What impact did events like Watergate, Vietnam, and September 11th have on Americans' perception of the "American Dream"? Address at least two events (not limited to the aforementioned).
On September 11th, 2001, airplanes hijacked by terrorists flew into the Trade Centers in New York City, the center of U.S. capitalism, and the Pentagon in Washington, the symbol of U.S. military power. The attacks prompted national mourning, followed by a determination of the people to come out stronger as a nation. Subsequent to the attacks, President Bush initiated what he called the “war on terror”, a concentrated effort to eliminate terrorism in the world. Meanwhile, a new generation of neoconservatives gained influence, calling for an assertive position for the United States on the global stage and claiming that an offensive would serve the U.S. well. Some even dreamed of a “Pax Americana”, a global system where American values reign supreme, backed by the U.S. military. Although the neoconservatives’ radicalism never fully took hold, they nonetheless convinced the White House to take action against terrorists, especially Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden; subsequently, America attacked Afghanistan and later Iraq. Though neither of these attempts were fully successful, they demonstrated America’s dream of establishing peaceful and ultimately democratic societies across the globe. Prior to the attacks, the American government had focused on unification and interaction with Europe. After 9/11, Americans shifted their focus to the Middle East, and the United States took on the role of “policeman of the world” to realize its dreams.
In June of 1972, a Special Investigative Unit employed by President Nixon was caught trying the bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee to glean information about the part’s strategy. The ensuing scandal, collectively known as Watergate, rocked the White House and led Nixon, whose involvement in the affair was obvious, to resign. Though Nixon’s presidential successor, President Ford, ultimately pardoned Nixon’s mistakes, the damage was done: Americans, having witnessed the failure of the federal government to conduct itself responsibly, became cynical of political leaders and disillusioned with democracy itself. No longer was there an idealist attitude towards the democratic system; Americans realized that just like every other political system, democracy had its failings. This shift away from idealism was evident in the attitude of the Carter administration after Ford, whereby the United States did not try to solve all of the world’s problems, since it could not even solve all of its own. The core of the American Dream had always been a staunch belief in the freedoms and opportunities of democracy, yet the Watergate scandal seemed to confirm the fears of many American dreamers that for all its perks, democracy was not perfect.
Through the beginning of WWII, the United States followed the policy of isolationism in order to avoid being dragged into another conflict. American citizens were exhausted from the measures taken in WWI and decided it was time to focus on internal issues, rather than those of the nation. However, on December 7th, 1941, their plans changed. The policy of “isolationism had been respectable until the moment the Japanese bombs and torpedoes struck the American ships at Pearl Harbor”(23). A surprise military attack by the imperial Japanese Navy on the United States’ naval base led to the United States’ decision to enter the war. American citizens were in shock after the attack; the incident killed 2,403 and left another 1,178 wounded. President Roosevelt declared December 7th “a date which will live in infamy”. The event triggered a sense of nationalism among the American population, urging their country to enter the war for protection purposes and to eliminate Japan as a threat.
“At six o’clock on the morning of September 11th, 2001”(346), the course of American history took an unexpected turn. Arab hijackers associated with the Islamist extreme group known as al-Qaeda took control of four planes, redirecting two flights towards the World Trade Center. At 8:46, the first plane “slammed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan at 490 miles per hour”(347). 18 minutes later, the second plane smashed right through the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Just hours after, the third plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane descended straight into a field in Western Pennsylvania. The destruction from these terrorist attacks on 9/11 killed over 3,000 people and broke the hearts of an entire nation. President Bush addressed this event that night, declaring, “terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America”. The terrorists’ attacks only made Americans come back stronger. The events triggered the United States to strengthen our national security and combat terrorism in the future.
As individuals our experiences shape our values, belief systems, and dreams. This can also be said of our identity as a nation. The major events that make up our nations history shape its values and ideals. Therefore major events like Vietnam and 9/11 cannot help but to play a huge role in our perception of the American Dream. In both cases American reality was drastically altered by events which forced America to asses and become aware of its vulnerabilities. During WW2, America was thought to be the keeper of democracy. Our dream was to bring our ideal of peace and posterity for all to the world. We thought we should be our “brother’s keeper” and help everyone to share in our vision. Upon entering the war, Johnson did not think Vietnam would be any match for America, the greatest military power in the world. While Johnson was most concerned with the home front: the war on poverty and inequality, he knew he had to continue the inherited resolve of the prior three presidents to defeat communism. “He thought the war was worth paying the price of keeping the American vision of the great society alive” (138). However, he underestimated his enemy and the toll of American lives that would be paid. The war was extremely unpopular and the sentiment of the country changed towards the war and the government. The unity felt for in the WW2 era gave way to a more self interested society. The American dream at this time seemed to focus on personal freedom and self expression which was evident by the “hippy movement” that spread across the country. President Kennedy spoke to mitigate such behavior with his famous speech “Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country”. Years of national prosperity continued an atmosphere of self indulgence and self interest that prevailed in the years preceding the new millennium. Excesses in wealth was checked with major events like the crash of the stock market in 1987, the recession after the dot com bubble burst and the housing market crash. However nothing made such an impact on our national identity as the attacks of 9/11. For the first time in 60 years there was an attack on U.S. soil. It was traumatic for a country who thought it was impervious. The effect was a profound regrouping behind President Bush. This type of pro America sentiment had not been felt since 1945. Flags were flying again and President Bush’s approval rating was the highest of any president ever behind speeches of retaliation. “‘Today our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack... Our country is strong’” (352). With that event the pendulum swung back to a collective dream much like the pervasive pro USA atmosphere of the WW2 era.
On September 11, 2001, nine terrorists hijacked four planes and used them as guided missiles to attack Americans and disturb their peace at home. One plane slammed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at about five-hundred miles per hour. About twenty minutes later, another plane flew into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. There was reason for those two buildings to be targets for the terrorists. The Twin Towers were located in the lower Manhattan, in the Financial District, which was the heart of American capitalism. The third plane targeted the heart of American military power. Many military officials and personnel were killed as well as civilians on the plane. The fourth plane failed to hit its target and slammed into the ground in Pennsylvania, killing everyone on the plane. All these events contributed to the change of the American Dream. Americans no longer wanted just the individual prosperity, social growth, and success. They wanted to leave in the peaceful world in which their homeland is not endangered by the terrorists around the world. That is why they supported Bush when he wanted to “put boots on the ground” to liquidate Saddam Hussein. They wanted to avenge all those innocent people who died on 9/11. The idea of fighting terrorists outside of the United States to protect Americans at home became the part of the American dream. After WWII, two major superpowers, communist Soviet Union and capitalist United States resumed their competition against one another. They competed for the dominance in space, technology, and nuclear arsenal. But they also tried to get as many countries on their side as they can. The USSR had China, North Korea, and most of the countries in Eastern Europe in the camp. The US had Israel, Japan, and the countries of the Western Europe on their side. But since neither side actually fought one another in the battle, it became known as the Cold War. In the 1950, the two started the fight over the influence in Vietnam after the French left it. United States supported the anti-communist government, and the USSR supported the communist government. United States deployed boots on the ground to fight in Vietnam. The Soviet Union didn’t deploy their troops but they had provide communists with weapons, tanks, and other war equipment. As the war went on and the United States faced casualties, Americans were determined to defeat communists. However, the United States had to pullout from the Vietnam but the idea of defeating communism at all costs was integrated into the dreams of everyday Americans since then. Ultimately, the United States did come out on top. It did it not through the means of war. But through the means of Western culture being more appealing to Russians and the people all over Eastern Europe. In retrospect, the Vietnam War added the idea of defeating communism as a part of the American Dream.
September 11th and Watergate are events in America’s history that will never be forgotten. They both left a permanent mark on our nation, and drastically altered Americans’ perception of the “American dream”. On September 11th, 2001 terrorists hijacked numerous airplanes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City, killing thousands of civilians. This tragedy left Americans in mourning and working together to try and overcome this period of weakness, but also left them questioning the security of their nation. The 9/11 attack proved that America is not invincible. It gave Americans a reason to challenge the effectiveness of their own homeland security. The attack was also the point in which the United States started seriously acting out against terrorist organizations. In the years following 9/11 President Bush declared war on both Afghanistan and Iraq, and took extreme measures against eliminating terrorists such as Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden. On June 17, 1972, President Nixon’s political party conducted a break-in at the Watergate complex where the Democratic National Committee had its headquarters. Their mission was to break in and steal information that would help Nixon win the election. Nixon attempted to cover up the scandal by destroying evidence and even paying off the burglars, but his involvement in the break in soon became known to all of America. The break-in at Watergate provided Americans with a reason to mistrust their own government; “after Vietnam and Watergate, Americans were willing to believe almost anything dastardly about their government” (191). The events at Watergate weakened many Americans’ faith and trust in the government and proved how corrupt the American democracy had become. It was crystal clear that America needed to sort out its own internal problems before attempting to interfere in those of other nations. In the end, 9/11 and the Watergate scandal challenged America’s dream of becoming a global superpower by exposing both its internal and external weaknesses.
June 17, 1972, President Nixon broke into the Watergate complex which was the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. Nixon attempted to spy on his political opponents by “bugging” them. Once Nixon was caught in the act, his administration denied any part in the scandal. However, after the U.S. Congress investigated, they found evidence of Nixon abusing his power and this led to having 48 people incarnated. After Watergate was reviled, President Nixon resigned. The Watergate scandal showed American’s the flaws in their democracy. Soon after, citizens began noticing the corruption in their democracy and that followed with mistrust in the American government. The American Dream of living under a “free government” was misleading with notice of flaws within Democracy.
Tuesday, September 11, 2001, will forever be remembered as the day when four terrorist attacks struck America. An Islamic terrorist group, called al-Qaeda, attacked symbolic U.S. buildings. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center, which was in New York City and was the center of American capitalism. The third plane crashed into the pentagon in Virginia, which is the headquarters of the American military. The last plane was aimed for Washington, D.C., but the passengers courageously tried to stop the hijackers and crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Overall, 2,996 innocent American citizens were killed in these terrorist attacks. The 9/11 attacks showed American citizens that the United States were not invincible and were able to be attacked. Also, Americans became aware of terrorism and started trying to combat terrorist, such as Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, which later caused for entering a war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The American Dream altered from being about individual prosperity to living in a world of peace, and the only way of achieving peace was to fight those who stand in the way: terrorist.
After WWII, the whole world longed for achieving the American dream. People wanted to live a long successful life. On September 11, 2001, the whole world stopped and everyone’s mentality changed. On this day, two planes attacked the World Trade Center in New York City. One more plane crashed into the Pentagon in Virginia and another aimed for Washington D.C. landed in Pennsylvania. Overall, these attacks took the lives of 2,996 people (History.com). This is just another event in history where people realized that they could lose their lives in a blink of an eye. Also, people recognized that the Middle East saw the U.S. as a target. In response to the attacks, Bush began military attacks in Afghanistan. The U.S. shifted its focus from making relations with Europe to the Middle East where the U.S. felt that it had to defend itself and would not let al-Qaeda go unpunished.
The Watergate scandal of 1972 was a turning point for the view of many Americans. Several burglars were arrested in the early morning of June 17 for being inside the office of the Democratic National Committee. This would not have been such a huge scandal if it had not been traced back to Richard Nixon where he tried to cover everything up and raise hush money to make sure nothing got out. Eventually, the story got out, Nixon resigned, and the public’s reaction was very clear. This scandal made it difficult for American’s to fully trust the government and put their faith in democracy. This made people question what else the government was hiding and how they could trust all politicians. Since people’s view of democracy was in question, this changed their idea of the “American Dream” which people previously associated with a perfect democracy.
During the 1930s, the tragic losses in World War I and the economic problems from the Great Depression caused Americans opinions to favor the policy of isolationism, the idea to stay away from conflict, because they believed remaining away from conflict would prevent wars as terrible as World War I. As a result of the increase of public support, the policy of isolationism was enforced and the United States remained away from conflict before and at the start of World War II, until the bombings at Pearl Harbor. This event was a momentous signal to the United States that the policy of isolationism prevented America from getting involved with a world issue sooner and ending the issue faster. On September 11th 2001, 19 Islamic extremists from the group al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airlines. Two of the planes flew into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the third hit the Pentagon outside Washington D.C., and the fourth plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. As a result over 3,000 people were killed in the terrorist attacks and President George W. Bush and the public were filled with grief over the lives that were lost that day, and were determined to avenge the death of the thousands that were killed on September 11th. President Bush made it his mission to eliminate terrorism and called it the “war on terror,” and end the reign of extremist leaders such as Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden. The idea to fight terrorists in the world to protect innocent lives became part of the “American Dream.”
America identifies itself by being the home of the free. Where the American dream is more of a "national birthright" (385) than an ambition. A part of this national birthright was the assumption of American safety. People woke up everyday assuming that they would walk out their door without jeopardizing their safety or freedom. This assumption being justified by the fact that no wars had been fought on American soil for the past 136 years, with the exception of pearl harbor. Prior to events like 9/11 people's dreams mainly constricted to choosing one's own career, owning a home and bettering one's self in the social structure. Generally, achieving the American Dream was tantamount to individual success. However, the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, changed the perception of the American Dream. When the planes, hijacked by Al Qaeda radicals, rammed into the buildings of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon it transformed America into a place where "freedom itself [was] under attack." (353) People stopped worrying about bettering their own lives and instead turned toward helping their nation overcome this crisis. Americans pulled together in support for their elected officials, as they usually do in times of crisis. Rudy Giuliani, the New York mayor, becoming and "overnight hero" for his "calm reassurance"(351) during the chaos and George W. Bush's popularity reaching the highest level in history since polling began. Through this hardship America was put to the test and because of the modification of the American Dream was able to rise up to the challenge. The foundation of the American Dream is hope. It is hope that leads to the perseverance necessary to achieve these dreams. The events in Vietnam threatned this hope, and in doing this threatened America's ability to achieve its dreams. Some Americans had opposed the war in Vietnam from the get go. They questioned if the status of a small, far away country "justified the expenditure of American blood and treasure." (152) This belief was escalated in 1965 when Johnson intensified the war effort resulting in a growth of American casualties. People as high up as senators where preaching that the U.S. didn't belong in Vietnam. Some groups, such as the Weathermen, went as far as advocating violence in American with hopes it would end the violence in Vietnam. Administration officials had been lying to the public about their progress in the war, announcing that they were winning the war and that they had "never been more encouraged" (156) after admitting to each other privately that the it was not going well. However after Walter Cronkite, the news anchor for CBS, revealed macabre scene in Vietnam and the failure of the Tet Offensive to the public the approval for how Johnson was handling the war plummeted from 40% to 26%. The publics, as well as the soldiers morals were decreasing as in their determination the defend the anti communist South Vietnam against the "iron hand" (157) of the communist North Vietnam. The bloodiness of the Vietnam war made "hope almost impossible to maintain" (162) and lead to the demoralization of the Americans dream resulting in the "Vietnam syndrome" which stated that when in doubt America shouldn't fight, contrary to the previous belief that when in doubt it should.
Soon after June 17, 1972, the public learned of a break-in led by President Nixon into the Democratic National Committee in “an elaborate plan to bug the offices” (180). This crime would forever change the sentiment towards the American government. President Nixon attempted to cover up his involvement in the scandal and resigned before he was impeached on August 9, 1974 due to overwhelming evidence. This investigation not only uncovered the Watergate Scandal, but also the fact that these same agencies had been doing undercover work like this for years: “American voters had been engaged in combat operations while American voters were assured they were simply advisers,” “The Tonkin Gulf incident was not what Congress had been told it was” (187). This information devastated the young and old, who felt they could no longer trust their government. Citizens felt cynical of the government, and were suspicious of other undercover work. The scandals “indicated how demoralized American democracy had become” (191). That year, the American Dream changed, regarding citizens being able to trust their own leader. Americans wanted to live happily in their country, and most importantly trust their leader.
Decades later, another event took place that shook Americans’ confidence. The September 11th attacks made American citizens feel vulnerable to terrorism and danger. After two planes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, and one in the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Americans stood in disbelief, as they watched the “most powerful country in the world” be consumed in fires, dust, and fear. This event, “unlike anything in American history” (350), changed the way Americans thought of themselves and other countries. That day, the Americans had never felt more protective of their country; the Americans wanted to protect their American dream more than ever, and get revenge on the people who did this. The United States shifted its focus to the Middle East, where they would eventually kill Osama Bin Laden and bring American troops in to ensure stability. The citizens felt united and connected after this event, and would do anything to ensure the most important part the American Dream: to live peacefully in a safe environment.
