This definition has changed throughout the years, however the core meaning remains. So where does this meaning come from?
For many of the original colonists, the promise of economic opportunity was the prime motivating factor in immigrating to the British territories in North America. This promise of a better life was represented by the potential to gain land. The push for new land led to armed conflict with the Native American tribes of the eastern seaboard. British efforts to curtail westward expansion were one of the contributing factors in the Revolutionary War. The importance of property and the right of citizens to own and acquire property were incorporated in the Declaration of Independence and formed one of the hallmarks of American political culture.
Reformist writers, known as muckrakers, worked to expose the falsity of the American dream. For instance, Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle emphasized the abuses in the meatpacking industry and helped spur reforms, including the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act. Meanwhile, segregation in the South and anti-immigrant sentiment in the Northeast and California further alienated groups within the United States.
Possession of automobiles, radios, and other consumer products became hallmarks of prosperity. The widespread use of advertising reinforced the public's desire for these new products, while the availability of credit made ownership more practical and easier to accomplish with limited household budgets.
Despite the problems, however, the main ingredients at the core of the American dream remained consistent. Home ownership and material possession continued to be prized. Ownership of name-brand clothing or status-symbol cars continued to be seen as a mark of success.
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