What is the American Dream?
Ever since America has been explored and colonized, the conception of an ideolgical
dream has been at the forefront. America has continually provided an arena for those individuals
seeking economic, governmental, religious expansion and purification. Even though centuries
have passed, the fundemental priniciples that define the American dream have remained essentially
the same. Through history and American literature, one can derive a genuine understanding of
what actually is the American dream.
The concept of the American dream, obviously starts as European in nature. The Italian
explorer, Christopher Columbus and his voyage were the proverbial spark that bolstered the
concept of the American dream. Columbus set sail for a passage to the east by sailing west and
ended up in "the New World". His intention, to profit economically through spices,gold and
trade. Wealth is a constant motivating factor for future excursions to America, thus a major
proponent of achieving the American dream.
We see this theme recurring a few decades later
with Sir Walter Raleigh and the royal charters with joint-stock ventures of England.
Many of these bravado explorers and journeymen lended mythical aspects to the American
Dream. The dream of a plentiful, perfect society and viewing America as a paradise is clearly
evident in the writings of John Smith. Smith realized in order for these initial settlements to
flourish, more men were needed to populate, work and regenerate. In A Description of New
England and The General History of Virginia, Smith used imagination, persuasion and intense
glorification to lure men from England to incite expansion. Smith claims any man willing to work
can make a living as a fisherman. He also goes to great lengths to exhibit the abundance of land
and nature which illustrates the prospect of fertility within the new land. John...
Nice
You knew what you were talking about and that is commendable.....good job
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