone who lives in this country, even a poor immigrant, a slum dweller, or a farmer's child, has the potential to become rich and prosper. For others, it is the belief that every person living in the United States has the opportunity to achieve their (even the most incredible) goals. For others, such as folksinger and social activist Woody Guthrie, whose most famous composition is "This Is Your Land" (which is still sung by schoolchildren across the country to this day), or civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., the American dream means that every citizen of the country is guaranteed equality, freedom and the right to be heard.

But not everyone sees the American Dream as a positive aspect of society. Some say it's turned into a compulsion and obsession accumulate property and property, which can lead the people to death. For example, Harvard Business University professor John A. Quelch writes that political leaders guilty of "defining the American dream in material terms, of encouraging Americans to live beyond their means in their pursuit of the goal." Other opponents point out that America's ethnic and economic disparity persists, making the American dream little more than a cruel myth. Comedian, writer, and public critic George Carlin once said, "It's called the American Dream, because you have to be in a dream to believe it."
No matter how you feel about the American dream, you are probably wondering how it came about. Let's find out!

Origin of the American Dream

Historian James Truslow Adams is often credited with a major role in popularizing the idea of ​​the American Dream. In 1931, in his treatise The Epic of America, Adams wrote "that this is the dream of a land in which life should be better and richer for all, providing opportunities for everyone, according to his abilities or achievements."

But the notion of the American dream, as defined by Adams, actually existed long before him. In 1630, John Winthrop delivered a "city on a hill" sermon to Puritan colonists as they sailed to Massachusetts. Although Winthrop never used the word "dream," he eloquently and eloquently described his vision for a society in which everyone would have the opportunity to prosper as long as everyone worked together and followed biblical teachings. Gradually, this dream of opportunity developed in the minds of the colonists as a God-given right. In the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Thomas Jefferson argued that everyone living in America (at least those who were not enslaved colonists) had the right to "a free life and the pursuit of happiness."

As America developed and grew throughout the 19th century, so did the notion that it was different from other countries: it was a land of incredible opportunity, where anything could be achieved if one had the courage to dream big. Alexis de Tocqueville, a Frenchman who visited the new nation in the 1830s, called this belief "the charm of expected success." The American transcendentalist philosopher Henry David Thoreau, in his book Walden (1854), gave the following formulation: “If a person moves confidently towards his dream and strives to live the life that he imagines, then success will come to him in reality.”

The phrase "American Dream" gradually began to appear in newspaper articles and books from the mid-1800s, often referring to the brave pioneers who went west in pursuit of fortune; or European immigrants who came to US ports in search of better job and housing. By the early 20th century, the term "American Dream" was being used as a definition of economic prosperity - "from rags to riches." In 1916, Sherwood Anderson, in his novel The Son of Windy MacPherson, described his character as "an American multimillionaire, a man in his financial climax, one who understood the American dream."
Now let's find out how the Americans saw their further development in the 20th century.

Evolution of the American Dream

In 1931, James Truslow Adams wrote a book about the history of the United States. He changed his mind (or was dissuaded) from calling it the "American Dream" because he believed that the "Dream" itself was now in grave danger. Lands that were once a land of great opportunity are now mired in the Great Depression. Depression ruined destinies huge amount millionaires, took away people's homes and jobs, forced them to live in camps for the homeless and beg for change on the streets. Few believed President Herbert Hoover's words that prosperity was just around the corner.
Hoover's successor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, however, created a number of social programs to help the poor and was more successful in persuading Americans that they could do much better in their lives. In January 1941, in a speech to Congress, Roosevelt formulated his vision for a new American dream supported by the US government. This "dream" included full employment for the working population, government assistance for the elderly and those unable to work, and greater use of the fruits scientific and technological progress to continuously improve the standard of living.

This vision of limitless prosperity was sought again after the end of World War II. With an economy boosted by massive amounts of military spending, the victorious United States has emerged as the richest and most powerful country on the planet. In 1950, Americans, who made up only 6% of the population the globe produced and consumed one-third of their goods and services. Factories were churning out products to meet the needs of a growing population, wages were rising, and wealthy workers with their big families moving into spacious new homes in the suburbs.

