What is the American Dream, and has it become more difficult to achieve in recent years?

There are few ideas as central to a nation’s identity as the idea of ​​the American Dream.

With the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States coming up in July 2026, it is worth taking a step back to examine a basic concept of the nation’s self-image.

The term “American Dream” was actually coined in the 1930s Historian James Truslow Adams. But since the founding of the colonies, America has been viewed as a land where individual and collective hopes and aspirations can be realized.

From the idea of ​​America as bright “City on a hill” To ensure the declaration of independenceLife, liberty and the pursuit of happiness“The nation was founded on high aspirations. The concept of the American Dream embodied these hopes, and remains present throughout our cultural landscape.

your SociologistI set out to explore what Americans thought about the American dream In today’s society. I’ve interviewed dozens of people, from an elderly man sleeping on the street to a billionaire businessman.

I wanted to know specifically how they defined the American Dream – and whether it is more difficult to achieve today than it was in the past.

Definition of dream

from Small trucks and Lawn tractor Advertisements to classify children as illegal immigrants DreamersReferences to the American Dream in contemporary life are everywhere. Washington, D.C. is now home to a whole new city, A $500 million museumthe Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, dedicated to celebrating the idea and its history.

It turns out that for most of the people I interviewed, the American Dream consists of three basic ideas.

The first is what we might call an economic bargain: if you work hard and play by the rules, you should expect a financially secure life. This includes owning a home and being able to raise children and retire comfortably.

Second, the American dream is centered around hope and optimism. It is about personal progress and the belief that the nation’s best days lie ahead. It is the idea that each generation should do better than the one before it, and that upward economic mobility is necessary to achieve this.

The third and final idea expressed by people was the freedom to pursue their hopes to reach their full potential. For many, this is the epitome of the American dream.

At its best, the United States is seen as allowing individuals the freedom to live the lives they want. Freedom and Cruel individualism It has been a defining feature of America since its beginnings, so it should come as no surprise that it is also central to the American dream.

More economically elusive?

Has achieving the American dream become more or less difficult over time? Unfortunately, it seems more difficult for a growing number of Americans.

First, the goal of living an economically secure life in exchange for hard work has become more elusive. Data from the Census Bureau It notes that average wages for full-time male workers have essentially stabilized since 1973. The economy has been producing more Low-paying and part-time jobs. Many lack benefits, such as health insurance.

This has already happened among less-skilled workers, such as truck drivers and postal employees Lost land In terms of income. At the same time, the costs of housing, medical care, child care and higher education have risen It increased dramatically Over the past forty years.

What about upward mobility and the hope that each generation will perform better economically than the previous generation? there Some evidence One of the reasons for the shrinking of the middle class is this More people have entered the high-income strata.

still, Younger generations In fact, they will earn, on average, less than their parents did as adults. This is the first time in US history that this has happened. It seems that the idea of ​​generational progress and moving forward, which was previously taken for granted, has stopped.

There has also been an increase in the economic mobility of low-income workers It has slowed over the past 50 yearsmaking it difficult to climb the ladder of opportunities.

Not satisfied, not dreaming

Finally, what about personal freedom? Survey data indicate that larger numbers of Americans feel that their ability to control their lives and their future has become less than it was in the past.

For more than 20 years, Gallup He asked the question: “In this country, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your freedom to choose what you do with your life?” The percentage of Americans who express satisfaction has declined significantly over the past two decades. In 2007, the percentage was 87%, but by 2024 it had fallen to 72%. For women, the number was even lower, falling from 85% in 2007 to 66% in 2024.

By comparison, the wealthiest countries in the Gallup poll averaged 86%. As a result, it seems that achieving the American dream has become more difficult than ever.

Ambitious hope

These trends are important to understand polarization and General negativity Found in America today. Many Americans feel that they have been neglected and that the American dream has become an unattainable reality.

For these Americans, the words of the late comedian and social commentator George Carlin It rings true: “It’s called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.”

However, the American Dream is a powerful metaphor and aspiration that continues to inspire many in this country. Among those interviewed, there was a strong consensus that she represents the best that America has to offer.

No other country has quite the equivalent of the American dream. As the nation enters its next 250th year, working to reestablish this concept as a reality for millions of people left behind may be vital to preserving the essence of the American promise.