Notes

The ‘American Dream’ is the idea of a liberal and prosperous America. The term ‘American Dream’, was coined by James Truslow Adams, a writer and historian. The opportunity of fulfilling your dreams by working hard has remained at the core of the idea of the American Dream. The migration from Europe to America which took place in the period of industrial development was driven by this very idea. It was not just the Europeans but people from all over the world who traveled to America in search of employment and a better life than in their homeland. America proved to be a land where you could pursue your dreams; religion, race, caste, creed, etc. were not to act as hurdles in your development provided you were ready to work hard. In today’s world where the global economy is in a deep crisis, the American Dream has been challenged and questioned like never before. The United States has always been considered a land of opportunities. People from all over the world have migrated to the US, mainly in search of employment and freedom of religion. However, there are many factors responsible for making America a sought-after destination in order to lead a prosperous life. The United States is a nation where the ‘individual’, rather than collective population attains center-stage in the process of devising policies, making changes, taking up developmental initiatives, etc. The freedom which can be experienced in America is nowhere to be found. However, there is also a darker side to the American society which needs to be understood. The American Dream has been marred by social evils like slavery, racism and in recently by the imperial policies of its government. The promissory note of ‘all men are created equal’ in the Declaration of Independence was rendered meaningless when Negroes were used as slaves. Just like any other nation, America too had its limitations. In order to realize the American Dream, it was important to eradicate these social evils prevalent in the American society. All thirteen colonies of the pre-independence era fought together against the British forces.