Many Americans with middle-class status believed that if they worked hard enough, life would get better and better for them and their offspring. It should be noted that some social critics considered this dream to be excessively materialistic, spiritually empty and intellectually destructive. Other critics have pointed out that America has not always been a land of opportunity for all, especially for those who belonged to racial and ethnic minorities. Further - more about this.

Race Relations and the American Dream

While many Americans reveled in the country's prosperity after World War II, others were not so optimistic. In 1955, Sloane Wilson, in his novel The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (which was later made into a film starring Gregory Peck), portrayed an emotionally traumatized military veteran who became a businessman and drove himself to despair trying to keep his family living in the suburbs.

But many other writers have steadfastly defended the aspirations of the middle-class population. “Obviously we cannot pack up and leave the suburbs even if we wanted to, although most do not,” wrote newspaper columnist Ruth Millett in 1960. "What's the point of making us feel guilty for wanting to follow the American dream and trying to give our children what parents usually want to give - an easier life, best opportunities for education and a slightly higher level of protection.”

But soon enough, a boom in suburban births questioned parenting dreams. At the same time, African Americans, who had long been denied rights and opportunities (which white Americans took for granted), began to demand justice in a dramatic way. In 1964, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech called "The American Dream" at New Jersey's Drew University. He said that America's dream has not yet come true because of racial discrimination, poverty and violence. He said that instead of accumulating more wealth, American dreams should be about equality for the people, giving equal rights to minorities. He noted that it is necessary to restore the crumbling parts of cities and eradicate hunger in the country.

In the 1970s, with the U.S. economy stagnant, inflation soaring, and the country torn apart by race riots and divisions about the Vietnam War, Martin Luther King's call to rethink his ambitions seemed prophetic. In 1974 French historian Ingrid Carlander made headlines American newspapers, publishing a book titled "Les Americaines" in which she boldly declared that the American Dream was dead. By the end of the decade, Americans were mired in long gas lines, fearful of not being able to meet the mortgages on their dream vacation homes, realizing that Ingrid was probably right. This fear and disappointment caused the American dream to transform once again.

Will the American Dream survive in the 21st century?

In 1980, American concern about the "dream" helped elect Ronald Reagan to the US presidency, who promised to restore it. Reagan himself was the embodiment of the American dream - coming from a modest family farm in Illinois. Reagan said that America is still a place where everyone can grow as high and as far as their ability allows.

Reagan's formula for restoring the American dream was tax cuts, which he argued would stimulate economic growth. He was also determined to cut government welfare programs, which he considered discouraged from being self-reliant. The economy eventually revived, and rising prosperity helped Reagan easily win another 1984 election. But critics question whether the tax cut really revived the dream for most Americans, arguing that it happened only for a privileged few.

Congressional budget data confirms critics' doubts. Between 1979 and 2005, 99% of households in the US grew 21% after tax, less than 1% per year, not enough to keep up with inflation. But in the same period, the after-tax income of the richest Americans grew by 225%. In 1979, the income of one percent of the richest people in America was eight times that of a middle-class family, and in 2005 it was 21 times more.

However, the debate about how to revive the American dream continues. Conservatives are calling for tax cuts, while liberals are advocating higher taxes on the wealthy to pay for welfare programs to help lift the rest.

Meanwhile, the third group argues that everyone in the world should solve problems. equally and that Americans must rethink what the American dream really means. In 2008, in his essay, Prof. Harvard University John Quelch warned that "so many Americans expressed their dreams only through the acquisition of some things." He urged them to understand the dream as the freedom to pursue career ambitions, raise children, and most importantly, be good citizens of society. This, in a way, is a return to James Truslow Adams' definition of the American dream in 1931: "it is a social order in which every man and every woman should be able to attain the maximum height of which they are innately capable and be recognized for who they are." they are, regardless of origin or status".

The "American Dream" has always been one of the leading issues in the literature of this country. She originated in colonial period and developed in the 19th century. With the opening of the North American continent, thousands of people poured into the new land with different ideas, with a desire to establish the supremacy of capitalism and pro-Western thinking. All these factors together had a powerful influence on the formation of the American dream.

