H. W. Brands. American dreams: The United States Since 1945. New York: Penguin Group, 2010. Pp. x, 420. After World War II, the United States emerged as the greatest super power. The U.S. emerged stronger than it entered. The great depression had weakened the sense of pride and prosperity America was once known for. However, the war changed all of that. The United States as a whole was growing and thriving. Driving this prosperity has been the dreams of many Americans. America has always survived off of the dreams of its people. From the end of the World War II up until now, dreams of liberty, equality, and happiness have been at the backbone of America. Along the way, there have been times when these dreams have faded. Brands states, “When the unity of the war years diminished amid the distractions of a confusing peace; in politics and culture Americans drifted apart, often acrimoniously.” However, even during these times dreams weren’t lost. Brands takes a look at what was done in the past six decades and what has driven America to be what it is today. Brands asserts, “The moral foundation of America’s dreams had always been the right to dream, and that Americans weren’t about to surrender that.” Brands takes on the rarely attempted topic of how America today was created and how dreams came out of global catastrophe. He points out that the heart of American dreams was the act of dreaming itself. As the title points out, the main topic of the book is American dreams. Brand does not take the usual outlook on American dreams. He looks much deeper than just the surface of the dreams of Americans. Brand points out that Americans have always had a choice in what they wanted to dream about and that is what makes America. Opening with the topic of the A-bomb, Brand looks at how the depression and the war challenged the customary American dream. Originally, the average person would work and save money for rainy days and eventually be able to enjoy their golden years with security without help from the government (Brand, 16). After the war the welfare state became more prominent and now the American people expected more out of their government than ever before. Brand sets out to show how America has changed over the past six decades and how the American dream has wavered over time. Going into detail, Brand covers all of the highs and lows of this great nation and what came from these times. Over the course of the book, Brand covers everything from the political aspect, to iPhone and how each of these impacted this country as a whole. The American dream has always consisted of liberty and prosperity. However, Brand points out in one of the main topics of discussion, the Cold War, that this dream has been shaken. This war changed many people’s outlooks on their future. Many did not know what was in store for them or the world. Coming from out of this time were dreams that were collectively ambitious. The WWII brought the country together as a whole. After the war was over the United States took on the role of the “global police” enforcing and trying to rebuild the rest of the world. Brand looks at the Marshall Plan as an example of this. The United States as a country put their efforts and spending into Europe to revive them and ensure that the free institutions can exist. This aided American industries and also set the tone for other aid afterward. Brand offers many other examples of this collective ambitiousness; the Great Society, and Bretton Woods are just a few of them. Brand points out that these were goals to make other nations envious of America. However, as Brand sees it, this has not been the way of the country since then. Brand discusses how American dreams in the
constantly. This has been known as “The American Dream”, which has also involved several other theories, beliefs and accomplishments throughout the different minds of America. One idea following the American Dream may state that one's children should grow up and receive a good education and career without artificial barriers, while another states the idea that people should not be discriminated according to their class, caste, religion, race, or ethnicity. The American Dream can also help and support one’s…
Summary: Any dream in which you are not happy can be considered more or less as a nightmare. The "American dream" is a happy one that has the potential because in America, things like advancement in society are possible. Although it takes many forms, this American dream is not found in any book. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Virtually anyone who's ever thought of living the good life has thought of the greatest life ever. We think of a life…
2012 The American Dream The American dream has been existent as long as America has. Ever since people first started coming over to America they have been adapting and with that adaption, the American dream adapts also. In the 1700’s when early Americans were first they had a dream of beating the odds and starting a new life free from oppression. In the 1920’s the American dream had adapted and turned into a dream of wealth and ownership of material things, and now, in the present, the dream has become…
The American Dream Many people pursue this phenomenon for themselves, families and their children’s legacy. What is the American Dream and how does everyone interpret or perceive it? Many years ago the American Dream represented getting ahead and to become everything that parents were not able to do. Because of the Great Depression, poor economy, wars, few schools and unemployment; parents worked constantly to provide for their families. They didn’t have the time, money or benefits to obtain…
September 2, 2013 1st period English The American Dream In the play, Fences, Troy Maxson is an African American baseball player. He is trying to help pave the way for other African Americans to play the game of baseball. The play is set in the 1950's in Pittsburgh. Troy's dream of being a professional baseball player is halted. He then pursues another job to help support his family. He doesn’t think he is worthy enough for his job. Troy also thinks that he does not belong in the world he…
The American Dream Nick The American Dream is different for everyone. People’s dreams are built upon what makes them happy, such as living in a big city or the great outdoors. People’s dreams can change as they become wealthier. They may also have more options to choose from as their opportunities grow. Dreams can grow from renting an apartment to owning land or a home. People everywhere have their own American Dream that defines them and changes with them. Opportunities influence a person’s…
Jessica Lopez Jamilah Finley English III 13 November 2014 The American Dream: One reason why people migrate to the United States of America is because what they search for here they were not able to obtain in their homeland. The American Dream means; freedom, equality, and the opportunity for them or their children to succeed. The American Dream means to achieve success and prosperity through hard work. The American Dream is a reality. Every citizen of the United States of America has the opportunity of its achievement no…
The American Dream The American dream is a set of ideals, which include the freedom of opportunity, success, and prosperity. The American dream as been altered since the time of Ben Franklin. It has changed immensely since then. Franklin believed that if you were early to bed and early to rise that would make you healthy and wise. He also believed that the key to wealth was industry. The main focus during this time was not to be wealthy but to have economic independency and opportunity in social…
The American Dream Todays society is heavily fueled off of materialistic Americans and the heavy usage of advertisement, drawing people in to be part of a new generations culture. Through the use of technology, new trends can be spread to consumers easier than ever because you are never more than a few taps or clicks away from an ad. Many of these advertisements, such as luxurious cars, fancy watches, and expensive clothes are often obtainable to most Americans of the lower and middle class because…
Is’ American Dream” is still a possible reality? The American dream is alive. American dream can be define in so many ways depending on the perspective of an individual. My own point of view is that American dream is alive. To me the American Dream is the ever hopeful future. Something to keep loving and trying for. To me it isn't changing as much as it is going through real tough times. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/business-economy-financial-crisis/two-american-families/what-does-the-american-dream-mean-to-you/…