"Americans have been dreaming since our national birth... The dreams weren't always sunny and hopeful, but they drew America constantly forward, enticing us towards a new horizon"(p. x) Americans have been dreaming of prosperity and new future since the day we were born, but as soon as tragedy occurs within us, we tend to take a step backwards. When we see that one of our own, someone who we put our faith into has defied us, we get this extreme feeling of uncertainty. When our leader, our president Richard Nixon went out of his way to abuse his power at the events at watergate, we as america didn't know how to feel. In June of 1972, 5 men were caught trying to steal information from the democratic national committee with large sums of money in their pocket traced back to Nixon's committee of re-election. Not only were these burglars payed off by one of Nixon's committees, but Nixon was also caught tapping all the conversations that go on in the White House. He was forced to give up these tapes and in one of them, Nixon was caught discussing the burglary. Nixon was on the verge of impeachment when he became the first and only president to resign. Nixon went through all of this to win an election only to be forced into resignation. The future of america seemed dim because we were without a trustworthy leader. We felt there was no one to lead us on a path towards the future. The American dream seemed to have vanished altogether On September 11th, 2001, the american dream took a step back. Al-queda, harbored by the Taliban hijacked 4 passenger airlines leaving from the east coast to California. Two of which were crashed into the north and south towers of the world trade center. One crashed into the pentagon and another crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania after some passengers tried to overcome the hijackers. The first two attacks resulted in the murder of thousands of people, friends and family. The September 11 attacks made the american people feel vulnerable to attacks from terrorists, a problem that hardly crossed anyones mind. Suddenly, the people of america were no longer looking forward at what they could accomplish, they rather looked back at what they should have done differently. 9/11 was one of the most tragic events to rattle this nation in history. This event drove america into the war on Terror which was a giant leap back from the seemingly peaceful world everyone become a custom to. Terrorism is still something that holds the american dream back, all because of the events of 9/11. Because of both the events at Watergate and 9/11, people now dream in fear that something will drag them down.
On September 11th, 2001, two airplanes hijacked by Islamic extremists were crashed into the World Trade Center located in New York City, the center of American capitalism. Another airplane hit the Pentagon in Virginia, the symbol of American military power, and the last one aimed at Washington D.C. crash landed in a field in Pennsylvania. The crashes led to the deaths of 3,000 people, including those within the planes, the buildings, and many innocent civilians located around the destruction. The attack left Americans all over the United States mourning over the events that occurred and struggling to overcome the challenge posed by the first major attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. The “war on terror”, dubbed by President George W. Bush, became a realization of America that the United States was not invincible against unexpected attacks. Amid the chaos of recovery from the events in New York City, New York mayor Rudy Giuliani promised to the American people that they would emerge stronger: “emotionally stronger, politically stronger, economically stronger” (351). These feelings of strength and resilience impacted America as a whole, and although a war started in the wrong country would be the result (showing their uncertainty but determination), Americans realized that the American Dream of safety and security for one’s future ultimately needed to be defended. On Sunday, March 7, 1965, Martin Luther King and multiple civil rights activists led a peaceful protest on Selma, Alabama in what later became known as “Bloody Sunday” for the violence that followed. Although the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 “which mandated an end to Jim Crow in nearly all areas of public life” (122) and gave African Americans many new opportunities, voting (particularly in the South) was still not one of these. Both the difficulty of registering to vote along with the danger threatened by conservative segregationists prevented polling of African Americans. They came to the realization that if and only if Southern blacks gain the power to vote independently “would they have a chance to defend themselves” (127), thus the march was arranged to be held in Selma because of its being known as unfair and impatient with opposition to the status quo. Although the nonviolent protesters planned to utilize the expected violence against their oppressors to gain public support, what occurred when they reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge “shocked even King” (128). Photographs and video footage recorded large, armored troopers mercilessly attacking the marchers with bludgeons, poisonous gas, whips and rubber hoses, causing seventy marchers to be hospitalized. With the growing popularity this event gained throughout the nation, President Lyndon Johnson became a major advocate for the cause, and was able to convince Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to open the doors to African Americans who had earlier been denied these rights. One aspect of the American Dream is the ability for people to have equal opportunities despite their background. With the bravery shown at “Bloody Sunday”, and the support given by a majority of the nation, a crucial milestone was made to enforce this belief.
The basis of American political system is that the citizens elect their representatives and trust them to fulfill their responsibilities. In the twentieth century, a great part of the American presidents' responsibilities was the protection of democracy in the fight against Communism. "Americans had typically looked first to themselves and their families for support and assistance and only second to government," (Brands, p. 213) but when the national security was the concern of the hour, it was the president who took the situation under control. The president would become the commander-in-chief who was expected to preserve and spread peace so individual Americans could live the American Dream with no fear of losing faith in the system this nation stands for. That is one of the reasons why the election of a worthy president is such an important matter in this country. He is the face who represents the United States and its agenda to the rest of the world, but he is still human. There were a couple of cases when Americans were reminded of that. One such example would be the Watergate. President Richard Nixon had sent his Special Investigation Unit commonly known as Plumbers to bug the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate hotel to find out the Democratic strategy for the upcoming elections. When the Plumbers were arrested, Nixon denied any relation to the event. Later, he refused to give up the tapes that contained the important data relevant to the case. Once the Supreme Court demanded the tapes and Nixon handed them over, he was forced to resign on the basis of perjury. Nixon was pardoned, surprising many, but others knew that making a big case out of this event would take years, and the government had other things to do. Another president who was charged with perjury was Bill Clinton. The media coverage of the famous people's private lives brought upon the accusation of the president by various women on the topic of harassment and improper sexual relations. As the journalists and official investigators dug deeper, it was getting worse and worse. Clinton stood before the Senate and before the television cameras and used the gaps between the lines and definitions to deny the allegations set against him. He admitted to having had "an inappropriate encounter" (Brands, p. 321) multiple times, and that he was deeply sorry and that he thought of what he's done as disgusting and foolish, but he did not pledge guilty since, by definition, there was no sex. The people who spoke against him stated that it was not about sex, but about "the rule of law" (Brands, p. 325). Many were confused, and some even scared that "if you cannot believe in the President, who can you believe? If you have no one to believe in, then how do you run your life?" Clinton did not resign, though; the scandal brought him popularity, but the next Democratic nominees had to find a way to not be related to what happened. As it was evident, the affairs of the political representatives, whether private or government-related, were of a greater magnitude for the people whom they represented. If people believed the president to be trustworthy, they could continue going on about their lives and dreaming without interference. But from those experiences people knew that electing a president was now not only electing someone who would take control of economical and military spheres of the government; the moral influence was now also a great part of the election process.
One example of an event’s large scale impact on the American Dream is the movement towards racial integration following the infamous Bloody Sunday. During the post-war era, into the 1970s, many movements, protests, and speeches were made in support of racial equality and integration in the United States of America. The iconic leader of this movement, Martin Luther King, organized a number of rallies, including one in the spring of 1965 in Selma, Alabama. However, this march earned the title “Bloody Sunday” due to the heinous violence the white officers of Alabama committed against the black protestors. Since television and radio broadcasters from across the country covered the event, the masses of America who viewed it felt more inclined to address the issue of segregation in areas of the US other than their own state. It was at this point that Johnson began to call out segregationists, such as Alabama governor George Wallace, and proposed a bill to ensure black Americans’ right to vote, which proved to be highly successful. The passing of this bill was monumental, making racial integration a more solidified and sought after piece of the American dream. With Johnson’s bill, black Americans were now ensured the right to follow their own American dreams and the racist southerners no longer had a way to prevent them from doing so. Bloody Sunday was a final step in the civil rights movement that resulted in black Americans’ insurance of their ability to pursue their dreams, and racial integration and equality becoming a more essential piece of the American dream. Another even that had a large scale impact on the American Dream was the policy of “Vietnamization” carried out by president Nixon during the Vietnam war. The purpose of Vietnamization was to gradually reduce the number of American troops in South Vietnam while simultaneously training and arming the South Vietnamese troops. At the same time, Nixon began a war in Laos and Cambodia, so that other world powers would not assume the U.S. had lost interest in the affairs of Southeast Asia. Nixon’s decisions sparked a wave of antiwar movements in America; the Americans wanted their friends and family overseas to come home and felt that invading Cambodia was a step in the wrong direction. At this point, the American Dream was becoming one of living in a world without war. The policy of Vietnamization was also very demoralizing for the American troops stationed in Southeast Asia. The soldiers no longer valued their own efforts and felt their cause had been abandoned by the government, leading many to turn to addictive drugs such as heroin. Overall, the American citizens’ views of the Vietnam War and Nixon’s Vietnamization showed in their newfound distaste for their government and distrust in democracy. At this point, the Americans had lost the sense of idealism that had prospered during Johnson and Kennedy’s terms and simply hoped for an honest and peaceful leader. Due to Nixon’s Vietnamization, the American Dream became one of living without war and maintaining a functioning and sincere government in the US.
Events like Watergate and Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky wounded presidential credibility because the commanders in chief were largely or entirely responsible for scandals, and showed that they were not putting the best interests of the country first or exhibiting good judgment and morality. Blame was difficult to assign because the leaders in question were United States presidents, and to consider them bad people was to shatter the American Dream that democracy prevails and good wins. Overseas conflicts such as the Korean War and 9/11 were easier to incorporate into the American Dream because there was a clear enemy against which Americans were fighting, rather than an internal problem which undermined American credibility. Blame could easily be assigned to communists or terrorists and to attack them because they threatened the United States was patriotic and clearly supported American idealism. This was significantly easier than trying to blame an American figure in American politics because it promoted an “us vs. them” attitude rather than one of internal conflict.
The American Dream is an ever changing idea that depends on the state of the country, and also the state of the world. There are many ways to define the American Dream, one being that as Americans we must do our best to defend our country's basic principles of democracy and individual freedom and spread these ideas across the globe. This wasn't always the case, such as in pre-WWII America. Before the forties Americans practiced isolationism and focused on the protection of our own rights as Americans. After the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December seventh, 1941 and the initial involvement of America in the global conflict, the importance of spreading democracy and stopping fascism became the goal of the government, the military, and therefore the country as a whole. The protection of our democracy and freedom had always been of great importance to Americans but until the Pearl Harbor attack in forty-one, protecting others was not part of the American Dream. But, as the American Dream is constantly changing, events such as the Vietnam War caused Americans to once again shy away from foreign involvement due to severe American casualties in these wars. In fact, many foreign policy experts such as in the Nixon administration felt that we as Americans should learn to live with communist nations as our neighbors. Page 237 of American Dreams describes "the conservative realism of Nixon and Kissinger, which had given rise to detente's live-and-let-live attitude toward the communists" that conservatives then disliked profoundly. While debates over America's foreign involvement went on before the turn of the century, the real turning point in which Americans once again took the offensive was after the 9/11 Islamic extremist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This event reminded Americans how important it is to defend our country's principles and serve as democratic missionaries in spreading it worldwide. In response to the attack, Bush launched the war on terror in the Middle East in order to end the totalitarian regimes which held power and in turn implement a democratic government in their place. Bush justified the declaration of war as a response to the attack, saying we are now in "a world where freedom itself is under attack." (p.353) Bush also stated that we must fight because the terrorist regime Al Qaeda "is remaking the world and imposing its radical beliefs on people everywhere." (p.353) These statements reaffirm the new American Dream in which America is once again a prominent power in the world and would work to protect other countries from oppressive authoritarian governments.
Since World War Two, there have been many events that have caused Americans to rethink their idea of the American Dream. One of these events was the failure and embarrassment of the Vietnam War. The war was an attempt to enforce the policy of containment by putting down a communist insurgency that was attempting to overthrow the Vietnamese government. As the U.S. military had recently played a major part in defeating the most powerful military in the world during World War Two, the Vietnam War was expected to be fast, easy, and light in casualties. Instead, the U.S. was involved in the war for almost twenty years, suffered over 350,000 casualties, and the communist insurgency succeeded in overthrowing the Vietnamese government. By the end of the war, almost all Americans strongly disapproved and all presidents that served during the war were forced to deal with it rather than perusing other, less futile, endeavors. The Vietnam War caused Americans to realize that their country was not an invincible superpower that could easily regulate world politics. This humbled the American Dream of the U.S. being a “world police” that could enforce capitalism and contain communism throughout the world. The Watergate scandal was another major event that forced Americans to reconsider the American Dream. During his presidency, Richard Nixon was involved in illegal activities such as bugging the offices of political opponents and harassing leader of activist groups. While he could have recovered from this if he had come forward and apologized, he withheld the recordings of meetings in his office that he kept which became crucial evidence in the investigation of the scandal. As the investigation revealed more information incriminating Nixon, he continued to lie and withhold evidence in a desperate attempt to save himself. After he was eventually forced to give up the tapes containing the recordings including the “smoking gun” tape that unequivocally proved his involvement in the illegal activities and the cover-up, he was impeached. Like the failure of the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal forced Americans to reconsider the American Dream. They had been shown that although the U.S. was trying to spread its system of government around the world, its own government was not free from major problems.
As major events like Watergate, 9/11, and Vietnam occurred, American’s perception of the “American Dream” was impacted immensely. For example, the war on Vietnam changed American’s perception of how realistic the “American Dream” really was. Having the heavy burden of government expenses due to the war was causing Americans to doubt if they really had permanently left the depression, or if they were plunging back into excess debt and that was just false hope. The president had made the assumption that this would be an easy war and thought it was worth it to keep American’s confidence of this great society high. But, clearly his conception of this war was incorrect. He underestimated the North Vietnamese because of the reassurance he had before the war as America being the number one military power in the world. Although there is debate on who won the war, because North Vietnam achieved all they had wanted, this changed American’s perspective on how unrealistic the “American Dream” could be at times. Americans started to turn against the war and distrust the government’s actions. But this government they suddenly had second thoughts about was supposed to be the frame of this great society they created. Americans also understandably questioned the government’s confidence in this “great” United States when they withdrew from Vietnam. What message would that send to people at home if the U.S. withdrew from what was supposed to be an easy win and a confidence booster? On September eleventh of 2001, American’s were greatly financially and emotionally impacted, as thousands passed away from this terrorist attack on the United States. This similarly affected their perception of the “American Dream”. For example, for all Americans knew, this was just the start of these terrorist attacks, and full safety from these would never again be a comfort they could rely on. How would the part of the “American Dream” pertaining to full freedom be realistic if paranoia of a possible terrorist attack was there? Safety to American’s would never again be guaranteed and would not be a privilege they possessed. This also led to the disastrous invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Another impact this had on the “American Dream” was the struggle between security and freedom. The aftermath of this event leads many to jump to the conclusion to increase security, but what about the goal of ultimate freedom? Now that was tarnished and would never again be a possibility.
Americans “...dream of liberty, equality, and happiness” (1). Every individual American has their own aspirations to prosper and succeed, so they can purchase whatever expensive goods they desire and ascend the social class ladder. The environment required to cultivate the opportunities needed to achieve the American Dream is a matter that is often overlooked. Thoughts concerning the strength of the U.S. military, or national security hardly ever crossed an American’s mind until the war in Vietnam, and certainly 9/11. Prior to Vietnam, it’s almost a fact to say that every citizen of the U.S. believed that the military was fairly invincible to any other military force. However, it came as a shock to the people and the government when Vietnam proved to be a “...sinkhole” (157). The U.S. was never matched with equal strength, so it was an even bigger surprise when Clifford said, “I see more and more fighting with more and more casualties on the U.S. side, and no end in sight” (158). For the first time in many years Americans were forced to come to the realization that their dreams were in jeopardy whenever the nation was as well. Citizens must take some effort to support the nation as a whole before diving head first into their own ambitions.