The term "American Dream" was first used in 1931 in James Truslow Adams' book The Epic of America. He says that "The American dream is the desire to find a land where life will be brighter, better and richer, where everyone can find opportunities for themselves in accordance with their skills and knowledge."

In fact, the term American Dream can be interpreted in both a broader and a narrower sense. In broad terms, the American Dream refers to equality, freedom, and democracy in the United States. In a narrower sense, it is a certain belief that a better life is destined for every resident of the States, in which all his dreams will come true, regardless of class orders and family heritage, it is enough just to make the appropriate efforts and not retreat in front of difficulties. In other words, the fate of a person directly depends on his diligence, courage, creativity and focus on their own prosperity, while waiting for help from outside leads to a dead end. Everyone must be responsible for their actions and seize every chance for their own well-being, sent down by fate through determination and hard work.

Significant economic freedom in many ways distinguishes the United States from other countries. The role of the government in these processes is limited, which contributes to greater mobility of the population. In fact, anyone can climb up and achieve financial success, it just depends on diligence and effort. That is why many Americans believe in their Dream.

The connotation of the American dream at different times

Like a sprout, the American Dream has grown stronger in the minds of Americans for many years. As America has developed, human values ​​have undergone significant changes. The old foundations were broken, and they were replaced by changes in the face of a new generation. That is why in various social and historical periods the concept of the american dream was not the same, hence different people had different ideas about the American dream. Of course, the ways to achieve this dream were also different. Therefore, there are many connotations over time.

American dream between the 18th and 19th centuries

The American Dream of this period can also be called the Golden Dream. In the period between these centuries, the nobility in Europe still has not sunk into oblivion. As a result of rigid social hierarchies, unfair distribution of wealth, and severe religious persecution, many pioneers of the Enlightenment, such as Montesquieu and Descartes, began to look towards the United States as a truly magical land. Thus, the American Dream gradually spread among vulnerable groups. Representatives of these groups were the first settlers from Europe in the 18th century. They passionately desired political equality, so "Equality" became the connotation of the "American Dream" for European immigrants.

American dream after industrialization

During civil war America began a period of industrialization. Every day everything more Europeans moored off the coast of the American continent. At this stage, a new connotation of the "American Dream" is born. At that time in America there were many commercial and industrial giants, which were united by one important feature - poverty. But soon they managed to achieve tremendous success thanks to hard work. Bright to that an example was Henry Ford's automobile industry. The United States began a period of rapid economic expansion. Now the Dream connotation gets a sense of democracy and uplift.

American dream in the 20th century

First World War It had a much weaker effect on the United States than on other participants in the conflict, so after its completion, a period of economic prosperity began in the country. Through industrialization and active use electronic inventions, the life of an ordinary American has changed significantly. The advent of machines and their unconditional introduction into everyday life also significantly affected the way of thinking. Unprecedented industrial growth and the broadest consumer demand entered history under the name "Roaring Twenties" - a century of material prosperity and spiritual depravity. Greed and corruption became the basis of the American dream of the time. The manifestation of all connotative forms can be traced in the work "The Great Gatsby".

American Dream Gatsby

The American Dream originated at the dawn of American civilization. The pioneers claimed that the United States was a real paradise for youth, energy and freedom, where every person has an equal opportunity to make his own dream a reality. Thousands of young Americans are chasing their "American Dream" and they believe that having received the coveted jackpot, they will automatically, as if in the appendage, be endowed with power, status, love and happiness. Undoubtedly, Jay Gatsby is one of those people. In addition, the example of Benjamin Franklin, "the father of all Yankees," inspired thousands of such dreamers, including Gatsby.

Gatsby believed that everyone is capable of becoming rich, and the consequence of this is the ability to buy happiness with wealth and influence. His type of aspirations refers precisely to the "golden dream", but his American dream is not purely material. For him, wealth serves as a tool to achieve the real American dream - Daisy's love. She is a young girl who once loved Gatsby, but is now married to a rich man. The reality of Gatsby is that he is not able to marry her due to the huge difference in social statuses, so he decides that his only chance for happiness is to ascend to the front ranks of society.

American Dream other characters

Nick, the story's narrator, is also on a quest, though more rational. He is a representative of the traditional moral principles of America. A typical Midwesterner who is drawn to the wealth and beauty of Long Island.

