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Edward Sanchez

Ms. Price

English 1

20 March 2019

American Dream Essay

The American Dream is to give everyone an equal opportunity to succeed in life, have a

free market economy, and give peace to the world. People do not realize being more wealthy

than others gives people a better advantage. There are many other reasons why the American

Dream has not always succeed. This dream cannot always be true due to the fact of the free

market economy, money, and peace. People have to look at it and see that other people just have

an advantage to some others for many reasons.

One of the American Dream examples was to have a free economy market. “A free

market economy can't coordinate a national defense plan. It also leaves vulnerable members of

society without a safety net” (Shepp,Rich). This quote describes the reasoning about the free

economy market productive efficiency will occur. “America Is Not Really a Free Market

Economy. ... The U.S. free market depends on capitalism to thrive. That means the law of

demand and supply sets prices and distributes goods and services” (Shepp,Rich). This quote

shows that the american dream was to have a free economy, but the America is not a free market

economy. The dream to have a free economy market has failed and has not met the American

Dream, but having an equal opportunity in life could meet the American dream.

The main definition for the American Dream is for everyone to have an equal opportunity

in life. “The Epic of America offers several variations on Adams's definition of the dream that

life should be made richer and fuller for everyone and opportunity remain open to all. but the
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word "richer" appears in all of them, and he wasn't just talking about richness of experience”

(Kamp). This quote best explains why everyone does not have an equal opportunity in their lives

simply because of being more wealthy than others. “ A "better and richer life" is promised, but

for most people this won't be a rich person's life. "Opportunity for each" is promised, but within

the bounds of each person's ability” (Kamp). If someone is wealthier than the other the easily

have an advantage in life and that is how it goes we cannot control that. It depends on someone's

journey or their routes that can be difficult. Some have it a lot easier. There is still peace and the

government failure that does not make the american dream come true.

Lack of peace and the failures in the government have stopped the American Dream to

become true. “The mood in America is arguably as dark as it has ever been in the modern era.

The birth rate is at a record low, and the suicide rate is at a 30-year high; mass shootings and

opioid overdoses are ubiquitous” (Shepp,Rich). This quote best explains my reasoning about

peace because the American dream was to have peace and to be successful, but nowadays

america has been the worst it has ever been. “Government is an important partner in creating the

conditions for growth, but it’s business that makes dreams possible by spreading opportunity,

creating jobs, and generating wealth” (Donohue). This quote explains my reasoning on the

political problems in the government. If the people want the american dream there has to be

more opportunities spreading to other people. Overall the peace does not improve or the political

problems do not solve the American Dream will not be close to being true.

The American dream is supposed to give people a free market economy, an opportunity

in life, and peace. The free market economy is not true and the U.S does not really allow it

anymore. People who are more wealthier already have an advantage over the people who have

nothing. The world had been increasing murder rates over the years and if that continues the U.S
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will not be a peaceful place. Overall the American dream can not always be perfect and have to

realize that disadvantages in life and the government are stopping from tat dream becoming true.

Works Cited
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Kamp, David, and David Kamp. “Rethinking the American Dream.” Vanities, Vanity Fair, 26

Sept. 2017, www.vanityfair.com/culture/2009/04/american-dream200904.

Rich, Frank. “Frank Rich: In 2008, America Stopped Believing in the American Dream.”

Intelligencer, Intelligencer, 6 Aug. 2018, nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/08/frank-rich-

2008-financial-crisis-end-of-american-dream.html.

“U.S. Chamber's Donohue: Preserve, Strengthen, and Expand the American Dream.” U.S.

Chamber of Commerce, 6 Feb. 2019, www.uschamber.com/press-release/us-chamber-s-

donohue-preserve-strengthen-and-expand-the-american-dream.