The American dream : a short history of an idea that shaped a nation

''The American Dream'' is one of the most familiar and resonant phrases in our national lexicon, so familiar that we seldom pause to ask its origin, its history, or what it actually means. In this fascinating short history, Jim Cullen explores the meaning of the American Dream, or rather the several American Dreams that have both reflected and shaped American identity from the Pilgrims to the present. Cullen begins by noting that the United States, unlike most other nations, defines itself not on the facts of blood, religion, language, geography, or shared history, but on a set of ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence and consolidated in the Constitution. At the core of these ideals lies the ambiguous but galvanizing concept of the American Dream, a concept that for better and worse has proven to be amazingly elastic and durable for hundreds of years and across racial, class, and other demographic lines. Cullen then traces a series of overlapping American dreams: the quest for of religious freedom that brought the Pilgrims to the ''New World''; the political freedom promised in the Declaration; the dream of upward mobility, embodied most fully in the figure of Abraham Lincoln; the dream of home ownership, from homestead to suburb; the intensely idealistic-and largely unrealized-dream of equality articulated most vividly by Martin Luther King, Jr. The version of the American Dream that dominates our own time-what Cullen calls ''the Dream of the Coast''-is one of personal fulfillment, of fame and fortune all the more alluring if achieved without obvious effort, which finds its most insidious expression in the culture of Hollywood. For anyone seeking to understand a shifting but central idea in American history, The American Dream is an interpretive tour de force. Read more... The American Dream Is One Of The Most Familiar And Resonant Phrases In Our National Lexicon, So Familiar That We Seldom Pause To Ask Its Origin, Its History, Or What It Actually Means. In This Short History, Jim Cullen Explores The Meaning Of The American Dream, Or Rather The Several American Dreams That Have Both Reflected And Shaped American Identity From The Pilgrims To The Present. Cullen Begins By Noting That The United States, Unlike Most Other Nations, Defines Itself Not On The Facts Of Blood, Religion, Language, Geography, Or Shared History, But On A Set Of Ideals Expressed In The Declaration Of Independence And Consolidated In The Constitution. At The Core Of These Ideals Lies The Ambiguous But Galvanizing Concept Of The American Dream, A Concept That For Better And Worse Has Proven To Be Amazingly Elastic And Durable For Hundreds Of Years And Across Racial, Class, And Other Demographic Lines. Cullen Then Traces A Series Of Overlapping American Dreams: The Quest For Religious Freedom That Brought The Pilgrims To The New World; The Political Freedom Promised In The Declaration; The Dream Of Upward Mobility, Embodied Most Fully In The Figure Of Abraham Lincoln; The Dream Of Home Ownership, From Homestead To Suburb; The Intensely Idealistic - And Largely Unrealized - Dream Of Equality Articulated Most Vividly By Martin Luther King, Jr. The Version Of The American Dream That Dominates Our Own Time - What Cullen Calls The Dream Of The Coast--is One Of Personal Fulfillment, Of Fame And Fortune All The More Alluring If Achieved Without Obvious Effort, Which Finds Its Most Insidious Expression In The Culture Of Hollywood.--jacket. Introduction: A Dream Country -- Dream Of The Good Life (i) : The Puritan Enterprise -- Dream Charter : The Declaration Of Independence -- Dream Of The Good Life (ii) : Upward Mobility -- King Of America : The Dream Of Equality -- Detached Houses : The Dream Of Home Ownership -- Dream Of The Good Life (iii) : The Coast -- Conclusion: Extending The Dream. Jim Cullen. Published In Oxford England. Printed In The United States Of America--back Of Title Page. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The American Dream" is one of the most familiar and resonant phrases in our national lexicon, so familiar that we seldom pause to ask its origin, its history, or what it actually means. In this fascinating short history, Jim Cullen explores the meaning of the American Dream, or rather the several American Dreams that have both reflected and shaped American identity from the Pilgrims to the present. Cullen notes that the United States, unlike most other nations, defines itself not on the facts of blood, religion, language, geography, or shared history, but on a set of ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence and consolidated in the Constitution. At the core of these ideals lies the ambiguous concept of the American Dream, a concept that for better and worse has proven to be amazingly elastic and durable for hundreds of years and across racial, class, and other demographic lines. The version of the American Dream that dominates our own time--what Cullen calls "the Dream of the Coast"--is one of personal fulfillment, of fame and fortune all the more alluring if achieved without obvious effort, which finds its most insidious expression in the culture of Hollywood. For anyone seeking to understand a shifting but central idea in American history, The American Dream is an interpretive tour de force. Cullen particularly focuses on the founding fathers and the Declaration of Independence ("the charter of the American Dream"); Abraham Lincoln, with his rise from log cabin to White House and his dream for a unified nation; and Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of racial equality. Our contemporary version of the American Dream seems rather debased in Cullen's eyes-built on the cult of Hollywood and its outlandish dreams of overnight fame and fortune This work discusses the reality of the ambiguous but galvanizing concept of the American Dream, a concept that for better and worse has proven to be amazingly elastic and durable for hundreds of years and across racial, class, and other demographic lines