【正文】 erican Dream was available to anyone willing to make the journey. The origin of the American dream stems from the departure in government and economics from the models of the Old World. Many early Americans prospectors headed west of the 長 春 大 學 畢業(yè)設計（論文）紙 共 25 頁 第 頁 ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ 裝 ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ 訂 ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ 線 ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ 5 Rocky Mountains to buy acres of cheap land in hopes of finding deposits of gold. The American dream was a driving factor not only in the Gold Rush of the mid to late 1800s, but also in the waves of immigration throughout that century and the following. Impoverished western Europeans escaping the Irish potato famines in Ireland, the Highland clearances in Scotland and the aftermath of Napoleon in the rest of Europe came to America to escape a poor quality of life at home. They wanted to embrace the promise of financial security and constitutional freedom they had heard existed so widely in the United States. Target of Old American Dream The American Dream, sometimes in the phrase ―Chasing the American Dream, ‖ is a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes a promise of the possibility of prosperity and success. The American Dream, first expressed by James Truslow Adams in 1931, ―life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement‖ regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the second sentence of the United States Declaration of Independence which states that ―all men are created equal‖ and that they are ―endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights‖ including ―Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.‖ The idea of an American Dream is older than the United States, dating back to the 1600s, when people began to e up with all sorts of hopes and aspirations for the new and largely unexplored continent. Many of these dreams focused on owning land and establishing prosperous businesses which would theoretically generate happiness, and some people also incorporated ideals of religious freedom into their American Dreams. During the Great Depression, several people wrote about an American Dream, codifying the concept and entrenching it in American society. . Approach to American Dream How does one achieve the American Dream? The answer undoubtedly depends upon one’s definition of the Dream, and there are many from which to choose. John Winthrop envisioned a religious paradise in a ―City upon a Hill.‖ Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of racial 長 春 大 學 畢業(yè)設計（論文）紙 共 25 頁 第 頁 ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ 裝 ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ 訂 ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ 線 ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ 6 equality. Both men yearned for what they perceived as perfection. Scholars have recognized widely varying conceptions of these quests for American excellence. One ponent of the American Dream seems, however, to be fairly consistent: the quest for money. For many Americans the formula is one of instant, albeit elusive, gratification. Rather than adhering to a traditional work ethic, far too many Americans are pinning their hopes on what they perceive as ―easy‖ money. In the midst of industrialization following the Civil War, many Americans experienced profound hardship in the changing economic landscape. They found solace in the tales of Horatio Alger, whose characters overcame adversity through industry, perseverance, selfreliance, and selfdiscipline. The ubiquitous ―rags to riches‖ legend became a cornerstone of American society, anyone could succeed and achieve wealth if they worked hard. The mitment to industry illustrated by Alger39。s characters, Lincoln39。s ideals of free labor, and Franklin39。s practical maxims were further solidified in the American mind by the addition of a religiously based, Protestant ―work ethic‖. Many believed that hard work allowed one to not only achieve financial success, but, through that success, revealed God39。s grace. . The Standard of Old American Dream Traditionally, Americans have sought to realize the American dream of success, fame and wealth through thrift and hard work. The ―rags to riches‖ legend has and continues to be a cornerstone of the American Dream. The traditional message taught that through hard work, frugality, and selfsacrifice one could achieve financial success and social mobility. Ben Franklin counseled industry, Abraham Lincoln sang the praises of the northern labor system, and Horatio Alger instilled hope in generations of Americans. All three helped to establish basic guidelines for success in a land of infinite possibility. There are unquestionably many Americans who continue to abide by such tes and in doing so are rewarded for their efforts. Yet there are also those who have e to believe that the American Dream39。s promise of riches is just that, a promise, and as such they feel entitled to instant financial success. Nor has the sociocorporate climate in America disappointed such a belief. Savvy television producers and marketing executives have latched on to the core of the American Dream. They understand that Americans are enthralled with striking it rich. Thus 長 春 大 學 畢業(yè)設計（論文）紙 共 25 頁 第 頁 ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ 裝 ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ 訂 ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ 線 ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