Do You Believe in the American Dream?

What does the American dream imply to you? A home with a white picket fence? Lavish wealth? A life higher than your dad and mom?

Do you suppose it is possible for you to to realize the American dream in your lifetime? Is it equally accessible for everybody in the present day? Was it ever?

In “What Has Occurred to the American Dream?” Audra D. S. Burch interviewed individuals from throughout the nation to seek out out about the well being and viability of the much-debated idea. She begins the article:

The American dream — typically idealized by the home and white picket fence — has been debated, contemplated and relentlessly pursued by those that have lived in the United States for generations, in addition to newer immigrants.

It’s a diffuse idea: Everyone has the alternative to construct a greater, fuller life by means of exhausting work and willpower. However its roots are in huge, philosophical concepts: liberty, equality, democracy, justice.

Invoked by American presidents and voters alike, the American dream serves as a deeply private but common framework for individuals to speak about their lives, their authorities, their economic system and the values they cherish.

President Trump has nodded to the American dream time after time. In his first congressional speech in March, he described it as unstoppable — “surging larger and higher than ever earlier than.”

However Individuals are more and more skeptical about the idea, each in whether or not the nation can stay as much as its beliefs or whether or not it may possibly assist its residents fulfill their very own private objectives. Right now, simply over half of the nation nonetheless believes the dream is feasible, in response to a 2024 Pew Analysis Middle survey. One other 41 p.c stated the dream was not achievable, and 6 p.c stated it was by no means potential.

To study extra about the state of the American dream in 2025, The Instances interviewed individuals from throughout the nation. Listed here are a few of the responses:

Ed Morell, 72, Cleveland. A retiree
I consider the American dream as American freedom.

David Hite, 63, Bay Space, Calif. A enterprise capitol agency co-founder
One thing that’s necessary to me personally is autonomy and individuality. And so the pursuit of the American dream for me is the pursuit of 1’s personal individuality whereas respecting others.

Jack Ragheb, 67, North Bethesda, Md. A biotech advisor
American dream? I believe it’s nonetheless the Horatio Alger story, rising up from little or no to succeed. Is it nonetheless potential in the present day? Yeah, you see examples round you all the time. However I believe the conventional avenues have narrowed.

Olivia Correia, 20, Los Angeles. A school scholar
I believe the American dream is a political instrument. I believe it’s a really helpful one for convincing individuals inside our nation that we’re an equitable and simply and free nation. I want that what we consider as the American dream could possibly be realized. I don’t imagine that it’s ever been realized by most individuals in this nation. The query is: Who’s the American dream for?

Damian Conley, 51, Caledonia, Wis. A truck driver
I believe I stay it a bit bit. I don’t have the white picket fence, however I bought a home, married with two youngsters, so I’m form of there. Being 51, that was form of the conventional American dream that I grew up with. Purchase your personal house, get a white picket fence and have two youngsters, proper? With President Trump, I believe I’ll nonetheless be residing the dream.

Ayo Suber, 42, San Francisco. An online and inventive engineer
I believe the American dream is propaganda — you could come right here and be no matter you need. It’s accessible to sure individuals, for certain, however I don’t suppose that it’s evenly distributed. I believe that’s all the time been the case for Black Individuals, in specific, who’re the descendants of enslaved individuals, as a result of the nation wasn’t arrange for us to have that dream. I believe we’re going to see extra instability and the American dream might be loads much less attainable for lots extra individuals.

Polly Mann, 62, Cottonwood, Ariz. A retired banker
America is just too huge and too numerous for everybody to share the similar dream. My model of the American dream is a rustic the place democracy and voting rights for all is valued and seen as the core to our lifestyle.

College students, learn the complete article after which inform us:

• Do you imagine in the American dream? Why or why not? What does the idea imply to you?

• Do you suppose your loved ones has achieved — or is on the strategy to reaching — the American dream? Why or why not? Do you suppose it is possible for you to to realize it when you’re older? What leads you to imagine this?

• What’s your response to the article and the varied responses by Individuals throughout the nation? Do they modify the way you perceive the American dream? Which of the responses resonate most with your personal pondering and why?

• The article notes that in the present day, in response to a 2024 Pew Analysis Middle survey, simply over half of the nation nonetheless believes the dream is feasible; one other 41 p.c stated the dream was not achievable; and 6 p.c stated it was by no means potential. Are you stunned by the findings? Do they make you extra optimistic about this nation and your future? Or maybe much less?

• Is the American dream equally accessible to everybody? Or are there limitations to reaching it? If the latter, what are a few of the obstacles?

• How helpful is the concept of an American dream? Is it nonetheless related in 2025? Do you imagine it’s, or has ever been, an excellent value striving for? What are the drawbacks in persevering with to make use of the idea at the same time as its which means evolves?

College students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to remark. All feedback are moderated by the Studying Community workers, however please maintain in thoughts that when your remark is accepted, will probably be made public and should seem in print.

Discover extra Scholar Opinion questions right here. Lecturers, try this information to study how one can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.