Tom, Daisy, Jordan - they were all born into abundance. Tom and Daisy are among those careless and depraved dreamers. They don't worry about anything, they don't show any respect to anyone! Tom's haughtiness is real family heritage, which allows him to simultaneously dominate two women, and it is not known how many more in the future.

Daisy also has a wealthy background. She looks sweet, attractive and romantic, but empty inside. “What are we going to do this morning?” is probably the only thing that worries her. All she aspires to is a rich and comfortable life.

Jordan is distinguished by pronounced indifference and obsession only on his way. She is "incurably dishonest," but in a certain sense Nick is attracted to her. Although in general, Jordan is a very cold person, she is not ready to take responsibility, and therefore is forever lost in her American dream.

Disappointment in the American Dream

Jay Gatsby's American Dream consists of two parts: "lust for wealth" and "lust for love." So his disappointment in the American Dream should also be shared.

Disillusionment with wealth

Named at birth as James Gets, Jay Getsby takes on a pseudonym after meeting elderly millionaire Dan Cody. Gatsby's parents were ordinary farmers, but his mind refused to identify itself with them by any family ties. He was rather the son of Cody, and therefore had to inherit his business: to serve the rich, depraved and tinsel beauty. It was Cody who changed Gatsby's life by drawing him into an illegal business. And so his life vector was formed, directed towards money. But it doesn’t matter at all how rich Gatsby was, because he is still trying in vain to join the highest circles of society, about which he dreamed so much, but who still do not accept him as their own due to a rather humble origin. The bitterness is that class discrimination still exists, and it would be foolish to deny it. Idealism collapses under the onslaught of realism and pragmatism. As a result, he becomes just the object of ridicule and gossip of all those unknown celebrities. Not a single soul was sincere with Gatsby, which in the end is confirmed at his funeral. The eerie contrast between the desolation and loneliness at the funeral and the exuberant joy at his parties leaves an indelible scar. But why exactly? After all, they were thousands at his holidays?! He just never received the recognition of high society.

disappointment in love

As mentioned above, Gatsby longed to achieve wealth with only one goal - to win the previously lost love. In Jay Gatsby's mind, luxury literally adorned Daisy like a noble princess, thereby protecting her from a submissive lifestyle. The opportunity to be with Daisy was a great comfort to the vanity of the offspring of an ordinary farmer. Thus, in order to achieve her location, the young man decides to organize an illegal business, because he must offer something to her and be able to provide. Love for a rich girl gave him the courage and strength to continue to fight, and the young lady herself did not disregard his attempts. But we have to admit that Daisy did not feel the same deep, and sometimes even blind, love for Gatsby. As a result, Daisy chose a more convenient and familiar option for her, it was more suitable for her to stay in a golden cage! This led to the death of Gatsby, which, as a result, almost no one remembered.

Gatsby's disappointment lies in the fact that after re-winning Daisy's affection, he realizes that her love is not as sincere as he imagined it to be. But he does not give up, because for him to give up means to crash on the way to his ideals. From this we can conclude that the determination and motivation with which Jay acted was not the fruit of the fondest memories of the past with Daisy, but rather the persistence with which he longed to realize his dream. In this regard, Daisy personifies the "dream of love" that Gatsby cherished. He endowed the image of this girl with the status own dream and, perhaps, I made a mistake with my choice. Daisy is just a windy person who values ​​money, a rich life and status above love feelings. Therefore, it symbolizes a certain illusory and worthless. She cannot be the embodiment of love and happiness, nor can she bring meaning to Gatsby's life. And the saddest shade of this story is the indifference with which Daisy reacted to the death of a young man. Along with his death, wealth and love, which were his dream, also rested.

The collapse of Nick's dream

Nick, in search of his dreams of prosperity, goes to the east in order to conquer the investment business. Having visited the Gatsby party, he realizes that all his guests belong to a completely different class. All of them are rich materially, but poor spiritually. For himself, he understands that in their society it is extremely difficult not to be alone. As Nick delves into the tragedy of Gatsby, he understands the essence of the American Dream. Eventually he realizes that this is the history of the West. Gatsby, Tom, Jordan, Daisy - they are all children of the West, but they can not get along in the East, because they all have the same flaws. As for his love for Jordan, it is unlikely that she brought him anything more than moral oppression.

