The Effect of the American Dream on the American Society from Settlement to Depression

Abstract

The American Dream" has become a widespread term to describe the American way of life in general .The American Dream always has something individual. That is, why till today no one succeeded in giving a universally acceptable definition of the term, because it becomes a universal concept. The American Dream is something that makes America great. It allows those with aspirations to make their dreams come true. In America all one needs is a dream and the motivation to carry out that dream. Ambition is the driving force behind the American Dream. for the first immigrants was a better life not with material goods it stayed with America until the 1900’s however things started to change in which it turned into greed .During the Great Depression, several people wrote about the American Dream. The Depression brought hardship, homelessness, Poverty, Destruction of families Farm losses and hunger to millions. So, the American Dream turned into ashes and became a nightmare. American Dreams from the very beginning was the driving motive of many people to migrate to the USA from different parts of the world in search of better life. It was also an idea fixed by the majority of American population. For many it became true for others it led to complete failure. The work is divided into three main parts; in the first chapter, we seek to enrich readers understanding about the historical dimension of the American Dream, while in the second chapter, we present the American immigration roots and how it contributed in shaping the American values of the American society .Concerning the third chapter, is devoted to clarify the disillusion of the American Dream from the dream to the nightmare.