The American Dream, which expresses people’s optimism that everyone who is willing to work hard can attain a better life than their parents, is vital to the national spirit. The public’s perception of the American Dream’s viability should be considered separately from support for the concept itself. We examine the causes and trends behind the public’s conviction that the American Dream is attainable. Is the “American Dream” only a metaphor with roots in political socialization as opposed to modern politics? Or does confidence in the durability of the American Dream correlate with economic prosperity, rising with rising opportunity and falling with declining opportunity? The perception that the American Dream is attainable falls as inequality rises.
KEYWORDS: properties, rights, economic, liberty, immigration, racism.