Collapse and Disillusionment in the American Dream

Social causes

Reading the work, you involuntarily realize that disappointment in the American Dream for each of the characters becomes inevitable, and this disappointment is undoubtedly associated with many social aspects. Love and friendship rests on a fragile foundation, woven from money and material wealth. Since everyone begins to care only about their own well-being, one can completely forget about noble and mutually beneficial relationships.

The Jazz Age and the Lost Twenties

This is a separate page in the history of America after the First World War, when it had not yet been born. The spirit of that time was clearly colored by a sense of a break with reality and the traditions that had developed earlier. People found themselves only in pleasure. The development and industrialization of the whole society eclipsed everything else. Fitzgerald believed that it was a wonderful age, but at the same time painfully mocking. great writer called it the Jazz Age. The firm belief in individualism and the pursuit of happiness have become their own chimerical version of the pursuit of money. It was during this period that the American Dream underwent an indelible change.

Perhaps American culture, like no other, is based on the search for individuality, freedom and democracy; hard work and struggle for success and honor. At the center of everything is one's own individuality: I am in charge, the search for personal happiness and pleasure, self-struggle, self-study ... This approach certainly has its advantages and disadvantages. Under such conditions, a person feels more motivated to keep moving forward. The whole nation benefits from this. But on the other hand, there are always people who go beyond the limits of what is permissible in their aspirations, they undertake absolutely everything, including immoral methods, which leads to their spiritual exhaustion. But where there is life, there is always a place for dreams, and everyone should build their expectations based on reality. Most importantly, never give up!

Beginning somewhere in the 70s of the last century, elements of American culture slowly began to seep into the USSR, and this despite the "Iron Curtain". Gradually, a kind of bright image of the United States of America was cultivated among the youth in the country. Several generations of young Soviet people In the 70s-90s they adopted the American way of life, fashion, style, music, ideology. They thought the USA was very cool. Many dreamed of going there, because there is freedom, democracy, the opportunity for self-expression and other delights of life.

An example of the American way of life

What is so special about the USA? Why do many people around the world still believe that this country is perfect? The concept of "American way of life" has become an ideological cliché. And for good reason. After all, they painted a picture of a state of abundance, general prosperity, freedoms and opportunities. It is believed that the way of life of American people is very active and dynamic, they are businesslike and decisive.

Mandatory attributes of any self-respecting American are: a car, loans, a two-story house in the outskirts of the city. And, of course, how can one do without liberal democracy and religious pluralism?! Regardless social position and origin, everyone is equal before the law, at least that's what the propaganda of the American way of life sounds like. In general, everything that every self-respecting person should strive for, and in America it is very easy and simple to get it.

How did the American Dream begin?

At the time, James Adams wrote the treatise "The Epic of America", where for the first time such a phrase as "the American dream" was mentioned. He imagined the States as a state in which everyone can get what they deserve, and the life of any person will become better, fuller and richer. Since then, the phrase has taken root and has been used not only in a serious, but also in an ironic sense. At the same time, the very meaning of the American dream is vague and has no clear boundaries. And it is unlikely to ever be clearly defined. After all, everyone puts their own meaning in this concept and that makes the American dream all the more compelling. Also, this concept is very closely related to immigrants from other countries, where often there is not such an extensive individual freedom as it is promoted in the States. It is believed that it is in America that one can achieve success in life through hard independent work.

What is its essence?

The American Dream is a dream of a beautiful life, and above all of wealth. In Europe, for example, there was a fairly clear class distinction; for many people, achieving prosperity was simply beyond reality. The states were the country where for the first time individual entrepreneurship was so developed that everyone could achieve material well-being. And the dream has become the goal of millions of people in pursuit of getting rich quick.

colonists North America in the 18th century, they very quickly realized the limitless possibilities that this new continent gives. In their communities, the hard work of a person for his own enrichment became a virtue, while, naturally, it was necessary to donate to the needs of the community itself. On the contrary, poverty was known as a vice, since only an insolvent, weak-willed and spineless person could not achieve anything with those unlimited opportunities that the new continent gave. Such people were not respected.