The notion that American Dreams relied on the well-being of the nation, was hit home in the 9/11 attacks. “The shock of ‘9/11’ -- the shorthand soon applied to the events of September 11, 2001--was unlike anything in American history” (350). The suddenness and overall success of the attack was frightening for everyone in the country, including the government. It caused an immediate shift in the mindset of Americans and their goals. Americans were forced to put their individual tasks on hold while the well-being of the nation took priority. Citizens came to the understanding that once again like during the years of the world wars, they must adjust their immediate plans to not just aid themselves but the entire country. A new threat loomed over America and the citizens were summoned to take their own responsibility. As with Vietnam, the perception of the American dream was altered as citizens came to the harsh realization that their own dreams were only as successful as the country they supported.
Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, African Americans had few rights in public society. The race dreamed of freedom to go as they pleased, and although the Civil Rights Act only outlawed discrimination in theory, it was a step in the right direction. Martin Luther King Jr. personified this dream perfectly when he said, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” When he gave this speech, civil rights was just a dream, but after the Civil Rights Act, there was a reality that African Americans could accomplish. Their dreams changed from something that seemed unimaginable to something that was achievable, if improbable. For so long, the American Dream was perceived as a white man’s reality. With the Civil Rights Act, the American Dream could be anyone’s reality.
In 1969, the space shuttle Apollo 11 landed on the moon. This marked the first time a manned spacecraft set down on the moon. As a part of the Space Race between the Soviets and the United States, Americans were watching every moment of the shuttle’s journey. For so long, putting a man on the moon was in many Americans’ thoughts and hopes. It represented their fight with the Soviet Union, and the possibility of one-up-ing them. With the landing of Apollo 11, the tone of the American Dream changed. Before it was hopeful, but after it was triumphant and a little bit pompous. Americans dreamed of their “America the Great” conquering the world. If they could put a man on the moon, what couldn’t they do? It brought the American Dream to a new level; one of freedom, opportunity, and glory.
Two events that strongly had an impact on Americans and their perception of the American dream were September 11th and the Watergate incident. “At six o’clock on the morning of September 11, 2001, Mohamed Atta and Abdul Aziz al Omari boarded a plane in Portland, Maine, for the short flight to Boston.” (pg. 346) Nineteen Arab men were all “traveling to California on the same morning at the same time.” (pg. 346) These men all had a plan, to destroy the Twin Towers located in New York. After all of the destruction and loss, it put Americans in a state of feeling weak and afraid of what else could happen to their country. The main American dream at this point was to help those going through grief and start to work on the areas of New York now destroyed from the terrorist attack. People after the attack “couldn’t laugh… the pain was too great.” (pg. 351) After the attack, Americans started to rally around their local elected officials hoping to rebuild and become strong once more as a nation. One man thats popularity heightened after September 11th was George W. Bush. An American dream was now formed to get George W. Bush to help defend their country and get America to become stronger than ever before.
Another incident that impacted the perception of the American dream was the incident at Watergate. In 1972 President Nixon was caught in an attempt of bugging the offices of the Democratic National Committee. The plan to stop publication about Nixon’s involvement in the incident, in the Pentagon Papers failed. Having their own President commit such an act gave Americans]a reason to not trust their own government and leader. This changed the perception of the American dream because it changed how safe they would feel in their own country. Finding out that their own leader had committed such a terrible act, causes doubt of President Nixon’s intentions in leading America. Especially along the lines of if he was using his position to his advantage to get useful information for the future. “Nixon conducted a fighting retreat, surrendering transcripts while holding on to the remaining tapes more stubbornly than ever.” (pg 184) Having to deal with the new found information of what their President had done, Americans had now lost him as their leader as he was inevitably forced to quit. “To leave my office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body.. some of my judgments were wrong.. were made in what I believed at the time to be the best interest of the nation.” (pg. 185)
After World War II, Americans’ found themselves as the undisputed leader in world affairs. Both World Wars essentially ended because our country’s involvement. We crushed fascism and blunted communism, and we brought freedom and liberation where we fought. Americans, “...dreamed we would save our souls and save the world” (1). We were living and exporting the principles of the American dream -- equality, freedom and justice. However, those principles were blurred on June 18th, 1972 when, “five men… were arrested at 2:30am… in what authorities described as an elaborate plot to bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee” (180). Richard Nixon was the president at the time, and the face that not only represented our country, but the attainment of our dream: fairness, democracy, and justice. When it became clear, “...forthrightness wasn’t in Nixon’s nature, and rather than revealing information, he did his best to cover it up” (182), people were distraught, surprised, and betrayed. This event shook the core values of the American dream because the most important, high-ranked individual in our country cheated his way to the top. Because of prior involvements in world affairs, American’s assumed our troops were always the good guys, and no matter who we had our guns pointed at, we were right. That idea became less clear during the Vietnam War. When Americans became involved in the war, we fought alongside the South Vietnamese against the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese, the enemies. However, after years of fighting, with little clear progress, America found itself mired in a complex, confusing, and bloody civil war. From the beginning there was skepticism, “we just [did not] belong there” (153), and as the war raged on many Americans posed the question, “what the hell is going on?” (156). America’s General Westmoreland, “...described the situation in Vietnam as ‘very, very encouraging’”, and that, “we [had] our opponent almost on the ropes” (156). However, every night the T.V. news told a different story, as did many returning soldiers who had fought there. Nothing was clear. Who the bad guys were was unclear, who the good guys were was unclear, and if we were making a difference was unclear. In short, it was not clear America was using its armed forces as a tool of liberation.
After WWII, America entered into a race with the Soviet Union to spread each nation’s own superior system of government around the world, called the Cold War. This race singled out underdeveloped nations whose governments proved to be the most easily manipulated, or completely replaced. This led to both the United States and Soviet Union fighting their ways into countries and creating wars such as those in Korea or Vietnam. Vietnam was particularly costly, both in money and lives. Along with the growing uncertainty about why America was involved in the war, “victory in Vietnam slipped from America’s grasp [and] Americans began to withdraw their confidence” (214) in Washington. The war in Vietnam was just one cause of the loss of faith in the federal government. Foreign affairs were not alone in sullying Washington’s reputation in the eye of the public. On more than one occasion, the morality of the President of the United States was called into question. Both presidents faced large amounts of public embarrassment and potential impeachment. Nixon and Watergate is undoubtedly the more famous scandal in the White House. This incident consisted of “five men…arrested at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate in June 1972” (182). These men were “Plumbers”, also known as Nixon’s Special Investigative Unit, and they had been attempting to bug the offices of Nixon’s Democratic political rivals. Impeachment was coming and Nixon had no choice but to resign in August, 1974. Although Clinton’s moral indiscretion did not involve the nation to the extent of Nixon’s, his affair with Monica Lewinsky brought unwanted public attention and embarrassment to the White House. Clinton’s lying about the affair even made it so “there were degrees of perjury” (326) in the case that brought it before the Senate, but the President was cleared. Both of these cases changed the way that Americans saw their government. All three of these events contributed to Americans losing trust in their government when dreaming about the future.
The beginning of the 1960’s marked a new kind of American dream: an expansion on the original blueprints, freedoms that were more inclusive and more radical. The election of John F. Kennedy in 1961 helped usher in this new dream; he was the youngest president ever elected, so not only could student protesters identify with him, he fit the fresh, renovative feeling of the decade. He touched on this in his inaugural address, declaring, “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans.” His election also broadened who could be a part of that new generation, as he was the first Catholic ever elected. So at the time of his death, young people were dreaming of progress, of revolution, and Kennedy represented that opportunity. The inconceivable death of someone so young felt like many steps backward.
Even further damaging to the idealism of this new American dream was the escalation of the Vietnam War immediately following Kennedy’s death. During the World Wars, there was an incredible glorification of soldiers, the images of patriotism and self-sacrifice. This near-worship of the American soldier disappeared during the Vietnam War, and rather than celebrated, veterans were spit on when they returned home. This war was the first to be televised as well, and the bloody and gruesome images displayed on news stations for all of America to see, contributed to the disenchantment. Confronted with these images, Americans were forced to question the moral superiority that they usually marched into battle with. The intentions of the war became muddled, and there was louder and louder opposition to America’s involvement in the war. During this time, “the Cold War dream of global hegemony dissolved in Vietnam,” (384) and many people lost faith in their government.
Americans dream of freedom and peace. Both John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. were making great strides towards these objectives when they were assassinated. Even before his election, Kennedy showed a blatant support for King, leading Kennedy to become “ the political hope of the civil rights activists” (Brands 109). As president, Kennedy inherited the worldwide pressures of dealing with the Cold War. Kennedy cleverly navigated his way out of the Cuban Missile Crisis, returning “from the brink a hero in America for having boldly rebuffed the Soviet threat” (Brands 108). In these two examples John F. Kennedy fought for both the rights and freedom of the American people, and the safety and peace of the world as a whole. Martin Luther King Jr.’s first political stand was during the Montgomery boycott beginning in 1955. The boycott began after the refusal of Rosa Parks to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Richard Nixon backed Parks and needed to find someone to head the boycott, so he called on King to lead the protest. Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled “that the Montgomery ordinance violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, [allowing] King and the boycotters able to declare victory” (Brands 88). Throughout all the chaos of the civil rights movement, King refused to act violently. Even during the extreme violence at Selma on March 7, 1965, the protesters were ordered to “move peacefully, demanding nothing more than what the Constitution...guaranteed” (Brands 126). Through peaceful protests, King attempted to fight for freedom. America went into shock after the assassinations of these two men. Both John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. stood for the ideals of freedom and peace. The American people had been dreaming of achieving these ideals since the end of WWII, but with the death of these two leaders America belief in these ideals was cast into doubt. American freedom became more important than anything, even peace.
On September 11th, 2001 an Islamic terrorist group, known as al-Qaeda, hijacked four commercial Us airplanes. Two of them intentionally crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, one crashed into the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the last one crashed landed into a field in Pennsylvania, the location of where the plane was headed is still not quite certain. Overall, the four crashes killed over three thousand people, devastating loved ones all over the world. 9/11 showed that even the United States can be subjected to terrible things such as 9/11 and people started to question if we were safe. The same day as the attacks, President Bush addressed the nation and stated that his new mission was to end international terrorism and called it the "war on terror." Previous to 9/11, the United States was focused on relationships with Europe, but after they shifted to the Middle East, launching wars on Afghanistan and Iraq to try and end terrorism. Although both wars were not totally successful, they proved the point that the United states comes back even stronger after horrible things such as 9/11 and fighting the idea of terrorism became integrated into the American Dream.
On June 17, 1972, intruders were arrested for sneaking into the watergate complex, headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. This was such a big deal because the intruders were people sent by President Nixon to bug his political opponents to spy on them. The Nixon administration denied everything having to do with the scandal, but soon after he resigned from presidency. The scandal tested the American Dream of having the best government for the country. People started questioning the government's authority and if it was trustworthy. Even though Watergate shined light upon the flaws in US government, all governments are flawed in some way, and the United States to this day has proven to have the best government, even though some Americans thought otherwise.
On September 11th, 2001 an Islamic terrorist group, known as al-Qaeda, hijacked four commercial Us airplanes. Two of them intentionally crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, one crashed into the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the last one crashed landed into a field in Pennsylvania, the location of where the plane was headed is still not quite certain. Overall, the four crashes killed over three thousand people, devastating loved ones all over the world. 9/11 showed that even the United States can be subjected to terrible things such as 9/11 and people started to question if we were safe. The same day as the attacks, President Bush addressed the nation and stated that his new mission was to end international terrorism and called it the "war on terror." Previous to 9/11, the United States was focused on relationships with Europe, but after they shifted to the Middle East, launching wars on Afghanistan and Iraq to try and end terrorism. Although both wars were not totally successful, they proved the point that the United states comes back even stronger after horrible things such as 9/11 and fighting the idea of terrorism became integrated into the American Dream.
On June 17, 1972, intruders were arrested for sneaking into the watergate complex, headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. This was such a big deal because the intruders were people sent by President Nixon to bug his political opponents to spy on them. The Nixon administration denied everything having to do with the scandal, but soon after he resigned from presidency. The scandal tested the American Dream of having the best government for the country. People started questioning the government's authority and if it was trustworthy. Even though Watergate shined light upon the flaws in US government, all governments are flawed in some way, and the United States to this day has proven to have the best government, even though some Americans thought otherwise.
In modern American history there have been a few events that have altered the views and mindsets of Americans dramatically. One of the most significant among these was the culmination of the Manhattan Project when the world’s first nuclear weapon was detonated at Alamogordo, New Mexico. The initial response was joy, “but as the mushroom cloud ascended into the sky above the Jornada del Muerto, growing taller and taller and showing no sign of dissipating the way every other explosion any of the observers had ever witnessed had dissipated, the elation and relief gave way to other emotions, ‘There was a chill, which was not the morning cold,’ a physicist explained. ‘It was the chill that came to one when one thought, as for instance when I thought of my wooden home in Cambridge, and my laboratory in New York, and of the millions of people living around there, and this power of nature which we had first understood it to be—well, there it was’” (6). For the first time in human history, humans possessed a power which could conceivably exterminate our own race. Clearly the impact of this on Americans’ psyche was enormous. For most, if not all, it was a great confidence booster and a reminder of American power but for some of the more foresighted it was a preview to something like the Cuban Missile Crisis and what that could entail if it went the wrong way. Another event of an equal magnitude of importance was when OPEC put an oil embargo on America for providing aid to Israel after a war with Egypt. Because of Egypt’s relations with much of OPEC, they came to the aid of their beleaguered ally as best they could, by stopping all oil shipments to America. This was something that America had not seen coming as they thought the higher prices of war would be enough to keep their sellers content. When it happened though, Al Haig said from the White House, “all hell has broken loose” (195). The impact was felt immediately, first on Wall Street when buyers scrambled to get faster shipment just to get as much oil as they could before the prices ascended more. This translated to the general public as, “motorists watched as prices rose before their eyes—literally. Long lines developed at gas stations, where drivers sat for hours; station owners received regular updates from their suppliers on wholesale price increases, and upon putting down their phones marched out to change the prices on their signs and pumps” (196). Stations would run out of gas due to high demand and limited supply, speed limits were lowered to better highway mileage, and Americans began to realize a sobering fact. The age of American economic supremacy was over as other nations grew and America became more interdependent with the world and many had cause to reevaluate the direction they were headed in, turning, in most cases, to a less exorbitant life style.
American perception of the “American Dream” is constantly evolving and depends on several factors, including the leader at the time, and the state of domestic and foreign affairs. Watergate was a hugely influential event in regards to the “American Dream,” because for many Americans, the paragon of the American Dream is the president. A United States president supposedly stands for everything the people do at the time. In 1972, Richard Nixon’s political party betrayed American values of honesty and fairness by conducting a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters with the goal of sabotaging the election by “seeking information not about security leaks but about Democratic strategy” (182). President Nixon’s lack of forthrightness on his (party’s) misdemeanor led to a dramatic scandal revolving around the issue, and, eventually, his resignation on impending impeachment. This epic wrongdoing by the leader of a self proclaimed righteous nation had a finite impact on the American people. “If Americans grew cynical regarding their leaders - and regarding their entire political enterprise - they did so with reason” (192). With this, the American Dream of a perfect, free democracy was sent to trial and convicted of all wrongdoings, changing how citizens perceived it.
The September 11th attacks continue to affect Americans even now, fourteen years later. The plane hijacking and death of thousands of innocent people brought into question the true state of our nations security. President Bush asserted in the aftermath of the destruction that “‘Our very freedom came under attack…” (352). Freedom has always been a major vein in the American Dream. The immediate response by President Bush to unite the American people in mourning and in the war on terror skyrocketed American morale and the perception of the American dream once again became positive and reassured. The war on terror soon became misguided and led to the fear and hatred of Muslim culture, but for the brief period following 9/11 that the country was more broken than not, the assertion of togetherness led to an inspiring revival of the “American Dream.”
As mentioned by many of my classmates the “American dream” changes by way of how the state of society changes. Events in history are the most powerful things that change the perception of the “American dream” for people. On September 11th, 2001 the image of the “American dream” changed drastically. On September 11th, 2001 with Osama bin Laden at the helm, an Islamic terrorist group known as al-Qaeda hijacked four U.S. planes and bombed three places. The event of 9/11 left americans shocked and terrified. As citizens watched, from their televisions, two planes crash into the twin towers in New York City their jaws dropped. The world went silent, its almost as if many people watch their “American dream” die right there. A “war on terror” was initiated that day in response to the attacks. U.S. citizens were shocked that something like this could ever happen in America. These terrorists attacks initially left Americans terrified and with the feeling that nothing ever good was going to happen. But, that all changed when the fuel burned under all citizens to defend their country. Americans banded together to work against the terrorists and in turn came back stronger. These devastating attacks sparked a strong feeling of nationalism among all Americans. So, 9/11 did initially ruin the dreams of Americans but in the end, it left Americans dreaming more than ever for a better future for all.
