Bates 1

Dalton J Bates

Professor Tammy Davis

Comp2, MWF, 10:30

April, 02, 2017

Ten years after World War 2, America was at one of its most prosperous economic times

in history. With 16 million veterans returning from the war, American families could finally look

forward to a positive future and begin their dream. According to Domestic Engineering (Oct.

1981), Three out of five families became homeowners and suburban living became a national

Phenomenon. In the 50s the American dream was fairly simple, a cozy house with a perfectly

manicured lawn and a white picket fence in the backyard. The kids consisted of a three sport son

whose dad was the head coach of his little league teams and a princess of a daughter that never

stayed out late with a boy. The father would work hard to make enough money for his entire

family and still have enough spare time to play catch with his son when he came home. The

Mother would say home, clean the house and watch the kids. Life was simple, Americans had the

drive to work and provide for their families. The American dream was alive and well and fairly

easy to obtain in the 50s. The American dream happens only if a person is willing to put forth

the effort. The generation that we are living in today is totally different than it was 60 years ago.

Although there are cases where people go from rags to riches, it is very rare. Social stigmas are

placed upon people in the lower class which seriously hinder them from getting a job and

moving up in social class. Aside from the in home problem such as social class position,

economic change is a substantial reason why the American dream is becoming out of reach for

majority of citizens.
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Compared to the 1950s the drive to get a job and a family is just not there anymore. In

our generation social classes define a person. Opportunities are harder to come by when you are

a lower class American. In a study done by PEW research center, A smaller percentage of

Americans (44%) identify as being middle class than ever before. At the same time, nearly as

many Americans (40%) identify as lower-middle or lower class, while the share of Americans

who consider themselves upper class has decreased significantly since 2008 (Matthews 2014).

With nearly half of Americans identifying with the lower class that suggests that either the

middle or upper class must be shrinking. The data from the study of the PEW research center

tells us that middle class workers income has fallen 8% while only 2% has fallen from the top

earners (Matthews 2014). That tells us that it is much harder in our generation to be in the ideal

middle class. Lower class goals are much different than someone in middle-upper class. The job

of a doctor to a middle-upper class seems normal but to a lower class individual being a doctor is

a long shot. Steve Tobak wrote Attaining the American dream is a function of intelligence,

capability, personal choice, work ethic, achievement, upbringing and luck. And it should come as

no surprise that those born into wealth have a better chance than those born into poverty(Tobak

2016). It is still possible to achieve the American dream, Tobak also added If being born into

privilege were everything, there would be no Apple, Starbucks, Walmart, Verizon, Oracle,

WhatsApp or countless other great companies, all of which were built by entrepreneurs and

executives who grew up with nothing but adversity.

Since the 1950s the economy has changed tremendously. Whether it be schooling,

housing, job pay, benefits, and health care. Schooling alone has massively changed, prices have

sky rocketed enough to easily put someone in massive debt that could potentially last a lifetime.

In an article written by Richard Eskow he states that The University of California was once
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considered a national model for free, high-quality public education, but today tuition at UC

Berkeley is $12,972 per year(Eskow 2014). With college prices getting more and more

expensive every year even middle class citizens will struggle to send their child to college. Aside

from schooling, healthcare is another big change. Since the beginning of the ressession in 2007

healthcare has risen by 52% (Eskow 2014). Due to the outrageous cost for health care, I have

known people to not even have health insurance.

If America stays on the path that it is on right now we will no longer have an opportunity

for higher education, a life without the burden of a mass debt on the shoulders of American

people, a strong hard working middle class or a proper healthcare plan. Slowly but surely each of

these are being take away. Americans need to take action and take control of the future not only

for themselves but for their children as well. The American dream is not dead, but it is dying

quickly. We need to take control of the economy and elect people that will help the American

people. Nobody said this would be easy but it must be done.

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Annotated Bibs

The Two sources for my topic.

1.) This article tells about how the American dream is alive. Even though our country has

greatly changed within the past 50 years. I dont know much about the author other than

he is a historian from the New York Times. The New York Times is great source. I would

say no matter which way you go over this topic are going to seem bias, so yes this article

is slightly bias. He mentioned the past many times. This source will benefit my paper.
2.) This article states that the American dream is already being lived by many people. They

just dont realize it. The author is an ex-marine and sees the American dream for what it

really is. This article is semi bias. The sources used were studys from colleges. This

source will benefit my paper.

The Two sources against my topic.

1.) This article explains how the American dream is dead. The author tells us it is because we

have taken advantage of what our ancestors worked for. The author contributes to an

organization called hopeless. The source works. This article is perfect for my paper.
2.) This article explains how the American dream is dead. The author explains the American

dream is simply out of reach for half of America. The author is a girl and she lies to use

charts. CNN seem like a trust worthy site. This article is semi bias. The source work

shown with charts. This article will benefit my paper

Work Cited
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Brohl, Karen. "The 1950s: Pursuing The American Dream." ACHRNEWS RSS. N.p., 06 Nov.

2001

Matthews, Christopher. "40% of Americans Consider Themselves in the Lower Classes." Time.

Time, 27 Jan. 2014.

Richard Eskow / AlterNet. "7 Facts That Show the American Dream Is Dead." Alternet. N.p., 22

Oct. 2014. Tobak, Steve. "The American Dream Is Alive and Well." Fox Business. Fox Business,

22 Aug. 2016.