Thus, there was a formation based on material goods. It was a new morality, a new religion, where success became a sign of God's love. The 19th century was a milestone in the mass emigration of desperate hunters for fortune from the countries of the Old World to the new world, where there was still no culture and civilization, but unlimited opportunities were provided for obtaining wealth. For these people, the main values ​​of life were material goods, and not moral, cultural and spiritual development. Accordingly, what other vector of development, besides capitalism, could these settlers give to future generations of Americans?

Thus a new way of life was created

If in Europe wealth and property were inherited or the struggle for them was carried out only within the privileged class, then in America they became available to absolutely everyone. There was fierce competition, as there were millions of applicants. In turn, this unbridled passion for the accumulation of wealth has led to an incredible greed that has engulfed American society. Due to the fact that it consisted of emigrants from all possible countries, representatives of various nationalities, religions and cultures, it turned out to be just an incredible symbiosis.

America provided free access to enrichment to absolutely everyone indiscriminately, which gave rise to fierce competition and the prudent pragmatism of the population, which was simply necessary for survival. The United States created its traditions from diverse and unusual realities, fusing them into something new.

Incredible combinations

America is a land of incredible contrasts. So, at least, back in 1890, Bedekker, a well-known travel guide from England, commented on it. It did not just coexist, but coexisted with phenomena that were opposite in nature: ardent religiosity and a materialistic worldview, participation and indifference to others, good breeding and aggressiveness, honest work and a passion for manipulation, respect for the law and rampant crime, individualism and conformism. All this was bizarrely combined and organically woven into the new American way of life.

Actually, conformism has become one of the foundations of this way of life. Since America did not yet have a strong state that would, with the help of public structures, social institutions and established traditions could organize and streamline the entire motley crowd of migrants, conformism became the only possible form survival. In the United States, the creation of all public institutions began from scratch, from clean slate, and, having no support from the past, the citizens took the only course convenient for them - the economic one. Humanism, culture, religion - everything obeyed new system values, where the dominant role was played by monetary units and shares. Human happiness began to be measured only by the number of banknotes.

Country of idealists and dreamers

At least that's what President Coolidge called America. After all, this is a country where every worker can become a millionaire, because he has a dream. And it does not matter at all that everyone cannot be millionaires, the main thing is to believe, dream and strive for this. And no one is going to debunk this myth, because the value of a person in the States was directly proportional to the bank account of its owner. Over time limit top level moved further and further: hundreds of thousands of dollars, millions, billions. Because the achievement of a dream is a collapse of the system, a stop that is not permissible. You just need to move forward. In this, perhaps, the American way of life is similar to the communist one.

USA and USSR: similarities and differences

Despite the fact that the Soviet way of life was radically different from the American one, there was still something in common in these two such dissimilar countries. Oddly enough, but the desire for the growth of material values ​​was common goal both the American and Soviet dreams. The only difference was that for America the end in itself is individual enrichment, while for the Union it is collective, universal material well-being. But in both cases, the idea was based on progress - non-stop industrial development, movement for the sake of movement.

In order to advance progress, the conditions of life are constantly changing, and a person must constantly adapt to new and new realities. To do this, he must work, and thus work has become tantamount to freedom. Work became even a kind of religion, because one who was nobody could become everything. Such propaganda was carried out both in the Soviet Union and in the United States of America.

If earlier the peasant, cultivating his land, could provide himself with everything necessary, then as a result of industrialization he became completely dependent on the state, and he had to sell himself on the labor market. Thanks to labor, discipline and self-organization were developed, which brought society closer to absolute order, which was a utopian ideal. Any work was for the benefit of the economy, which became an instrument of control. On the banknote of one dollar there is a symbolic inscription "The New Order Forever", which perfectly characterizes the position of the United States in world politics.

Freedom, equality and...?

At one time, the slogan of the French Revolution was "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". Something that in all ages has been the ultimate dream of any society. In its Declaration of Independence, America puts forward almost the same theses, only instead of brotherhood it says "The right to seek happiness." A unique and interesting interpretation. But is everything so idealistic and transparent?

