The History of the American Dream

Procedure

What is the American Dream? Is it the same for all Americans? Is it a myth? Is it simply a quest for a better life? How has the American Dream changed over time? Some see their dreams wither and die while others see their dreams fulfilled. Why? Everyone has dreams about a personally fulfilled life ...what is your dream?

Your job is to research the dreams of others at the turn of the century (1870-1910). You will then create and publish your interpretation of the "American Dream."

·  Divide into teams by research roles (photographer, lawyer, poet, politician).

·  Define the American Dream with your group.

·  Search in the American Memory collections and document the dreams of those who lived in the past.

·  Identify and publish your interpretation of the "American Dream" according to your research role and the evidence you found.

·  Reflect upon your personal dream — for the nation and for yourself. Write your own personal American Dream.

Getting Started

Choose a Research Role

Choose one of the research roles to create your project:

Team / Description / Product
Photographer / With your artful eye, you capture the images of the American Dream. / Design a photo essay that shows the American Dream. Show how the Dream has been affected by time, cultural influences, and significant historical events.
Lawyer / Your passion for controversy and debate guide your vision of the American Dream. / Prepare a legal brief about the status of the American Dream. (Legal brief includes: title, who vs. whom, statement of facts, argument, conclusion, references.)
Poet / Using your poetic grasp of language, you seek out the heart and soul of the American Dream. / Create a poet's notebook that shows the American Dream. Your notebook includes samples of your poetry that shows how the "Dream" has been affected by time, cultural influences, and significant historical events.
Politician / With a finger on the pulse of the American people, you trace significant political events that shape the American Dream. / Write and deliver a speech that traces the political events that shape the American Dream. Your speech shows how the "Dream" has been affected by political response to cultural influences and significant historical events.
Reporter / On the newsbeat you report and chronicle the events which shape the American Dream. / Write a news article that reports the results of your research on the American Dream. (Article includes: title, who, what, when, where, and how.) Your news article describes the events that have shaped the American Dream through the decades.

Analyzing Documents

Use the Primary Source Analysis tool and questions provided by your teacher to practice reading and interpreting sources with sample materials. Your team will look at resources through the lens of your research role.

·  Photographer - Mr. & Mrs. David Vincent and daughter, Martha, by their sod house: near White River, South Dakota

·  Poet - "Dedication," Robert Frost's presidential inaugural poem, 20 January 1961

·  Politician - "Americanism", Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923

·  Producer - Arrival of immigrants, Ellis Island

·  Lawyer - Petition for change of venue: Evidence from the Haymarket Affair, 1886-1887

·  Reporter - The Independent gazetteer, or, The chronicle of freedom, 1788

Research — Gather Evidence — Create Product

·  Each project must use at least 3 Primary Source documents which help to explain the American Dream at the turn of the century. You may work with one other student to conduct your research, but the FINAL PROJECT MUST BE YOUR OWN.

·  After completing your research consider how the American Dream compares to today. Use the questions at the beginning of the assignment, the Jon Meacham article and the evidence from your project to write a minimum 1-page, double spaced essay.

·  Final projects are due Tuesday, September 4, 2012

The History of the American Dream

Answer the questions using the Jon Meacham article from Time Magazine (July 2, 2012).

1.  Where did the term “American Dream” come from? What is its original definition?

2.  Where do the roots of the American Dream originate?

3.  Define the Peabody-Roosevelt Gospel.

4.  Where does the heart of the American Dream lie? How many Americans define themselves as lying here?

5.  How do middle-class Americans define themselves?

6.  Why is it becoming increasingly more difficult to achieve middle-class status?

7.  Historically, in what two areas has the American Dream typically revolved around? Provide an example for each of the two areas.

8.  Define the “myth of the West”.

9.  How does the signing of the Pacific Railroad and Homestead Acts support the pursuit of the American Dream?

10.  How did the passage of the Homestead and Morrill Acts contribute to the Dream?

11.  How did the New Deal impact the Dream?

12.  How did the “I Have a Dream” speech reflect the idea of the American Dream?

13.  What impact did the 1960s have on the American Dream?

14.  How does capitalism impact the American Dream?

15.  What makes the American Dream so different today?