Sixty years earlier another devastating attack changed the meaning of the “American dream”. On December 7th, 1941 the Imperial Japanese launched a surprise attack on an American naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This attack occurred during the beginning of WWII, a war in which Americans did not want to get involved with because of how the country was left after WWI. This attack scared Americans and forced them to enter the war. Eventually America defeated the Japanese and came out as the most powerful nation from WWII. Like after 9/11, Americans rallied in support of the nation to defeat any other nation that threatened the power of America. Both Pearl Harbor and 9/11 sparked an immense sense of nationalism among Americans. In both circumstances the “American dream” was crushed and immediately Americans assumed the worse. In both 1941 and 2001, as the strong country we are, Americans used their will-power and rallied their support for the country and maintained the true meaning of the quintessential “American dream”.
Multiple devastating events affected the Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” after WWII. The Americans had just won a Second World War and almost immediately they were plunged into another power struggle with the Soviet Union known as the Cold War. When Kennedy became president he was placed into office with the possibility of nuclear war. Kennedy’s approach to the United States crisis with nuclear weapons in Cuba was to talk directly and abruptly about the consequences if the Soviet Union attacked. He then placed an embargo on all items sent to Cuba until all nuclear weapons could be removed. The Soviet Union knew they did not want a nuclear war and eventually accepted Kennedy’s terms and the American people could finally breath believing they were no longer going to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon. Kennedy’s ability to halt the growing of nuclear weapons in Cuba and have them removed gave the American people faith that they could stop the Communist expansion. They also could have a new trust in their nation knowing the government would protect them. Their faith in the government soon ended when Johnson deployed troops to Vietnam in order to inhibit Communist growth in South Vietnam. The American people were very angry about his decision believing it was not their responsibility to fight in Vietnam. They also knew that the French failed to win the war in Vietnam, so the United States would probably fail as well. There were violent protests in the streets and bombings of ROTC buildings exemplifying the Americans unhappiness with the government. The American dream was changing. They no longer felt they could win this war against communism in Vietnam like they did with Kennedy in Cuba. The American’s simply wanted to remove themselves from a hopeless and bloody conflict in another country where US citizens were losing their family and friends to war. The American people continued to feel ashamed of their leaders when Nixon became president filling the government with corruption. Watergate was a scandal where Nixon’s “Plumbers” (181) searched his democratic rival’s building for secrets about their strategy. “The Plumbers” (181) were caught during their search. Nixon and his staff were soon known to be guilty by all of the American people when they refused to give pertinent videos for the investigation to court. Knowing he would eventually be found guilty, Nixon resigned from the presidency. The idea that the leader of America was a deceptive and dishonest man made the people of the United States question their government’s ability to carry out the citizen’s dreams for the future.
From important events in our nation's history, Americans had derived one humbling concept: that the American Dream was not immune to threats from the outside world. Following World War II, the citizens of America were under the impression that their country "could accomplish almost anything it set its mind to"(22). This surge of confidence and patriotism had yet to be undermined by any foreign force, making the nation, as well as its right to dream, seem impenetrable. An event that impacted America's perception of the American Dream was the Soviet Union's successful launch of the satellite, Sputnik. This devastated Americans "who had believed that their country led the world in all important aspects of science and technology"(95). In regard to their slipping superiority, Americans discovered that they were not alone as dreamers of the universe; the Soviets had been dreaming , as well. As American dominance seemed to topple from their eyes, Americans' perception of the Dream changed; the uniqueness of their dream was eroded by the existence of a Soviet dream.
As the first attack on American soil in 60 years, the events of September 11, 2001 brought a sense of vulnerability to the hearts of American citizens. The notion that America was unsusceptible to foreign aggression was immediately falsified, as was the idea that the American Dream could not be threatened. The dreamers began to perceive the Dream as a coveted asset instead of a guaranteed right, and the world as being a place "where freedom is under attack"(353). At the sight of their own buildings collapsing in futility, Americans were determined to seek justice, and protect a dream that was now at stake. A "war on terror" was commenced, and America had engaged in a battle to defend democracy and its freedom. Henceforth, Americans acquired a new appreciation for their ability to dream, and were more determined than ever to protect the newly vulnerable American Dream.
Two important events that took place in America’s history are the war against Vietnam and the terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001. These events will always be remembered as a part of American history because of the hurt they brought to our beloved country. Although these events were terrible, I believe that America would never be the dominant country we are today without tragic occurrences like 9/11 and Vietnam. September 11th, 2001 is the date of a tragic event that took America by surprise. Four planes were hijacked, two of which crashed into the twin towers and took them down. Al-Qaeda certainly accomplished what they were trying to do, but one thing that they did not do was damage American morale. In fact, the attack of the twin towers influenced a strong outbreak of passion for our country of America. On this day, the “American Dream” was almost impossible to consider because no one knew what was going to happen next. From encouraging and securing speeches from President George W. Bush to acts of sacrifice and bravery by the people of the U.S.A, America was slowly recovering. This recovery leads to new security methods and greater pride for America. Furthermore, the war against Vietnam was equally, if not more devastating than the 9/11 attacks. Vietnam was an underestimated opponent and America lost many more troops than suspected. In terms of military power, many people say that America won, but in other terms like death rate and struggle the war caused on America, many say that we lost. Just like 9/11, American’s perception of the American Dream definitely faded during the Vietnam War. Many lost their loved ones and thought that America might not be as dominant as it used to be, which brought worry to the people. After the war however, the people’s perception of the American Dream started to become real once again. Since the surprise of 9/11 and War against Vietnam, the United States has not let its guard down and the American Dream, in my eyes, seems to becoming reality. Americans came together in these times of need and truly became a strong, powerful, and united land. The name of our country was not just given to us because it sounds good; The United States of America is a name that was earned through the cooperation and hard work of our people.
As many before me have stated, events in history are the main force that changes the meaning of the “American dream”. A date that will forever be remembered in Americans hearts changed the meaning of the American dream significantly. On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 a series of four coordinated attacks took place by the terrorist group al-Qaeda under the command of Osama bin Laden. America was shocked. The once untouchable country had been attacked. People were terrified of the events taking place. They just sat in their homes and watched on TV as their nation was being brutally attacked out of nowhere. Over 3,000 people were killed in the four crashes that took place. This terrible day made Americans question their safety. People never thought something like this was possible in the United States. The president quickly sent out a mission called “the war on terror” to end terrorism in the US. People had a new feeling of nationality and wanted to come out of this attack stronger than before. People were more determined than ever to defend their freedom and ability to dream.
A different incident that impacted the meaning of the American dream was the Watergate scandal. In 1972 Richard Nixon was serving out his presidency when a scandal rose to the surface. Nixon was found to be involved in illegal activities like bugging the offices of political opponents in the Democratic National Committee. Nixon withheld essential evidence from the investigation. President Nixon preceded lying as more evidence was discovered. Eventually the tapes were confiscated and he was impeached from being president. Similar to 9/11, this instance made people question the reality of the “American dream”. People were unsure about their trust for their own leader which is key in the American dream.
The basis of the “American Dream” is the idea that people living in the United States are guaranteed freedom and happiness, through hard work. The horrifying tragedies that took place on September 11, 2001 directly threatened that basis of the “American Dream”, and made people deeply question their freedom and security. The danger felt by the entire country can be summarized in President Bush’s words: “‘Today our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts’” (352). The fact that nineteen terrorists walked freely with bombs and weapons, passing security checkpoints, and hijacked four planes successfully and proceeded to kill thousands of American citizens shocked the country, leaving the United States and its people devastated and defeated. Refusing to let terrorists compromise the integrity of the “American Dream”, the country rallied together under Bush’s “war on terror” campaign: “‘We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest.’” (353).
In the United States, people want to live freely and happily in order to fulfill the “American Dream”... yet how can we do this if we cannot trust our own president? The citizens of the United States found themselves struggling with this issue in June of 1972 when it became public knowledge that President Nixon was involved in a political scandal, referred to today as Watergate. Under Nixon’s command, five men were arrested “‘in what authorities described as an elaborate plot to bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee’” (180). Nixon tried his best to cover up the evidence of his involvement; however, he found himself “cornered” (185). Between impeachment, resignation, and stubbornly resisting to hand over the tapes, everyone began turning on their nation's leader: “A recording from June 23, 1972… caught Nixon ordering the CIA to block the FBI’s investigation of the Watergate affair. Now even Nixon’s supporters realized the game was up” (185). The effects of this national scandal caused the “credibility of our free institutions of government” (186) to be challenged and resented. The “American Dream” began to be questioned as the previously known freedom and happiness turned to betrayal and paranoia.
On September 11, 2001, airplanes hijacked by Islamic terrorists crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The crashes resulted in thousands of deaths including those in the plane, in the buildings, and outside the crash. The sudden and dramatic attacks forced Americans to question the strength of our government and homeland security. Later that night, President Bush spoke to the American people explaining that the terrorists attempted to scare America and its people, but had failed by saying “Our country is strong” (352). Although the crashes destroyed the centers of American capitalism and military power, America was determined to be a stronger nation and to take action against all terrorists. When declaring a “war on terror” Bush explains, “all of this was brought upon us in a single day, and night fell on a different world, a world where freedom itself is under attack” (353). 9/11 made Americans realize their nation is not invincible and we will continually have to fight for our freedom. Terrorist attacks have forced us to strengthen our national security, monitor calls and emails, and declare war on Afghanistan and Iraq, to achieve the American Dream of freedom and peace. On June 17, 1972, burglars were caught attempting to steal information and documents which allowed Nixon to win his reelection and were arrested inside the Watergate building. When his participation soon became known to America, Nixon tried to cover up his involvement by withholding evidence, deleting tapes, and firing staff members unwilling to lie. Nixon was constantly telling America “‘The president has nothing to hide’ after it had become obvious he had a great deal to hide” (185). His refusal to give up the recordings and tell the truth forced Americans to question their government and president. After finally giving up the “smoking gun” tape catching “Nixon forcing the CIA to block the FBI’s investigation of the Watergate affair” (185), he resigned. Without an apology, Nixon left Americans to wonder what else he had been secretly doing. Part of the American Dream has been believing in opportunities in democracy and the positive achievements that can be made; the Watergate scandal forced Americans to question their faith in leaders and realize even their democracy has flaws.
The dream of having an ideal government began with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Men from all over the now, United States signed their names with the pervasive thought of creating a government that would respect and be loyal to the people living under it. In the wake of the Vietnam War and Watergate, this perception of an ideal government for the people was tarnished. “Americans were willing to believe almost anything dastardly about their government” (191) the book states and the reality is true. Beforehand presidents like JFK and Johnson made an effort to make democracy appear to be ideal and the best form of government. After flopping in the Vietnam War people were left to question whether their dream government was what it appeared to be. By making the wrong call to continue fighting and the suffering from 350,000 casualties as a result, the public knew that their government had made a mistake and more could follow. To add to the distrust, the Watergate scandal in the 1970s obliterated the dream of prefect presidents. By breaking the law and eventually being impeached, Nixon tarnished the public’s views of idealism within the Executive Branch. With these two events occurring Americans had good reason to distrust their government and alter their dreams. To them, with a seemingly corrupted government running the country any dream that was held before seemed less of a reality. Dreams of future success and prosperity were broken due to the bleak future that appeared ahead. Trust in the government is the cement holding any dream together in America, and when that trust is broken dreams also begin to seem hopeless.
On the morning of September 11, 2001 our great nation was attacked. Four planes were hijacked by a terrorist organization known as Al-Qaeda; they used the planes to fly into the World Trade center and the Pentagon. These cowardly attacks killed thousands of innocent people. This was the first attack on U.S soil in sixty years, since the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Naturally the country was shocked and in fear. This tested the “American Dream” leaving the citizens of the United States of America feeling vulnerable and helpless just watching the attacks on TV. After these attacks the “American Dream” was left tarnished and ruined in many eyes of the public. However, eventually this attack brought everyone closer together and only strengthened the “American Dream” and this country. These attacks sparked a new war, a war on terror. We went to war in the Middle East for years to come until we finally found the man responsible Osama Bin Laden. This caused a roar in American spirit and morale, causing the rejuvenation of the American Dream. The “American dream” was put in peril again when the stock market collapsed in 2007. Citizens began borrowing money “Many borrowers, discovering that they owed more on their homes than their homes were suddenly worth-- such homes and owners were said to be ‘under water’”(377). Many Americans began to worry about the economy and their money. However, “The growing crisis in real estate soon became a crisis in finance”(377). The banks began to soon run out of money and in a last second fail safe Congress issued a 700 billion dollar rescue package. This proved to do no help in the situation, “But it didn’t stop the bleeding, and the damage began to spread from the financial sector to the broader economy. Stock prices plunged, erasing trillions of dollars in investments and making Americans feel collectively much poorer”(378). This caused American morale to to plummet and the “American Dream” seemed to slowly start to fade again. Americans were taking pay cuts or even worse losing their jobs from this economic collapse. Thought of the word “depression” slowly started to creep into many minds of Americans leaving the “American Dream” harder or near impossible to achieve. However, we got through the economic crisis of 2007 and the “American Dream” began to come back extremely strong with the election of the First African American, President Barack Obama.
Americans had long held the belief of American industrial supremacy. “In 1945 the United States produced substantially more oil than all other countries together” (194), making it highly independent, in terms of energy. Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, consumption began surpassing production. Quickly, many Americans realized their susceptibility to foreign markets. In October 1973, Egypt attacked Israel, causing the United States to send help to Israel. Following this incident, the Arab members of the OPEC “announced an embargo of oil shipments to the United States” (195). The unexpected embargo sent oil prices soaring as “panic hit the market” (196). To compensate for gas limitations, prices quadrupled and the speed limit lowered in an effort to conserve gas. Although the embargo was not long term, lasting only until March, some effects lingered and it changed America's perception on foreign nations. The embargo “epitomized the waning of America’s economic supremacy” (196), confirming a fear of many American citizens and politicians. Americans finally began realizing that their country was no longer the leader in economics and production, and were forced to compensate for oil and gas deficits.
The tragedy occurring on September 11th united Americans as they mourned the terrible losses. “Newspapers and television shows were filled with heart-wrenching tales of loss” (351), as Americans stood together in empathy. “In their pain and disorientation, Americans rallied around their elected officials” (351), as figures of stability. Three days after the attack, President George W. Bush visited the site of the attacks. His arrival provoked cheers and “Bush replied through a bullhorn: “I can hear you. I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon”” (352). This event struck the lives of almost all Americans and they were more than ever determined to fight back against terrorism. It took people away from their individual problems and created unity among all Americans. Americans were brought together, in support of their country, to prove to the world they would persevere.
Events like Watergate, Vietnam, and September 11th heavily influenced the Americans' perception of the "American Dream." On September 11th, 2001, the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon triggered widespread sorrow. The moment the second hijacked plane crashed into the tower, jaws dropped all around the nation, and mixed emotions of shock, uncertainty, hopelessness, anguish, remorse, and fear filled the air. Then, when the third plane crashed into the Pentagon, and the fourth in Pennsylvania, the feelings escalated and America broke into a national sense of panic and fear. The September 11th attacks, which amounted to the deaths of nearly 3,000 innocent civilians, led to the realization that American safety was not perfectly secure. Upon this discovery, the “American Dream” shifted towards the goal of maintaining complete and utter protection of its civilians, which led to the beginning of America’s role as the “policeman of the world.” Furthermore, America’s attention shifted more to the Middle East and less to the Europeans. On the other hand, the Watergate scandal, which took place in June of 1972, also led to an unsettling realization; American government was not perfect and democracy was not perfect. After President Nixon’s secret involvement in the scandal became public, Americans felt betrayed and wanted him out of office as soon as possible. In response, Nixon resigned, and President Ford took office. Ford acknowledged Nixon’s unacceptable mistakes, but that did not solve America’s problems; it was too late. The people had already realized their unfaithful officers had flaws and realized they were unable to fully trust the government. Thus, their dreams of future success were shattered by the reality of an unstable government. The "American Dream" of wealth, success, and an ideal democracy seemed unachievable, and the "American Dream" became merely a goal to fix the corrupted government.