If for European states in the first place was a man with his personal qualities, then the equality of all people, regardless of cultural and spiritual development, comes to the fore. Freedom turns out to be the right to participate in competition, and equality means equal opportunities for the development of entrepreneurship. Well, the “right to seek happiness” speaks for itself. Personality, cultural development and other benefactors in this society are not needed and not important, there is only one concept of strength - this is the economy, which subjugates all spheres of human life and the state.

Mass character as the basic principle of a new way of life

Thanks to individual entrepreneurship, America has turned from an agrarian country into an industrial one. Handicraft work has sunk into the past, and began mass production general consumer goods. The population became part of a huge economic machine. People became consumers, material goods began to come to the fore, of which there were more and more. But all the actual reins of government ended up in the hands of the owners of large concerns and corporations, who dictated the conditions of life for the whole country, and not only. They were eventually able to extend their influence to most peace.

The economic elite began to subjugate and control society. For the most part, people from the lower classes of society, far from high culture, from spiritual development and enlightenment, were at the helm. Yes, and the American people consisted of ordinary people, so the culture of the United States began its development from market spectacles. As a result, she conquered the whole world. Its principle was that culture became a part of leisure, recreation for a working person who, after hard working days, needed to relax. This is still the way of life of modern man, and not only in America.

High and thin matter clearly could not contribute to this type of relaxation. Therefore, the United States corresponded to the goals of the American economy. As a result, a person's way of life was established in which he lost his spiritual values, completely dissolving in the material world, becoming only a cog in an incredible economic machine.

typical american family

What in the usual sense is a model American family, so zealously imposed by American cinema? This is a business father who works in a solid company, a housewife mother who arranges barbecues for neighbors on Saturdays and makes sandwiches for her two teenage children for school. They always have a big and beautiful two-story house, a dog and a pool in the backyard. And also a large garage, because each family member has his own car. But this is just a beautiful picture, which is diligently treated to gullible viewers from different countries, and even the States themselves. This is how only a small section of the population lives. The vast majority of Americans cannot afford to buy healthy food, therefore, eats low-quality fast food, due to this, America ranks first in the world in terms of the number of obese people. This problem is also facilitated by the fact that the lifestyle of modern man in America is mostly sedentary.

Some have a sedentary job, after which they spend time either in a bar or in front of the TV at home on the couch. Others fall into another extreme - the pursuit of ideal beauty. Therefore, in America, the beauty industry is so developed, which promotes the image perfect woman from glossy magazine covers. All conditions are being created for ladies, young and old, to pour huge amounts of money into achieving these standards.

It was also the United States that launched the technology race in the entertainment industry. More and more new gadgets are constantly coming out, which are especially interesting for young people. In pursuit of fashionable novelties in all areas, whether it be cars, computers, players, smartphones, clothes, shoes, accessories and other attributes of modernity, a way of life is being formed. The system is designed in such a way that everything becomes outdated very quickly. To be successful, fashionable and popular, you need to constantly acquire everything new. As mentioned earlier, progress never stands still. And now humanity is beginning to see the fruits of its mindless unlimited consumption, but, unfortunately, the system does not care.

Definition: The American Dream is an ideal scenario where the government must protect every individual's ability to persecute own representation about happiness. The Declaration of Independence defends this American dream. It uses a familiar quote: “We take these truths for granted, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among them is Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Definition: The American Dream is an ideal scenario where the government should protect each individual's ability to pursue their own idea of ​​happiness.

The Declaration of Independence defends this American dream. It uses a familiar quote: “We take these truths for granted, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among them is Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The Declaration continued: "In order to secure these rights, governments are established among the people, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

The founding fathers of the law of the revolutionary idea that every person's desire to achieve happiness was not just self-indulgence. It was part of what drives ambition and creativity. By legally protecting these values, the Founding Fathers created a society that was very attractive to those who aspired to a better life. (Source: American Dream: A Biography, Vremya Magazine, June 21, 2012)

To the drafters of the Declaration, the American Dream could flourish only when it was not hindered by "taxation without representation." Kings, military rulers or tyrants should not decide taxes and other laws. The people should have the right to elect officials to represent them. These leaders must abide by the laws themselves, not create new legislation willy-nilly.

