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Puritans come to America
The Puritans came to America to escape religious persecution in Europe. The Puritans wanted religous freedom and the only place to get that at the time was America. The American Dream is about having freedom and even though the Puritans were not American they had a dream, which America helped to fulfill. -
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution led to the shift of work being rural to work being urban as their is a greater need for workers in factories. The cities developed with large populations as people urbanized. People of great wealth were born which created a middle class. American's lifestyle and the American worker was changed forever. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence forever changed the 13 colonies. The 13 colonies were now free from British control and later became America. The 13 colonies were now free and for the people their dream could now come true. The Declaration of independence gave the people great hope that their dream was comming true. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny is the belief that the Uniteed States was destined to expand across the continent. Many people believed this and it was not only their belief but dream for america. -
Civil War
The Southern states wanted slavery and the Northern states wanted to abolish slavery. When slavery vanished many peoples' American dream vanished along with it. On the other hand many people were ecstatic and had a newfound hope for the American dream. African Americans were now free and a huge step closer to achieving their dream. -
Immigration
The American Dream is something that draws people to immigrate to the United States. Immigrants strive for the opportunities and freedom that Americans hhave and what makes up the American Dream. -
World War 1
The United States went into World War 1 because ships were getting attacked and citizens getting killed. The United States did not want to get taken over and the central powers were getting too strong. Americans who endured the years of World War 1 envisioned how different and better life would be after the war. They had optimism and hope on the American -
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a tremendous and utterly shocking blow to America. Americans lost faith in not only the government but the American Dream. So many Americans lives were completely destroyed that it ruined their hope of ever acheiving even a fraction of their dream. -
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of programs that was passed by congress during the Great Depression. These programs focused on relief, recovery and reform. The New Deal gave the people a sense of hope for a better America. Americans started to have faith in the American Dream once again -
World War 2
World War 2 brought America out of the Great Depression by giving nearly everyone employment. Their was a huge lift in economy which led to higher hopes and spirits for the American Dream. World War 2 also led to women accepted in the work field which is a huge gain for women equality. The women's rights movement went under way and eventually their was equality for women allowing them to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. -
Credit Card
With the credit card Americans can buy now pay later. The credit card helps tremendously in the fact that if you want to buy something but you do not have the money at the time you can just use a credit card. Not everything can be payed with cash, its just too hard to do. The credit card allows us to buy things we couldn"t normally buy because you have to pay later and by that time you would have saved up the money. -
Television
This Is when sitcoms such as Leave It To Beaver came out. The audience watches what these families on T.V. have, like happiness and white picket fences. Viewers are very motivated and yearn to have those things. -
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther was fighting for the equality of African Americans. Equality is part of the American Dream so he was basically fighting for African Americans to take part in the American Dream. Martin Luther King Jr. really changed many whites' minds about segregation and this led to segregation vanishing. -
Lottery
So many people buy tickets for the lotter because they want to be able to become wealthy without doinng much at all. Some people even buy a ton of tickets even when the chance of winning is so small. The possibility of winning millions of dollars drives these people to become addicted because their dream is to become wealthy. -
Barack Obama
The election of Barack Obama was a major event in America because he is the first African American to become president. This shows that it does not matter your race, if you try hard enough and do not give up you can reach your dream. African Americans finally felt a sense of ownership in the country following the inauguration of Barack Obama.