One of the most significant events in post-war American History is the passing of the Truman Doctrine, which has had a significant influence on US foreign policy and the American Dream for the past seventy years. The Doctrine stated that, "It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures" (Brands 34). This doctrine was starkly contrasted by the isolationist policy that the US had more or less followed throughout the entire existence of the country. The passing of the Truman Doctrine changed people's view on the American Dream in that they realized that United States has an obligation to use its extraordinary military might to protect people around the world from oppression. This policy was carried out through events like the Korean and Vietnam Wars, in that the US used its army to try to prevent the spread of communism in third world countries, albeit unsuccessfully.
The Vietnam War was significant in altering the American Dream in that it changed the very fabric of the typical American lifestyle. Hard work and progress had characterized the two decades following World War Two, as the needs of the Baby Boomer generation spurred on a period of huge economic and technical advancements. This culminated in Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society," in which he envisioned a huge overhaul of American Infrastructure tat would improve all aspects of American life. This project was halted in its tracks, however, by the Vietnam War, which was fueled by the invigorated economy and many young lives. The Vietnam war was viewed in a negative light by most Americans because it drafted unwilling young men into the army, and the grotesque reality of war was brought to light through mediums like television. It was viewed especially negatively by the "Hippies," who valued self expression and exploration of one's self over working hard to achieve financial security. This type of thought has had a huge impact on the perception of the American Dream, as the US defeat in the Vietnam War caused people to lose faith in the military and government, and Americans became more focused on their own individuality than ever.
One of the most significant events in post-war American History is the passing of the Truman Doctrine, which has had a significant influence on US foreign policy and the American Dream for the past seventy years. The Doctrine stated that, "It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures" (Brands 34). This doctrine was starkly contrasted by the isolationist policy that the US had more or less followed throughout the entire existence of the country. The passing of the Truman Doctrine changed people's view on the American Dream in that they realized that United States has an obligation to use its extraordinary military might to protect people around the world from oppression. This policy was carried out through events like the Korean and Vietnam Wars, in that the US used its army to try to prevent the spread of communism in third world countries, albeit unsuccessfully.
The Vietnam War was significant in altering the American Dream in that it changed the very fabric of the typical American lifestyle. Hard work and progress had characterized the two decades following World War Two, as the needs of the Baby Boomer generation spurred on a period of huge economic and technical advancements. This culminated in Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society," in which he envisioned a huge overhaul of American Infrastructure tat would improve all aspects of American life. This project was halted in its tracks, however, by the Vietnam War, which was fueled by the invigorated economy and many young lives. The Vietnam war was viewed in a negative light by most Americans because it drafted unwilling young men into the army, and the grotesque reality of war was brought to light through mediums like television. It was viewed especially negatively by the "Hippies," who valued self expression and exploration of one's self over working hard to achieve financial security. This type of thought has had a huge impact on the perception of the American Dream, as the US defeat in the Vietnam War caused people to lose faith in the military and government, and Americans became more focused on their own individuality than ever.
Events like Vietnam and September 11th greatly altered Americans’ perception of the “American Dream.” On September 11, 2001, four airplanes were highjacked by terrorists who were part of an Islamist group known as Al-Qaeda. At 8:46am, the first plane hit North Tower of the World Trade Center. The second plane hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03am. The third crash occurred at the Pentagon, in Washington D.C.. The fourth crash happened in a field in Pennsylvania about an hour after the planes struck the World Trade Centers. Killing thousands, this tragedy left America in a shaky state, leaving citizens questioning their safety and the security of their country. Although, it did not weaken America as a whole. The attacks only made America stronger and united the nation as a whole. To one’s surprise these events did not weaken the perception of what the “American Dream” was suppose to be, but made it stronger. “The terrorists had intended to intimidate America and its people. But they had failed, Bush said. “Our country is strong’” (352).
On June 17, 1972, the public was informed that there had been a group of intruders, sent by President Nixon to “bug the offices” (180) in the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. As soon as the story of this event was released to the public, Nixon resigned, and the evidence of the scandal became very clear. This event drastically changed the way the people saw and put trust in their government and their politicians. People began questioning their “perfect democracy.” The American Dream of a “perfect democracy” became a false statement as the people lost a lot of trust in their government.
Events like Watergate and 9/11 influenced the American dream in drastic ways. Both traumatic events made Americans wake up and smell the roses. They were able to use these events to adjust their American dreams for the better. Watergate tested President Nixon's trust with the public. "The tapes he was required to release made his participation in the cover-up undeniable" (185). When people found out about his tapes of conversations held in the Oval office, they began to question the freedom they had and what was truly going on within the government. Americans began to lose trust in their government, as Gerald Ford said "Our people would again be polarized in their opinions.... The credibility of our free institutions of government would again be challenged at home and abroad" (186). The face of America began to change.
September 11, 2001 is a day everyone will remember. It is the day I believe that changed the American Dream for good. Before 9/11 security was basically non-existent. No one had ever imagined something as horrid as 9/11 ever happening in America, the land of the free. As President Bush said, "Our country is strong." (352), the new outlook on the American Dream was unity. The 9/11 attacks brought everyone together, it didn't weaken us like the terrorists meant to. Americans were determined to rebuild their beloved nation and come out of this "stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, economically stronger" (351). The government steered their attention towards the Middle East instead of Europe. They focused on the different terrorists groups and how to get rid of them. Security at airports and public places increased drastically, overall America became safer. American's dreamed a new dream, a dream of peace, a dream of unity.
The strength of the US and of our democracy are what inspire Americans to dream the American Dream. The events at Watergate “demoralized American democracy” and made “Americans [grow] cynical regarding their leaders.” (191) Initially, Nixon created the Special Investigative Unit in order to protect national security (particularly concerning information leaked to the New York Times). However, when his “Plumbers” were caught trying to bug the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate, it could not be denied that his ambitions had changed. Nixon was using the Plumbers in order to determine the strategy of his Democratic rivals, which was a blatant abuse of power that undermined the core values of democracy. When Nixon resigned in 1974, people felt betrayed by the leader that represented American democracy, as could be seen when the American people had an overwhelmingly negative reaction when President Ford pardoned Nixon. Nixon’s deceit made Americans (and foreign nations) wonder if democracy really was the powerful and moral institution it was said to be, which made the American Dream seem like an idealist fantasy based on an faulty system of government.
In contrast, the events that occurred on September 11th, 2001 caused Americans to more passionately defend the American Dream. In the weeks following the mysterious attack, Americans were collectively hurt, disoriented, and terrified; they did not know who had attacked them, or why. In their common grieving, the American people grew closer to each other, and closer to their leaders as they searched for consolation and an explanation. President Bush put the new “sense of solidarity” amongst Americans to good use - he turned the citizens of his country to his newest battle: the “war on terror.” (353) Bush used 9/11 to rally Americans and convince them that “freedom itself [was] under attack.” (353) This cause - defending freedom - gave every American a specific place to focus their previously undirected emotions. People condensed their fear and sorrow into a passionate resolve to defend their country and their democracy against terrorism. The idea of the American Dream was renewed in the people’s minds, and they were reminded that part of that dream was to defend liberty with an iron fist.
Events like September 11th, Watergate, and Vietnam had a detrimental impact on the “American Dream.” On September 11, 2001 America was attacked, four planes were taken by the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, two of which smashed into the World Trade Center, one the Pentagon, and one crashed landed in Pennsylvania. After these events, the country was shocked. 9/11 tested the “American Dream” leaving the Americans feeling vulnerable and their spirit demoralized. The “American Dream” was left in ruins to many. However, these attacks led to the war on terror. This caused American spirit to soar and helped to re-energize the “American Dream.”
Similar to September 11th, the Watergate scandal also led to a negative impact on the “American Dream.” After President Nixon’s involvement in the scandal, Americans felt betrayed and wanted him removed from office. Due to this, Nixon resigned and President Ford took office. Ford acknowledged Nixon’s mistakes, but it didn’t solve America’s problems. The people realized that their government was no longer able to be fully trusted. This damaged the “American Dream” as people wondered if success was still possible in an untrustworthy government. The "American Dream" of wealth and success became ruined and replaced with a dream to fix their unstable government. September 11th and Watergate damaged the “American Dream.”
In America’s history when we get knocked down, we only get back up stronger. On December 7th, 1941 the Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the US naval base in Pearl Harbor, located in Hawaii. The attack killed 2,403 Americans and wounded another 1,178. The bombings also destroyed 8 US battleships and 188 aircrafts. This attack shocked America and convinced them to enter WWII. Instead of breaking after the attack and only being damaged worse in war, America came back stronger and defeated the Japanese. By the end of the war, the US was stronger than it ever was before. Americans came together with overpowering unity to end the war. Nearly 60 years later, on the morning of September 11th, 2001, nineteen men boarded four planes that would never reach their common destination of California. All four planes were hijacked by these men, two of which were flown into each of the Twin Towers, one flew into the Pentagon, and the final crashed into a field after the passengers stormed the cockpit. All of these events combined killed 2,977 innocent Americans. This attack was later found to be orchestrated by the extremist group al Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden. Like the Pearl Harbor attack, this brought the US into another war, this time against the Taliban. The goal of the terrorist attack was to break America by targeting the symbols for our economy (World Trade Center), military (Pentagon), and attempted to attack the democracy (the White House). Instead of weakening America and our spirit, these attacks strengthened it. Unlike the Pearl Harbor attacks, all of America watched the events of 9/11 unfold on their television and read about it in the newspapers. This helped fuel the skyrocketing nationalism and Americans unified in this widespread sadness. After 9/11, America once again became stronger by improving and increasing security, more closely monitoring foreign extremists, and continuing to be a unified nation. Instead of letting these two tragedies break American spirit, the American Dream of unity only grew stronger.
Vietnam impacted the Americans’ perception of the “American Dream”. The American Dream is built upon hope and trust, whether it be hope and trust in oneself, or in others. In the beginning of the Vietnam War, many believed the American’s had the power to diminish communism in Vietnam. The government fed these beliefs of victory with word of America’s success in Vietnam. General William Westmoreland stated “We have got our opponent almost on the ropes. We are confident that we are winning the war”. While his words were reassuring for some time, people began to reconsider and think they were being “played for suckers”. After weeks of fighting, although the communist’s losses were substantially greater than those of the Americans and South Vietnamese, reconsiderations were made toward the American’s policy toward Vietnam. Vietnam was a “bottomless pit” and would require much more time, energy, and supplies than America was willing to provide. The American government, which had once given words of encouragement about the war, now stated America could “no longer do the job [it] set out to do” (158). America was giving up, and people’s trust in the government was lost during this time. All hope that America could defeat the communists was gone. The hope and trust that builds the foundation of the American Dream was crushed after the Vietnam War.
On the contrary, in July of 1969 America accomplished something that empowered the American Dream: they sent the first man to the moon. The Cold War sparked a competition, or Space Race, between the Soviet Union and America. The Space Race consisted of the Americans and the Soviets trying to oneup each other. After Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin had become the first human to venture into space, Kennedy pushed for an American to be the first man on the moon. The landing of Apollo 11 measured America’s ability to organize its energy and skill, and proved it was capable of achieving anything. The success of the trip reassured Americans of their greatness. “Humans, after hundreds of millennia of gazing up at the moon, had finally reached it”, entirely because of the people who lived with the American Dream.
As fellow classmates have said before me, the “American Dream” constantly changes with time. Events such as Watergate and September 11th have shaken the United States to the core. The American Public was unnerved to find out President Nixon had been involved in a political scandal, which “authorities described as an elaborate plot to bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee” (180). If Americans could not trust the President of the United States how could they trust the “American Dream”? A recording on June 23, 1972 “caught Nixon ordering the CIA to block the FBI’s investigation of the Watergate affair. Now even Nixon’s supporters realized the game was up” (185). After losing trust in Nixon, people of the United States lost trust in their government, making the “American Dream” of a perfect democracy seem unachievable. About thirty years after the Watergate scandal, on September 11, 2001 a terrorist attack by a group of Islamic extremist associated with al-Qaeda, broke the hearts of millions of Americans. Four planes were hijacked by a group of nineteen terrorists, and two of the planes were re-routed to collide with the Twin Towers in the financial district of New York City; not only one of the most populated cities in the U.S., but the heart of American capitalism. One plane was set for the heart of the military, the Pentagon in Washington D.C. The fourth plane went down in a field in Pennsylvania, where everyone onboard was killed. These combined acts of terror killed thousands of civilians. These attacks showed the American people that they were not invincible. As President Bush said, “Our very freedom came under attack…”(352), this spurred the need to fight terrorism, and launched the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. The President’s immediate attempts to unite the American people in mourning boosted morale tremendously, people wanted to live in a world of peace and fight terror globally. After the 9/11 attacks the Nation stood together, which led to an encouraging rejuvenation of the “American Dream”.
September 11, 2001 will be a day that will be remembered by Americans forever. With the exception of Pear Harbor, this was the first time terrorists committed an act of war on American land in well over a century. Since 9/11, the United States focus on the “war on terror” has increased dramatically. Policies such as the Patriot Act have given national security priority over even civil liberties. Within a month following the attacks on the world trade center, the United States invaded Afghanistan in an attempt to rid al-Qaeda and the Taliban government that was protecting the terrorists. Busch exclaimed, “Al Qaeda is to terror what the Mafia is to crime.” As a result, post 9/11 defense budgets escalated to astronomical levels in order to win the “war on terror.” Due to increased safety measures to protect Americans and the rest of the world from these terrorists, millions of U.S soldiers have been deployed, while thousands have been either killed or severely wounded. After 9/11, the American Dream changed our idea about national security and our ability to protect Americans especially from foreign intruders. Americans came together as a country to fight for worldwide-peace, while taking great measures to ensure the safety of this nation. The nation’s focus changed from that of individual success to more of a worldly focus on the “war on terror.” Watergate also had a profound effect on how Americans perceived the American Dream. On June 17, 1972, president Nixon tried to bug an office of his political opponents and then denied any involvement in the process. Nixon soon resigned from his presidency as the whole country was shocked by his unjust actions. After this scandal, many people lost trust in the United States democracy as it was clearly flawed after this incident. The American dream evolved after this to more individual thinking and affluence, rather than listening and obeying whatever the government says.
September 11th was a galvanizing event that brought the country together. I recall my parents going to New York shortly after 9/11 and there recounting about how somber New York was, how it seemed liked an entirely different place as everyone was helpful, mindful and courteous—not what you expect in your typical New York day. My dad’s best friend worked in downtown New York at the time and had to walk to midtown and then get a ferry to New Jersey to get home. As individuals, these catastrophic events shape us and bring us together—it is simply part of the DNA of being an American. We come together when in peril and we collectively work together to overcome adversity. I remember all the American flags that appeared on the road, outside people’s homes, and on all kinds clothing that everyone embraced to demonstrate their pride in being American. From “Freedom fries” to American Cheese, everyone was no longer an individual, but we were again focused as a people to ferret out the “evil doers” and bring them to justice. This wasn’t an individual ambition, or a government or military notion, but a country that was hurting and its people were forced to come together to find solace and resolve to recover.
Tied to September 11th was the renewed patriotism in serving in the military and fighting in the Iraq war to protect and serve our nation against those who would harm us. I have to look no further than our own local congressman Seth Moulton (my brother Cole served as his personal aide), who joined the marines straight out of Harvard to serve his country with four tours in the Iraq War. This is an example of where an individual put their ambitions second to the ambitions of the country to help American again become safe so that future generations could again embrace and achieve the American Dream which seemed impossible immediately following September 11th. The Iraq war while arguably ill-conceived was another galvanizing event that brought Americans together where they prioritized the country’s collective ambitions and goals ahead of their own individual dreams.
