American Dream

Concepts

stop discrmination

great possibilities

land of opportunities

fulfillment of human wishes

pursuit of happiness

right mental attitude is important

no importance of the social status you are in when you were born

progress

cotial concept: freedom to develop only limited by your capability

achive your aims by working hard

Phrases

you can do it if you really want

richer and fuller life

from rags to riches

from dishwasher to millionair

simple fulfilling life

land of unlimited oppportunities

Criticism/ Problems

less time to enjoy this prosperity

too much focus on financial gain

Dream became the pursuit of material prosperity

the working poor could never achive it

Difficulty to combine maximal spiritual and material progress

it is just an illusion

Even if you work hard, you may not succeed

strong discrepancy between reality and dream

Dream doesnt always come true

American falls short of the dream

Whose dream?

poor European, (political) refugees

equality (Civil rights movement)

religious freedom(Puritans, Huguenotes)

spiritual improvement

belief in the future

search fot freedom and happiness

democratic system

material prosperity

promise of freedoms ..., chances, equality (constitution)