-
The Lottery
The first great Vigina lottery provided half the budget for Jamestown Settlers -
Puritans come to the New World
The Puritans fled pursecution in England during the 1600's in hopes to aquire religous freedom in America. The new land was a place where people had a choice of how they wanted to live, out from under the rule of a king. -
Benjamin Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanack"
Franklin wrote it as a guide to make American's aware that hard work and dedication leads to success. One of his famous quote is "early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." -
Bethleham Female Seminary
First Woman's college -
Thomas Paine, Common Sense
It was published to challenge the authority of the British Monarchy. It was the first work to ask openly for independence from Great Britain. The people had a strong longing to be their own nation. -
Declaration of Independence
This document announced that the 13 American Colonies would be independent from Great Britain. Also, it granted citizens "certain unalienable rights," such as, "life, liberity, and the pursuit of happiness." -
Manifest Destiny
Westward expansion to pursue a better life. Many people longed for inexpensive land, open spaces, and gold. They were ready and willing to go through hardships in order to fulfill their dream of a more successful life. -
Gold Rush
During this time all of America saw a lot of value in gold. A majorty of men in the country spent everything they had traveling to California with the idea of getting rich. The American dream was to hopfully strike gold and travel back to their families with an abundance of wealth. -
"I Hear America Singing"
Walt Whitman wrote this poem to celebrate the freedom of the individual in the United States. He was excited to see people's liberty to choose how they wanted to live and as a result how happy they were. -
Civil War
Union vs. Confederation. Both fighting for certain way of life. Industry began to rapidly increase during and after this war. -
Industrial Revolution
During this time, the American Dream began to change more. With more new things being invented and the mass production of goods made people want more and more matieralistic things then a personal achieved status. During this time, only wealthy pepole, or those of big bussiness were able to live the dream Americans wanted. -
14th Amendment
African Americans are now free of Savlary! -
15th Amendment
Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race or religion. -
Immigration
First group of "Old Immigrants" from Southern/Eastern Europe came to America for more freedom and opprotunity. -
Panma Canal
This opened up more trade in America, lowering prices on imported goods. -
World War One
It led to an economical and industrial advancement that helped change urban life. The efforts changed the way machinery and vehicles were designed, allowed women to work outside the home, and brought more of a material dream to America because of the mass-production of everything. -
Immigration Expands
Rounds of "New immigrants" come from all over Europe and other parts of the World seeking freedom and opprotunity. -
Harlem Rennisance
It was a time when intellectual growth was at the peak for African Americans. The Harlem Renaissance was one of the first moments in American History where the voices of African Americans were heard mainly through the Arts. -
Roaring Twenties
This was a time described as extremely social, artistic, and cultural. Much of this time period had to do with the rebellion against the traditional society. For example, how Flappers paved the way for women's rights advocates. -
19th Amendment
No citizen should be denied the right to vote based of sex. -
Great Depression
The stock market crashed, sending the U.S. into an economical decline. It would take hard-work and unity to bring the country out of turmoil and back to it's normal realm of prosperity and wealth. -
"The Epic of America"
James Truslow Adams published this in 1931. It was the first mention of the term "American Dream." The birth of this term was used to describe the vast diversity of expectations held for a life in the United States. For example, the status of someone socially, politically, and seemingly most important, economically. -
World War Two
Entering this war allowed more major industrializtion and change for the country. Some examples were new technological advancement for weapons and many job opportunities which led to civil rights movements for African Americans and women. Many believe that this war would ultimately bring change to America's focus and motivation forever. -
Segregation/Civil Rights
This time lead to dramatic changes for African Americans. They wanted to be apart of the American Dream. It spanded over 30 years. Activits like Dr. Martin Luther King JR. spoke on how the African Americans have never been treated equal in American since slavery. They faught hard for them to be treated exactly as a white man and by the 1980's the reached their goal. -
Suburbia
After WW2 the American Dream began to shift to an idea that everyone should own their own home in the suburbs, with a car in the garage, a tv in the house, and maybe even a vacuum in their possession. -
Age of Affluence
During this time. World War 2 was able to boost the American economy, 60% of people made it into the middle class. This time was also recongized for the rise of suberbia, everyone had the same type of cars, similar looking homes, relatable expierences due to the previous depression and had the same general idea of how the American family should be. A family of 4 children, a nice sized house in the suburbs, a car and many good. Mass consumerism began to take place and people began really being ju -
Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have a Dream" speech
On this day, he stood at the Lincoln Memorial, and told many supporters about his dream for racial equality. His fight for civil rights left a legacy that is still present today. -
The Beginning of Consumer Credit
The 60's were a time where the country would experience it's greatest change; the economic shift to personal finance. Credit cards, mutual funds, and discount brokerage houses were examples of it. The country's willingness to take on debt still impacts society today. -
Man on the moon
First men to land on the moon July 20,1969 at 20:17:39 ULC time. Opening a whole new world to the american dream. Space travel began a new era for discovering the way the world we are in and around us work and came to be. (Men on the moon) -
The Brady Bunch
first television show providing an in to the american family and home life. A fake-nuclear-family living portrayed by actors. -
G.I. go to college
Roughly half of all college students were returning G.I.'s putting college for all into the American Dream. It became school for more than just the wealthy. -
The Rise of "Frivolous Lawsuits"
In the 1980's State Legislatures began to respond to the "frivolous lawsuits," or people trying to receive a large sum of money because an "unfortunate and unlikely accident" caused by a certain product. People will go to great length in order to receive some amount of compensation with out earning it. -
Proposition 215
The state of California legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. -
Bigger Lotto
As the lottery takes off more and more money is invested each year. With $400 million being spent on the lottery the pressure of money and economic status was growing bigger and bigger. ($400 on the lotto) -
The Lottery
During this month, the Power Ball game reached $350 million. For most Americans, winning this game is what ultimately grants you a chance at a true American Dream. Through this we witness how much of our country's core values have changed. -
Gay Marriage
California made the marriage between two people of the same sex legal. -
President Obama Inaugurated
Though the evolution of the United States has frightened many people because of the rapid movement away from core foundations and values, not all of it was bad. A positive change had to do with the election of the first African American President, Barack Obama.