Legal disputes should be decided by a jury, not the whim of a leader. The Declaration also specifically states that the country should be allowed free trade. (Source: Declaration of Independence, US National Archives.)

American Dream legally protects the right of every American to reach their potential.

This allows them to contribute to society... I am convinced that in the best possible way ensure national progress is to protect the right of citizens to improve their lives. (Source: Creating the American Dream, American Radio Works.)

In 1931, historian James Truslow Adams first publicly defined the "American Dream". He used this phrase in his book

Epic of America . Adams' oft-repeated quote is: "The American Dream is the dream of a land in which life is to be better, richer, and fuller for all, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement."

Adams went on to say that this is not "... a dream of cars and high wages, but a dream of a social order in which every man and every woman can reach the fullest stature that they are innately capable of, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the contingent circumstances of birth or position.“

The American Dream is "the beauty of expected success". So said the French historian Alexis de Tocqueville in his book

Democracy in America . He studied American society in the 19th century.

This allure has drawn millions of immigrants to the shores of the United States. It was also a compelling vision for other peoples.

Sociologist Emily Rosenberg identified five components of the American Dream that have emerged in countries around the world.

Belief that other countries should emulate America's development.

1. Faith in a free market economy.
2. Support for free trade agreements and foreign direct investment.
3. Encouraging the free flow of information and culture.
4. Acceptance of state protection of private enterprise. (Source: Emily S. Rosenberg,
5. Spreading the American Dream: American Economic and Cultural Expansion 1890-1945 .)

What could make the American Dream?

The American Dream is made possible by an environment conducive to prosperity, peace and opportunity. There are three main geographic, economic and political factors.

First, the United States has a large land mass under one government, thanks to the results of the civil war.

Second, America has benign neighbors. Part of it has to do with geography. The climate in Canada is too cold, and in Mexico it is too hot to create powerful economic threats.

Thirdly, the rich Natural resources fuel US trade. These include oil, rainfall, and many rivers. Long coastlines and flat relief is easy to transport. See How natural resources boost the economy for more details.

These conditions favored a population united by language, political system and values. This allowed a diverse population to become competitive advantage. US companies use it to become more innovative. They have a large, easily accessible test market for new products. At the same time, diverse demographics allow them to test niche products. This American melting pot generates more innovative ideas than a small, homogeneous population. See Benefits of Cultural Diversity for more details.

History of the American Dream

In the beginning, the Declaration only extended the Dream to white owners. However, the idea of ​​inalienable rights was so strong that laws were added to extend these rights to slaves, women, and non-property owners. Thus, the American dream changed the course of America itself.

In the 1920s, the American dream began to morph to the right to create a better life for the desire to acquire material things. This change was described in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel,

The Great Gatsby . In it, Daisy Buchanan's character cries when she sees Jay Gatsby's shirts because she has "never seen such, such beautiful shirts before. " This version of the dream bestowed by greed was never truly achievable. Someone else had more. Dream

The Great Gatsby was "an orgiastic future that recedes before us year after year. It eluded us then, but that doesn't matter - tomorrow we'll run faster, stretch our arms further..." This greed led to the 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression. The country's leaders verbalized the evolution of the American dream. President Lincoln granted equal opportunity to Son for slaves. President Wilson supported women's voting rights. He led to the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 1918. President Johnson advanced Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This ended school segregation and protected workers from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy) or national origin. In 1967, he extended these rights to those over 40 years of age. President Obama supported the legal prenuptial agreement, regardless of sexual orientation.

After the 1920s, many presidents backed Gatsby Son, guaranteeing material gains. President Roosevelt expanded the equivalent opportunity for homeownership by creating Fannie Mae to secure mortgage loans. His Economic Bill of Rights protected "...the right to decent housing, to a job sufficient to support one's family and oneself, opportunities for education for all, and universal health care."

President Truman built this idea after World War II. His "post-war social contract" included the GI bill. He provided government college degrees for returning veterans. Urban policy expert Matt Lassiter summed up Truman's "contract" this way: "... if you worked hard and played by the rules, you deserved certain things. You deserved security and decent housing and didn't have to constantly worry about losing your home to bankruptcy." (