Unexpected or disastrous events such as 9/11 and Pearl Harbor have had a profound impact on the contemporary understanding of the American Dream. In both instances, the U.S was attacked unprovoked, followed by mourning and American projection of military force. Interpreted as action against the democracy for which the U.S. stands, both lead to a surge of nationalism and fervor for lashing out at whatever force perpetrated the attack. The impact of these on the American Dream largely consisted of an increased responsibility felt by Americans as to their role in international politics. Despite wanting to stay out of wars, eventual (sometimes projected) impacts on the U.S. economy required intervention. As a superpower, it was not viable to stay out of war for any extended period of time, and these events served to illustrate this. As such, no American dream can exclude “policing” the world. Government scandals have also significantly changed the perception of the American Dream. The fallout from Watergate and the Lewinsky scandal had very similar affects: a loss of faith in the bureaucracy running the American government. This change is less a change then a return to the views held by many Americans before the Great Depression; until the federal government stepped in to ease the depression, many were far too suspicious to allow anything like the New Deal or Johnson’s Great Society to exist. Thus, the scandals shook the faith of the American people in the morality of their leaders, more because of the perjury and obstruction than the scandals themselves. This served to dispel idealistic positions regarding democracy: nothing was infallible.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor during WWII was the first major act of terror upon the United States. The United States and its peoples were fully aware of the ongoing war and being afraid of only further damaging the crippled economy and making the nation suffer more we believed it was in our best interest to isolate ourselves from foreign affairs. On December 7th Japan made the decision to enter the war for us. With the devastation from the bombs killing more than 2,000 Americans and being the first act of violence upon us the government could not allow this to go without a response. Realizing how important our role in the war was the nation did not hold back whether it be from manpower or resources. While being a tragedy and test of the United States integrity the events on December 7th showed our influence as a nation on the rest of the world, and because of that it became an “American Dream” to protect and serve.
Nations need to have a strong leader, and while most of the time they do, events like the Watergate scandal caused people of a nation to question basic rights and principles. When Richard Nixon's illegal activities were released to the public there was a brief moment of shock. Brands states “After Vietnam and Watergate, Americans were willing to believe almost anything dastardly about their government” (191). This quote shows how little experience the American people had with (known) corruption in our government. Watergate was an event that switched our whole nations opinions, if our own democracy at home is not stable enough to provide a solid government to the people then why should we be trying to influence it upon other countries and nations. With Nixon's resignation our nation was left with a feeling of insecurity and that our government might not be working for the interests of the people, but more for the people controlling it. This event shattered the feeling of unity that came with the American dream causing people to reconsider what they wanted from their nation.
March 7, 1965, better known as "Bloody Sunday", was one of the darkest days in American history. Martin Luther King led a civil rights demonstration in Selma, Alabama. King and hundreds of followers marched into Selma in an attempt to give African-Americans the right to vote. King expected a certain degree of violence; in fact he chose to march in Selma because its authorities were known for having a lack of patience. However, the violence displayed by the police force shocked even King. " They attacked the marchers with batons, tear gas, bull whips, and rubber hoses. They didn't distinguish women and elderly from young men; the most appalling news photographs and television footage showed burly, helmeted white troopers bludgeoning black women already on the ground." (128) This event led to action by President Johnson. He gave an emotional speech to Congress, asking them to pass a comprehensive voting rights bill. This bill eventually passed and King achieved what he sought out to do. "Bloody Sunday" changed America's perception of the "American Dream" because it spread the idea of equality for all. President Ronald Reagan told American citizens that his administration would not negotiate with kidnappers. “The United States gives terrorists no rewards. We make no concessions. We make no deals” (248) However, the Reagan administration did make such a deal. They agreed to sell firearms to the Iranians in exchange for the release of American hostages. Reagan used the proceeds from this deal to fund the contras in Nicaragua; this exchange is known as the Iran-contra affair. The American people had no knowledge of this deal at the time and when a Lebanese magazine broke the story in 1986 Reagan denied the claims. If proved true, Reagan would look like a hypocrite to the American people because he state earlier that Americans don’t make deals with terrorists. This scandal shook the nation’s confidence in their government. The “American Dream” can only be achieve with a strong government. Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” changed as they lost faith in government.
The Vietnam War and the tragedy on September 11th forced the adaptation of the American Dream for the citizens of the United States. Many American people believed that the United States was superior to all other nations. Losing the war in Vietnam was inconceivable to Americans; if the communist forces succeeded, the entirety of Southeast Asia would be lost to Communist China. A quick victory was expected from the armed forces of the United States. Following the loss of $360 billion dollars and 60,000 men (174), a cease fire was negotiated in which the U.S. forces withdrew from Vietnam, leading to complete communist victory. Before this military failure, the people of America had a firm belief in American exceptionalism and invincibility. Following the defeat, the citizens of the U.S. were reminded that there are limits to their actions. The Munich syndrome had dictated that, “. . . when in doubt, America must fight” (175). This was now replaced by the Vietnam syndrome, which “. . . asserted that when in doubt, America mustn’t” (175). The American military, whose previous successes had conveyed the feeling of American invincibility, suffered the loss of confidence of the American people. On September 11, 2001, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, and one crashed into the Pentagon. The civilian casualties were numerous. This horrible tragedy further weakened the idea of American invulnerability. However, the American Dream did not shatter, despite these trying circumstances. A new aspect was integrated into the American Dream; retribution. The American people were now determined to make those who would attack their country account for their crimes. The American Dream had changed once more. The nation stood united against a foreign threat that had no respect for civilian lives or the rules of war. Tragedy brought the American people together to make a stand against the forces of terror.
September 11th was a devastating day not only for the citizens of New York, but for every corner of the United States. The horrific terrorist attacks that occurred on this significant day, led by a group known as al Qaeda, shook the nation, and the entire world. Members of this radical gang boarded and hijacked several planes, and performed their premeditated destruction. The confusion and heartbreak that every citizen of the nation felt after these attacks was like none other; “For weeks Americans couldn’t laugh. At first nothing seemed funny; the pain was too great” (351). However, as Becky stated, these deliberate and evil attacks prompted the nation to eventually somewhat recover and emerge even stronger. The historic events prompted President Bush to declare a “war on terror,” which would strive to rid terrorism throughout the world. Heeding in part to the neo-conservative influence in the United States, promoting more aggression and offense, America entered a war against Afghanistan and later Iraq. Although these wars proved to be questionable in their effectiveness, they initially exhibited America’s desire for a bloodless, amiable, and democratic world. For many decades, Americans were adamant on affiliating and connecting with foreign powers in Europe, however, following the attacks on September 11th, they readjusted their attention to the Middle East. The American Dream became altered as the nation no longer predominantly cared about global connections and peace, but rather wanted to control and defend the world from future demolition. Scandalous events in U.S. history, such as Watergate, involving Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton’s public and scandalous affairs, definitely demoralized the nation’s perception of the government. The Watergate crime involved President Nixon and his all-encompassing need to win the upcoming presidential election. Nixon sent five men who were previous employees of the Central Intelligence Agency to break into the Watergate Offices, which serves as the Democratic National Committee’s meeting ground. Their mission was to rob any information that would benefit Nixon and help him win the election. However, the assignment was unsuccessful, causing Nixon to rid all evidence and bribe the robbers with money to keep them silent. Unfortunately, for Nixon, his involvement in the crime was soon discovered and crushed the image of a democratic, “for-the-people” government. The embarrassment to the nation caused Nixon to resign. Many years later, another scandal occurred in the White House, involving Bill Clinton. A woman named Gennifer Flowers admitted, during the 1992 campaign, that while Clinton was governor of Arkansas, she had an inappropriate relationship with the soon-to-be president. Clinton admitted to this slanderous accusation, proving that he was unfaithful to his wife, Hillary. Later, Clinton was accused of sexually harassing another woman named Paula Jones, which Clinton denied. Then again, Clinton was accused of having sexual relations with a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky. Sidney Blumenthal, a Clinton loyalist, stated, “I could not imagine that such careful political men would be reckless lawbreakers. An affair? I had no idea. But obstructing justice? Suborning perjury? This seemed impossible” (320). Clinton admitted to this allegation after many lies and fables, which he could no longer cover up. These events greatly dwindled the citizens of America’s faith and confidence in government. They no longer expected or trusted the honesty and loyalty that their leaders had promised to exhibit. September 11th and President Nixon and Clinton’s disgraces to the country showed that America’s dream of being a democratic and global superpower was considerably far from reach; these incidences showed their once disguised flaws and defects and their need for national stability. The notion of a democratic nation, “for-the-people”, was severely compromised.
Events like the Bay of Pigs invasion and September 11th challenged Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” with discouragement and fear. After just being inaugurated in 1960, President Kennedy was faced with a communist threat in Cuba quickly after, as Fidel Castro overthrew Batista, the nation’s American-backed president. America employed the CIA to a secret mission to destabilize Castro’s regime. However, as Kennedy took the role of President and approved the invasion of Cuba, everything went wrong. When the invaders were captured, the secret American failure was made public. Americans questioned the faith they had recently put into Kennedy as their new president and wondered whether his failure was to be “malign, in having attacked a country with which the United States was not at war, or to be inept, in not succeeding in the attack,” (105) since the U.S. is fifty times stronger than Cuba. Kennedy recognized this failure as a “tremendous setback” (105) and so did most Americans, seeing their country fail an attack when they were not even at war with Cuba. The belief that America can accomplish almost anything it sets its mind to was challenged with the recent humiliating failure in Cuba. Americans’ perception of the "American Dream" was reduced to a more realistic view as they realized they could not even succeed in a secret attack.
On September 11th, 2001 the Islamic terrorist group, al-Qaeda, destroyed the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center and took thousands of innocent Americans’ lives. Tragedy had struck so sudden and so ferociously, the attack drew all citizens speechless. Prior to the attack the “American Dream” of living in the land of the free, where equality overcomes oppression, was nearly reality. A breakthrough era where segregation no longer existed, women won equal rights, and the economy was steady was shattered by a strike of terrorism and fear. At that time, the “American Dream” had developed into more of an expectation; to live a peaceful life where hardworking families acheived financial success under the safety and freedom of America. Concern for the country, and despair for all the innocent lives lost, washed over all America’s people. No longer was the “American Dream” attainable, since grief overcame most Americans who lost loved ones and lost faith in their own country’s security. Questioning the strength of the United States, many Americans lost hope in the “American Dream” in such an unbearable time of nationwide vulnerability.
Many tragic events in history have altered the way society perceives the American Dream. On the morning of September 11th, 2001, the United States was attacked by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington D.C and a field in Pennsylvania. Two of the hijacked airplanes were flown into the twin towers in New York, instantly killing over 3,000 people in the buildings and over 400 police officers and firefighters. This event was eye opening for America as citizens realized that our nation was vulnerable to terrorists. However, America was ultimately united by this common fear which helped bring a sense of nationalism throughout the country. Everyone focused on coming together instead of overcoming the tragedy as individuals. Although the American Dream was tested once again, America’s unity and determination to defend our country proceeding the event, helped to strengthen the ambitions of our nation. Another event that tested the perception of the American Dream was the catastrophe at Watergate. On the morning of June 17th, 1972 five men broke into the headquarters at the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate complex in Washington D.C. Five “Plumbers” went to work against the president’s Democratic rivals, seeking information not about security leaks but about Democratic strategy” (182). When the scandal was investigated, authorities learned that President Richard Nixon had prior knowledge of the crime, and “had taped the conversations of visitors to the Oval Office” (184) to prove it. However, “Nixon clung to the recordings, claiming executive privilege- the right of the executive branch, under America’s system of separated powers, to be free from legislative oversight” (184). Realizing that their own President had committed a crime led America to mistrust the leaders of our nation. This incident altered the ever-changing American Dream as citizens began to question the intentions of the officials running their country.
March 7, 1965, better known as "Bloody Sunday", was one of the darkest days in American history. Martin Luther King led a civil rights demonstration in Selma, Alabama. King and hundreds of followers marched into Selma in an attempt to give African-Americans the right to vote. King expected a certain degree of violence; in fact he chose to march in Selma because its authorities were known for having a lack of patience. However, the violence displayed by the police force shocked even King. " They attacked the marchers with batons, tear gas, bull whips, and rubber hoses. They didn't distinguish women and elderly from young men; the most appalling news photographs and television footage showed burly, helmeted white troopers bludgeoning black women already on the ground." (128) This event led to action by President Johnson. He gave an emotional speech to Congress, asking them to pass a comprehensive voting rights bill. This bill eventually passed and King achieved what he sought out to do. "Bloody Sunday" changed America's perception of the "American Dream" because it spread the idea of equality for all. President Ronald Reagan told American citizens that his administration would not negotiate with kidnappers. “The United States gives terrorists no rewards. We make no concessions. We make no deals” (248) However, the Reagan administration did make such a deal. They agreed to sell firearms to the Iranians in exchange for the release of American hostages. Reagan used the proceeds from this deal to fund the contras in Nicaragua; this exchange is known as the Iran-contra affair. The American people had no knowledge of this deal at the time and when a Lebanese magazine broke the story in 1986 Reagan denied the claims. If proved true, Reagan would look like a hypocrite to the American people because he state earlier that Americans don’t make deals with terrorists. This scandal shook the nation’s confidence in their government. The “American Dream” can only be achieve with a strong government. Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” changed as they lost faith in government.
On December 7th, 1941, the Japanese naval and air forces attacked the U.S. Naval Base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This disaster for the United States killed 2,400 Americans and influenced Americans to dream of a more peaceful world. Pearl Harbor also brought the idea of ending American isolationism. For the Americans, the policy of “isolationism had been respectable until the moment the Japanese bombs and torpedoes struck the American ships at Pearl Harbor” (23). Ending the policy of isolationism also opened the responsibility of maintaining world peace and order. Now caring for others, as well as maintaining peace, had become part of the American Dream. By allying with other countries during times of war, sending relief for natural disasters, and aiding countries during times of hardship and struggle, developing countries looked up to America as a role model. The American Dream was impacted greatly by Pearl Harbor, because it served as a turning point from isolationism to Americans promoting peace and order throughout the globe. On September 11, 2001, terrorists from the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four planes and attempted to destroy critical American control centers. Three of them succeeded with two crashing into the towers of the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon. The fourth plane was redirected from the intended target destination by brave passengers and flight crew who fought against the terrorists. Unfortunately the plane crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. About 3,000 people were killed in this tragic event that sent America into mourning. The new American Dream of national security and terminating terrorist threats and attacks flooded the minds of Americans. Although this event was devastating to Americans, it prompted the need for protection from terrorists and a stronger national security.
On September 11, 2001, two airplanes hijacked by terrorists from the islamic extremist group Al-Queda were crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City. That same day, Al-Queda also arranged for another hijacker to take over and crash a plane into the Pentagon in Washington, DC. These attacks shocked Americans and influenced President Bush to start the "war on terror". This was a war to stop terrorism worldwide. In addition to the war on terror, airport security became much more thorough in order to prevent people from being able to hide weapons and bring them onto airplanes. Because of 9/11, Americans felt more united. They had shared this hardship together, and the phrase "never forget" quickly caught on regarding the event. The "American Dream" was tested, and it became more about being able to defend the right to dream than the dream itself. The "American Dream" also was affected during the Watergate Scandal. An important element that is necessary for a good relationship between a leader and someone who recognizes that individual as their leader is trust. When President Richard Nixon was caught planning a break-in into the Democratic National Committee's headquarters to retrieve information about the Democrats strategies. The American people as a whole were hurt by these findings. They had voted for Nixon and put their trust in him, and he had betrayed them by conducting illegal activities. Nixon soon became the first president to resign, only because he would've been impeached soon after. The "American Dream" hit a rough patch here, and a time of uncertainty began of whether or not the american people could really trust those that were representing their country.
The perception of the American Dream depends on the economic state of America and the cultural standings for every individual. As North Vietnam was controlled and aided by Soviet Union communists, they threatened to expand into South Vietnam. Due to that fact that the US was against communism, they felt obligated to assist South Vietnam and halt the spread of communism. As the war worsened and the experience of the men fighting grew unbearable and unimaginable, at least two-thirds of the American population believed that involvement was a mistake. As Jake mentioned, many of the men being drafted into the war were being forced against their will, which heightens the feeling of spite against the US. After events, such as the war in Vietnam, “Americans were willing to believe almost anything dastardly about their government.” (Brands 191) It brought America to an economical place that was unwanted. In turn this impacted the perception of the American Dream by halting hope that it was possible. As men died overseas and wealth began to seem unattainable, the American leadership finally realized that the Vietnam War was a “bottomless pit” that would only drag the country’s finances and citizens down with it (Brands 158). The American Dream was put on hold the minute that America decided to aid South Vietnam and remained that way until they backed down from the challenge.
