American dream in the past and now

The term was coined by writer and historian James Truslow Adams in his best-selling 1931 book "Epic of America."  He described it as "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement." He went on to explain, "It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."The American Dream also offers the promise that the circumstances of someone's birth – including whether they were born as American citizens or immigrants – do not completely determine their future.
Today, home ownership is frequently cited as an example of attaining the American Dream. It is a symbol of financial success and independence, and it means having the ability to control one’s own dwelling place instead of being subject to the whims of a landlord. Owning one’s own business and being one’s own boss also represent American dream fulfillment. In addition, access to education and healthcare have been cited as elements of the Dream.

James Truslow Adams