The events that happened on September 11th changed America forever and stirred the perception of the American Dream. Anyone with a television was able to watch the terrible events that happened on this not-so-normal day. Planes were hijacked and so were the lives of people in the Pentagon, the Twin Towers, and on the planes, but the victory that the terrorists thought they would receive was easily lost. They may have scared the whole nation and briefly made them feel unsafe, but the leadership and response of the people who witnessed the attack first hand is what saved America. This only made us stronger and more willing to fight for our country. As New York mayor Rudy Giuliani stated: “We’re going to rebuild. We’re going to come out of this stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, economically stronger.” (Brands 351) Everything that he said was true. The events that occurred on September 11th may have brought terrible tragedy and loss, but it is something America will never forget and never stop fighting to find some sort of closure with. The American Dream was strengthened significantly in only one day. The feeling of national responsibility and the want and need for safety and success allowed the perception of the American Dream to become stronger. More people felt obligated to reach the American Dream, it became a country-wide goal that everyone pushed for together.
Events that shake the very foundation of society change the people, and how they view the world. Everyone has dreams that they build based on their life and what they see in the world, when these factors are radically changed or they are exposed to a new idea, those dreams change. September 11th is an example of radical change. In one day many lives were lost and America was exposed to the idea that not everyone liked the American way of life. Airports, travelling, and security changed to fit a dangerous new world, citizens of the US became aware of terrorists and anti-American groups. Radical change in people’s society made them take a closer look at their dreams, and change them to fit their new perspective on life. World War two also brought radical change to America. The US became involved in a war that touched every corner of our world, it was inescapable. Life changed to fit the demands of war, there were shortages of certain products and people fought across the world. An influx of new ideas once again spread through America, the idea that one group of people was superior to another, that the mass genocide of a group of people was for the greater good, or that people actually and truly believed in these ideas. Even once the war was over, the changes did not end. Refugees from across Europe came in droves to the US looking for a new life away from their battle torn homeland. New cultures, people, and religions poured into America, and society adjusted to fit it all. People are resilient when society changes radically, people will create new dreams to cope and find a way to fit ideas into their new perspective on life.
The American Dream will unavoidably change over time to meet the needs of the people who are dreaming as society develops too. However, a major event such as the terrorist attack on September 11th 2001 will immediately change the American Dream. As a society, we had never faced an enemy quite like the terrorists who attacked the twin towers in 2001. Many of the major battles in the past 100 years had been on enemy soil so the American Dream and altered and had less focus of self defense. People generally weren’t worried about being attacked on US soil. When we realized after the 9/11 attacks that we had a new enemy that was willing to go as far as to attack us at home, the American Dream changed and factored in a certain amount of defense and a desire for home to feel safe. Another different event like the Watergate scandal created much different problems for the people, namely because this time the enemy was coming from the inside. This brought a serious case of national insecurity to the US. Most people up until this point had very strong faith in the democracy of the US but this made most people very weary of how honest and by the people our democracy truly was. This change made Americans seriously question how they perceived the democracy we brag about. Both 9/11 and Watergate drastically changed the way people perceived the American Dream because even though they were both just singular events, they contrasted the current view of the American Dream so much that they caused panic and lots of changing opinions.
The American Dream was hugely impacted by the Japanese attack on the naval base Pearl Harbor. It was the first foreign attack on home soil in decades and it sent a shock through the American people. After the attack Americans became extremely upset but that fear soon turned into anger, and Americans dreamed about seeking justice. They wanted to show all the other countries of the world just how powerful they were. Americans wanted to prove that no one could get away with harming the United States without facing brutal consequences. The Vietnam War impacted the American Dream vastly. When America entered this war they viewed themselves as the peacemakers and as the ones who would come in take control and establish a stable capitalist society. However, the war did not go as planed and America ended up pulling out their troops. This action made many Americans question their involvement in the war in the first place, many felt that this was not their conflict and that they had no business intervening in foreign affairs. The American Dream slowly crept back to the idea of focusing more on America instead of foreign countries.
Throughout Brands’ book, Americans have faced adversity, both on the home front and beyond. Three adverse events in particular caused a significant decline in Americans’ faith in the American Dream, and led people to realize that America’s strength was far from a permanent fixture in the world. In 1957, the Soviets successfully launched Sputnik I, the first artificial Earth satellite. America’s failure to beat the Soviets in this critical aspect of the Cold War proved that America was not invincible. It also served as an alarming wake up call to the public that the Soviets were far from technologically inferior to the United States, and in the aftermath of the Soviets’ space success, Americans watched the United States’ Vanguard rocket fail to achieve the same result. Almost two decades later, news of Nixon’s Watergate scandal reached the public. Americans learned that Nixon had created the group involved with the break-in at the Democratic National Committee, and that organizations like the CIA and FBI had been conducting investigations on members of the American public. This resulted in a decline in public morale, and additionally a loss of trust towards American leaders, and consequently, democracy. Finally, on September 11, 2001, airplanes hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists struck the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C., killing almost three thousand Americans and destroying symbols of American capitalism and military power, respectively. Again, this resulted in a severe decline in public morale. Additionally, September 11 was another reminder of America’s vulnerability; despite being a megalithic world power, it was still susceptible to the powers of evil, which had manifested themselves yet again in the form of terrorism.
On September 11, 2001, the American dream was changed forever. Leading up to the tragic event, there was a tangible sense of progress in the U.S.. It seemed as if all of the dreaming of generations passed was finally about to become a reality. This is exactly why the blow hit so hard; at this point in U.S. history, a successful attack on American soil was nearly inconceivable. These terrorist attacks shocked the Nation to its core, but as expected the American dream adapted yet again. It had become apparent that the economic, political and social success of America was not reflected in the state of the world; this was, and is true to the extent that anti-American organizations such as Al-Quaeda, and now ISIS, arose. The American dream now not only incorporated citizens of the United States, but citizens of the world as a whole. An additional, but much less recent attack on U.S. soil was the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor during WWII. America had been practicing isolationism prior to this point, but with the war being made personal, it was now apparent to all citizens that The Axis Powers were a world-wide threat. As a nation of great scale and ability, entering the war reflected The U.S.'s new-found place as a world power, and hence our nation wide sense of responsibility.
The American Dream, in itself is constantly changing. In my opinion, the "dream" is different for everybody. The stereotypical version of the dream, in my view is working your way up to the top, the top being some sort of level of extreme material wealth. But as social and economic climates change, the American dream in itself is changing. My "dream" is to go to college. For someone else their "dream" may not be pursuing education, it may be to begin working after high school. Some peoples "dreams" may be to make enough money to feed their children; another's "dream" could be to buy a new car. Someone's American "dream" could be to save enough money to go on vacation; another's could be to become an American citizen. All in all, hope is cemented into the American Dream. Whatever the "dream" is, everybody's dream is affected by major historical events, including 9/11 and Watergate. The events that occurred on September 11th directly affected thousands of families, but it truly did directly affect the nation. The ramifications of the terrorist attacks are seen in the nation's social/political climate today. The way that it affected the 'American Dream' is that it really did instill fear in millions, and made safety the nations top priority. I'm not trying to come off as naive but since the attacks terrorists have been able to unite the country on one front; and that front is fear. The uniting factor is not just fear, but a sort of mindset that shows no mercy for terrorists in any way. The media is constantly reporting on terrorists and new statistics about terror (helping out with the fairly new fear factor in America.) Watergate also changed the way Americans viewed politics, more specifically politicians. The distrust people felt after their President had committed illegal acts forced people to question their faith in their government that was supposed to be "for the people."
The Montgomery Boycott and the Civil Rights Movement brought a community together to fight for their rights and freedoms. Martin Luther King Jr. lead this boycott against unjust racial transit laws in Montgomery, Alabama. This boycott, which started with Rosa Parks refusing to sit in the back of the bus, made Americans aware of inequitable and discriminatory laws whether or not they fought for justice. Freedom has always been part of the American Dream and the people who participated in the Civil Rights Movement had a goal to achieve their freedoms. At the time of the boycott in 1955-1956, the Jim Crow laws and segregation were almost not to be questioned. A person’s life could be in danger if they disobeyed them. Violent outbreaks occurred and people were killed for fighting for what they believed in. However, those who knew their freedoms fought the laws in protests like the Montgomery Boycott. Man on the Moon was a legendary moment in the history of the United States. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot where no man had before, astonishing the world and revolutionizing the American Dream. When Neil Armstrong first set foot on the dusty, rocky, surface of the moon he stated, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” By walking on the moon, Aldrin and Armstrong made America think anything was possible and the American Dream was achievable. With putting a man on the moon, Aldrin and Armstrong fulfilled President Kennedy’s goal to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade, which shows that Americans can accomplish anything they set out to do; a key component of the American Dream. Aldrin and Armstrong took a call from Richard Nixon while they were on the moon. The president declared, “Because of what you have done, the heavens have become a part of man's world.”
Watergate had a major impact on the American Dream. The American dream had always been based on freedom without corruption. This scandal caused true damage to the image of the Dream. Elections are supposed to be decided by the people and the people only. The Watergate Scandal opened curtains of doubt in society whether or not this country is a true democracy with free and honest elections. The idea had been anyone achieve all that is possible and they are free to pursue it. Watergate showed the potential for corruption and Nixon was caught red handed cheating. It showed the public that everything isn't as pure as you think it is. There is a gray area that contains corruption, cheating, and lying.
Vietnam also had an impact on the American Dream. Americans believed that they were a dominant world power and could convert countries going through civil war into democracies. In Vietnam the US put a great amount of money and effort into the war. They were trying to take a stand against the other side who were in support of communism. They could not liberate Vietnam and left the country split. When the U.S. left it was taken over by the communist side. It showed America doesn't always succeed and get what it wants. The Dream can fail. It showed people that even if the United States of America puts the lives of troops along with money towards a cause, it doesn't always turn out the way the dream was conceived.
Personally I believe that everyone has their own unique interpretation of the American Dream. This "Dream" can be changed in an instant due to a traumatic event. Such an event was the deliberate terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Four planes were hijacked hoping to hit America at its economical, military, and political core. The two most devastating attacks were those of the twin towers in the heart of the United State's financial district. Two planes slammed into the towers causing the towers to collapse killing thousands and injuring more. While the towers were under attack another plane slammed into the Pentagon in Washington DC, the heart of the US military. The final plane was on route to crash into the White House the centerpiece of the US government and democracy. Thankfully brave citizens manage to take back control of the plane in crash it into a field. The attacks shocked the American people and struck fear into their hearts. It was a wake up call that the US could be attacked on its home soil which citizens believed to be impossible. The American Dream suddenly change to survival and defense of our country.
Similar to the 9/11 attacks but taking place during the second world war was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. At that point during the war Americans were focused on isolating themselves and fixing national issues. This sudden and deliberate attack "A day which will live in infamy" (FDR) was a wake up call to the American people. It became evident that the axis powers were an immediate threat to American safety. The United States switched its focus overseas and entered the war. The bombing of Pearl Harbor rallied the American people and "awoken a sleeping giant" The American Dream was now about survival and wining the war to bring back peace. America proved its power by winning the war and came out a global powerhouse. Such events struck deep inside the American people and showed how the American Dream can change in the blink of an eye.
Every American has their own story of their experience regarding the terror from September 11th. The novel American Dreams, by H.W. Brands reminded me of my own family’s experience. The day that the two planes crashed into the World Trades Center was the day my father boarded a morning flight from Boston to New York. The rest of my family was unable to reach him, and for that day we hoped and prayed that my father was not among the terror. My family gathered in front of the television and watched the news in horror, as so many others did that day. The live news was horrifying, but probably not as scarring as it was for our family friends in New York who witnessed the events happen right before their eyes. At the end of the long day we cried in relief that my father’s plane had never taken off, but were soon devastated to learn that a family friend died in the plane crash into the Tower. This emotional day scarred my family, as it did so many others, but at the same time, the events made us stronger. We came out more prepared for consequences of inevitable future conflicts involving either personal family matters or world events. New York mayor Rudy Guiliani helped make Americans across the nation aware of this positive spin on such a tragic event. He promised that Americans would “’come out of this stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, and economically stronger.’” (351). President Bush then united the people of America by announcing the “war on terror.” Its proceedings may not have all been successful, but this effort did help Americans’ feel like we were moving forward and getting stronger. The events from September 11th changed the American dream as people felt the need to unite with the common goal to become stronger from the devastation.
Earlier in history, Americans were united during the moving speech made by Martin Luther King Junior that helped end segregation in America. In contrast to the terror from September 11th, Americans united in the 1960’s during King’s peaceful message that promoted equality. His speech stated that he dreamed of an “oasis of freedom and justice” and for the day “when all God’s children...will be able to join hands and sing...’Free at last!’” These strong words gave Americans the opportunity to stop and think about how intensely racism and segregation had been hurting the world and the people inside it. King’s call for freedom left a lasting impression on Americans that resonated similarly to the messages from the September 11th crisis: Americans have the capability to unite, whether through peace or through terror, to become a better, stronger nation.
Every American has their own story of their experience regarding the terror from September 11th. The novel American Dreams, by H.W. Brands reminded me of my own family’s experience. The day that the two planes crashed into the World Trades Center was the day my father boarded a morning flight from Boston to New York. The rest of my family was unable to reach him, and for that day we hoped and prayed that my father was not among the terror. My family gathered in front of the television and watched the news in horror, as so many others did that day. The live news was horrifying, but probably not as scarring as it was for our family friends in New York who witnessed the events happen right before their eyes. At the end of the long day we cried in relief that my father’s plane had never taken off, but were soon devastated to learn that a family friend died in the plane crash into the Tower. This emotional day scarred my family, as it did so many others, but at the same time, the events made us stronger. We came out more prepared for consequences of inevitable future conflicts involving either personal family matters or world events. New York mayor Rudy Guiliani helped make Americans across the nation aware of this positive spin on such a tragic event. He promised that Americans would “’come out of this stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, and economically stronger.’” (351). President Bush then united the people of America by announcing the “war on terror.” Its proceedings may not have all been successful, but this effort did help Americans’ feel like we were moving forward and getting stronger. The events from September 11th changed the American dream as people felt the need to unite with the common goal to become stronger from the devastation.
Earlier in history, Americans were united during the moving speech made by Martin Luther King Junior that helped end segregation in America. In contrast to the terror from September 11th, Americans united in the 1960’s during King’s peaceful message that promoted equality. His speech stated that he dreamed of an “oasis of freedom and justice” and for the day “when all God’s children...will be able to join hands and sing...’Free at last!’” These strong words gave Americans the opportunity to stop and think about how intensely racism and segregation had been hurting the world and the people inside it. King’s call for freedom left a lasting impression on Americans that resonated similarly to the messages from the September 11th crisis: Americans have the capability to unite, whether through peace or through terror, to become a better, stronger nation.
Large events in American history have greatly shifted the public perception of the American dream. The 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is one of many events that had changed America’s goals. 2,400 Americans were killed by Japanese bombs and torpedoes. The result was the end to American isolationism. The fatal losses of WWI as well as the Great Depression of the 1930s moved America toward isolationism. But, the outbreak of WWII and the attack on “Pearl Harbor finished off American Isolationism, convincing Americans almost to a man and woman that the country could never again turn its back on the world” (18). Because America stands as the symbol of freedom and democracy the large size of the assault increased nationalistic feelings among Americans. A new dream had formed, citizens felt the need to defend their political system. Soon the governments goal was to spread democracy and to stop the rise of communist powers. America’s foreign policy changed along with the dream, it was now one that included the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. This tragic event impacted people all over America and caused a change in citizens’ perception of the American dream.
As the streets of New York City plumed with smoke on September 11, 2001 Americans across the nation were horrified by the visons on their TVs. Two hijacked planes had slammed into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center. Soon after, a third plane would hit the Pentagon and a half an hour later a fourth hijacked plane would crash in Pennsylvania. A blanket of fear and sorrow fell over the nation as “The shock of the day evolved into mourning for the thousands killed in the attacks” (351). At a time of chaos and confusion the American people came together and looked to their leaders with numerous questions. President Bush soon made it clear that America’s “freedom [had come] under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly acts of terror” (352). Americans may have been frightened by this event but they also felt a sense of patriotism much like they did after the defeat of Pearl Harbor. From the outside America may have appeared to be paralyzed and defeated. But, the Americans hadn’t lost hope and thus at a time when the U.S. looked depleted the American dream morphed into a goal to rebuild and grow stronger as a country even when clouded with fear. When President Bush visited the the rubble where the twin towers had stood he was greeted with a crowd of rescue workers chanting “U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” (352). He replied “I can hear you. I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon” (352). In the one statement President Bush shed light on the impact of this horrifying event by implying that as a nation we won’t go down without a fight.
America has always been a major force and political power across the globe for military reasons as well as being a protector of democracy, so to speak. However, for a period of time during and briefly after WWII, America decided to take a different approach towards the rest of the world, adopting the state of isolationism. However, this stopped when America came to the conclusion that their way of life is the only way and therefore all other countries should follow suit. The Vietnam War was more or less a war with this kind of approach. Being the keepers of democracy also means the chief preventers of communism. Basically, America attempted to prevent the challenging spread of communism in Vietnam, however results were ineffective. Instead, all the U.S. got out of the war was an immense loss of lives, and communism staying anyways despite their efforts. “The problem was that staying the course wouldn’t keep the communists from winning.” (138) While “the communists retained no territory, and their losses were substantially greater than those of the Americans and South Vietnamese….The operation proved a moral and psychological triumph.” (156) In the end, Americans viewed themselves and the Johnson administration differently by this defeat. The population “began to think they had been played for suckers” (156) as they has presumably thought that they were winning the war, not suffering huge losses while making little to no gains in North Vietnam. The perception of the American Dream dramatically changed after the defeat of the Vietnam War, making countless U.S. citizens wonder if they have a right to impose their will in other countries. In addition, as my fellow classmates have noticed, the tragic event of September 11th in 2001 forever changed the American Dream and reinforced widespread nationalism. The successful attacks on the World Trade Center administered by Osama bin Laden, resulted in the loss of thousands of American lives. New York mayor Rudy Giuliani even stated to the rest of the country, “we’re going to come out of this stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, economically stronger.” (351) People of America rallied and looked to their political leaders during this time of fear and uncertainty. George Bush was one of them who emerged to inspire the American people by stating, “the course of this conflict is not yet known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them.” (354) The attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon launched widespread nationalism throughout the country and caused America to increase and strengthen their military power for the years to follow.
On September 11th, 2001 Al Queda left a wound in every American heart. Members from the terrorist organization hijacked airplanes and crashed them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. 2,752 people were killed. Aside from the grievances of what happened that day, the "American Dream" was altered. Since the end of WWII, the mindset of the American mindset was that America was untouchable to attack. America had the atomic bomb, and the military strength, and since troops were sent abroad to help others instead of defend America, the nation seemed untouchable. September 11th changed that. It showed that the American dream had gotten too full of itself. This reality check was what America needed to stay on its toes. As the mayor of New York Rudy Guiliani stated to America, "we're going to come out of this stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, economically stronger."(351) In the years after 9/11, that's what the country has done. Events such as Pearl Harbor and 9/11 are full of grief, but they are important to the American dream as reality checks that allow the country to bounce back and become better than before.
The Watergate scandal of 1972 put another damper on the "American Dream" As the bulguraries worked their way back to President Nixon, with Nixon's refusal and resignation, many American's lost trust in the government that had always been the "shining light" of America. In the eyes of Americans, the American government was the pure government that was free of corruption and ill-intent. The American people get their say, not the executives in charge of the process. The Watergate scandal made many Americans question the sanctity of their government, and whether the federal system was working.
“After Vietnam and Watergate, Americans were willing to believe almost anything dastardly about their government.” (191) Going into the Vietnam War, Americans were confident in the fact that they could easily defeat the Northern Vietnamese Communists. They felt stronger than the Soviet Union and knew that their military was one of, if not the strongest in the world. However, after months of fighting, even though the United States and the South had more victories, the communists were not giving in. The war turned into a battle of which side would fight for their cause the longest, and many Americans felt they had already been there for too long. “The American people had run out of patience,” (158) and were ready to pull out of the war feeling defeated. The government started a process know as “Vietnamization” to slowly reduce the amount of soldiers stationed in Vietnam. Soldiers viewed “Vietnamization as a phased abandonment of the American mission in Vietnam, and few wanted to die for a cause Washington apparently considered lost.” (170) The morale of the soldiers plunged, and many turned to heroin and other drugs to entertain themselves in Vietnam. Many Americans wanted to avoid future wars because of their uncertainty in the successes they had left.
Richard Nixon committed the scandal known as Watergate in order to gain a leg up in the presidential elections. Americans soon became aware of his selfish act and demanded the tapes of the conversation with Nixon and the other members of the crime. Nixon refused to hand in the tapes to the authorities and also attempted to get rid of any evidence of the crime. Eventually Nixon was corned and resigned. Although America could have quickly recovered and continued on the path they were going, Americans began to question democracy as their form of government. They realized how corrupt their government was, and began to lose faith in their own country. Prior to this event, Americans saw the American Dream as limitless and with hope, however, after Watergate their hopes diminished to the feeling that their previous thoughts had been naïve. Both the Vietnam War and Watergate proved to many Americans “how demoralized American democracy had become.” (191)
The inauguration of John F. Kennedy and the beginning of suburbs based on “Levittown” were two events that had dramatic impact of the perception of the “American Dream”. When JFK came into the spotlight as a presidential candidate he was seen as “tanned, fit, and rested, while Nixon looked harried and worn”(103). Reiterated in JFK’s inaugural address was the idea that America was no longer the same, “the torch had been passed to a new generation of Americans.”(103) Kennedy embodied the “American Dream”, he was young, smart, attractive and believed that America could be great. He challenged America and the rest of the world, stating “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. Ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man” (103). The “American Dream” meant that all people could dream for a better world; Kennedy’s charisma and charm that was ushered into office after his inauguration made people believe that they could achieve these goals. Meanwhile, Levittown was also making the “American Dream” a reality. William Levitt brought the assembly line to home making. As inexpensive and quickly made neighborhoods began springing up, people were able to move to the suburbs and accomplish the idea of the “perfect family”. Construction such as Levittown and its successors made the middle class possible. As the gap between the rich and poor became less, the image of equality became real, “Americans thought they were equal because they were equal” (80). The social etiquette of life became a normalcy despite wealth, “Men tipped their hats to women […] regardless of the disparity in wealth”(80). And even though the rich drove Cadillacs “rather than Chevrolets, […] the Chevy owners could aspire to move up the ladder” (80). The belief that the American Dream was a reality and if not a very plausible goal, was a new concept brought forth by people such as JFK and creations such as Levittown.
The "American Dream" had been longed for by people believing in a long and fulfilled life- the events that took place on September 11, 2001 changed that. The reality that people could so easily lose their lives began to afflict the dream, as the United States could be vulnerable to other powers such as terrorist groups. The focus of the "American Dream" shifted from success and freedom to security and power. The United States favored the policy of isolationism, "the belief that a country should not be involved with other countries" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary), in regard to World War II for many reasons after the damaging World War I. This policy stayed in place until the bombings at Pearl Harbor. Not only was the event a wake-up call to the United States that, as a dominant world power, they should have entered the war earlier to try to address the global issue, but showed the government and the people that there was an urging need to spread democracy and put an end to fascism. The termination of isolationism and the involvement in the war altered the "American Dream" by stressing the important of practicing and spreading democracy.
Large events in history have led to the shaping of the American Dream regardless of if they are caused by or happen to America. Vietnam changed the American view of how to use power. By getting trapped into what many thought was a useless fight, people began to shy away from the might is right mentality. This is a large change because it directly conflicts with the mentality that was established after Hitler wasn’t stopped early enough. Vietnam also changed the hopes for the “Great Society” and therefore powerfully altered the domestic situation in the home land. The Vietnam conflict ended up slowing down progressive ideas in the American Dream and altering the ideas of it. A non-violent and non-American caused event was the launching of the first space craft by the USSR. This had the opposite effect on the American Dream as it expanded the hopes of the common people and made them want to assert dominance over their enemy. By being spurred into action, the American public decided it would not be beaten and began to praise those who were scientifically gifted. By changing the culture they sought to beat their age old rivals to the moon, which they did. This event helped to alter the American Dream in a positive way instead of turning the public against the governments actioins. When an event causes the dreams of the American Public to align with the goals of the government, the result is profound on the American Dream.
The events of September 11th had a monumental effect on Americans’ perception of the “American Dream”. It was the second time in American history that there had been a attack on American soil (the first being Pearl Harbor). However this was the first time that there was live footage of the attack. The simultaneous attacks on multiple different high profile targets was a major shock to the American psyche, it showed that America’s most important buildings might be vulnerable to attack. Television stations were airing the live footage as the second plane hit the tower, this forever encapsulated what had happened on that day. Americans feared that this was only a group of Terrorists, people began wondering what a attack from an actual country could do to America. After the tragedy of 9/11 it sparked a the war on terror, which brought the people behind these attacks to justice.
In June 1972 five men were arrested in the Watergate Complex (this was the democratic party headquarters). The men were attempting to wiretap and bug the building so that the republican party could gain insight on the on democratic campaign strategy. The intruders were later found out to be working for Nixon and the republican party, Nixon and others tried to cover up what had occurred. Once it was found out that there was a cover up it blew the republican’s face. Nixon was forced out of office, but later pardoned for his involvement by Gerald Ford. The events of the “Watergate Scandal” proved that the government system in place wasn’t always perfect, it also showed that the leaders of the government weren’t always the most morally sound people. After Watergate people’s perception of the “American Dream” was shown to be as sound, due to the corruption by political officials.
Tragic events such as the Oklahoma City Bombing and September 11 attacks affected the American dream by threatening the American sense of security. The morning of April 19, 1995 the front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building was blown off by a rented Ryder truck filled with five thousand pounds of homemade explosive killing 186 people and injuring 800 including 19 young children in a daycare near by. “ The blast ripped the near wall off the building , besides damaging dozens of other structures in the surrounding blocks. The sound of the blast was heard as far as fifty miles away” (304) . The American people changed from their fear of the Cold War and “nuclear annihilation” to fearing terrorism. If terrorism existed so did the possibility of threat to the nation's security. One of the nation's most devastating days was the day of September 11, 2001. A day where the United States lost 2,996 civilian lives due to a terrorist attack. Fear once again stuck the American people as their freedom and safety felt at risk. President George W Bush said in a speech to congress about his plan of “war on terror”, “ All of this was brought upon us in a single day, and night fell on a different world, a world where freedom itself is under attack” (353).The original American dream was the security of their freedoms and this was under attack. The idea of an “American Dream” was proven to be at all times vulnerable. A terrorist attack could shock the public into the fear of losing American securities such as freedom and safety.
In a similar vein, events such as the Columbine shooting posed another threat to America's safety, therefore affecting the American dream. On April 20th, 1999, two teenagers by the names of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shot students attending their school, Columbine High School. These teens were influenced by the Oklahoma City bombing. After the tragic event, more questions were raised about gun control in America and policies relating to bullying in schools were explored. The event opened the eyes of America to see that even schools are not necessarily safe, and extreme violence can occur in our own backyards. This is not a concept that can coexist within the framework of the suburban, happy-family American dream made popular after the war.
Additionally, September 11th, 2001 is a day that is "unlike anything in American history" (350). As Maddie explained, thousands lost their lives due to terrorist attacks the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This threat on American safety changed the outlooks of many Americans on George W. Bush, whose popularity soared as he vowed to protect the country from the threat of terrorism. People spent more time with family and media moved to more emotional stories surrounded by the event. Currently, many people have been directly affected by the losses of life on that day.
Events like Columbine and 9/11 prove to the American people that terrorism can attack close to home, directly posing a threat to the American dream. "Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war..." (354), and Americans hope for freedom and justice to prevail to preserve their hopes for the American dream.
Pearl Harbor and the events that took place on September 11th affected the American Dream of both times. Americans had adopted a policy of isolationism and wanted to stay neutral during WWII to avoid another bloodbath like that of WWI. Once the Japanese launched the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, hatred towards the Japanese and Japanese-Americans fueled American involvement in WWII. The American Dream was to stay neutral during WWII, but soon transformed into the want to destroy the Japanese Pacific Empire. Prior to September 11, 2001, the U.S. did not have an enemy that rivaled them in war. September 11th showed the U.S. that they were not invincible in terms of war. The terrorists that hijacked the planes involved in the fateful day, gave Americans a reason to improve their national security. Other Americans were furious at Al-Qaeda, the terrorist group that was responsible for hijacking the planes. Many Americans wanted to put a stop to Al-Qaeda, while others wanted to fix the security problems on the Homefront. Both Pearl Harbor and the events that took place on September 11th changed the American Dream towards defeating the enemy, and fixing problems at home.
Certain events in the history of the United States have altered Americans’ perception of the American dream. As I discussed in a previous blog, Vietnam shifted the American dream drastically. Prior to the war, Americans thought of themselves as almost a police to the world. They believed that if a threat broke out somewhere in the world that potentially threatened their own sense of liberty and freedoms, they must act immediately upon it. This was called the Munich syndrome. That is exactly what the United States attempted to do in Vietnam. They realized that communist influence was spreading in the region and that North Vietnam, who was under a communist regime, was attempting to unify all of Vietnam with a communist state. So they stepped in; they put boots on the ground to combat the spread of communism half a world away. Obviously, the rest is history; the United States was not able to overpower the North Vietnamese forces as they thought they could, which led to a humiliating and unproductive withdrawal from the country after many American lives had been lost in vain. After the war, Americans were far less hesitant to jump into other international affairs, “[Vietnam] seared itself on the American mind, replacing the Munich syndrome with a Vietnam syndrome. The former had said that when in doubt, America must fight. The latter asserted that when in doubt, America mustn’t” (175). Americans no longer dreamed of crushing every little issue that could possibly pose a threat, instead they opted to protect themselves immediately first and foremost, a lesson they certainly learned from their days fighting in Vietnam.
The events that took place on September 11, 2001 undoubtedly altered American’s perception on the American dream. On that day, two hijacked airplanes flew into the two World Trade Center buildings in New York City, killing 2,996 Americans. This changed they way that Americans went about their daily lives. They no longer felt untouchable, that no harm could come their way. They lost their complete sense of security. Also, they no longer continued to fear the Cold War and the constant nuclear threat that it posed, rather, they began to fear terrorism. Their dreams shifted from preventing a nuclear disaster to eliminating and preventing future terrorist attacks. 9/11 led to a heightened increase in security on a national level. Ever since that horrifying day, things in this country have not been the same and they never will be.
Events such as September 11th and Pearl Harbor have a large impact on the American dream. On September 11, 2001 terrorists hijacked four planes and used them to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. These attacks took the lives of around 3,000 people and crippled American morale. The American dream came to a standstill as many people morned their fallen loved ones. People began to realize that Americans aren't indestructible and that we have to fight for the relative safety of the U.S. In the months and years following the attack American citizens would rally around each other. As a result the U.S. and the American dream came away stronger than ever. In the early year of WWII the U.S. had a policy of isolationism to avoid war. This would change on December 7, 1941 when Japan launched a preemptive strike on Pearl Harbor. As on September 11th people morned their losses. A combination of Pearl Harbor and the Great Depression had slowed the American dream to a crawl. This would change in the years following Pearl Harbor because America would join WWII on December 8, 1941. Involvement in the war would greatly boost the manufacturing power of the U.S. leading them out of the Depression and making the American Dream possible again. Overall tragic events such as Pearl Harbor and September 11th can be very difficult to deal with, but they make us unite as a country and evidently make us stronger.
After World War II, America stopped dreaming for itself and began dreaming for the world as a whole. Because of its policy of isolationism, and the European policy of appeasement, a preventable war, turned into the bloodiest war in history. This led to America completely rejecting the policies of appeasement and isolationism; Americans realized they needed to pay attention to events outside of its borders, in order to prevent another massive war. This was especially important because the newly developed nuclear weapons posed threats never before seen. It became America’s responsibility to police the world, fight communism, and promote American ideals, such as freedom and democracy. The war in Vietnam changed the American Dream yet again. The American invasion of Vietnam was an effort to uphold the policy of containment and stop the spread of communism. Americans dreamed of a world where everyone had freedom and democracy. However, the war in Vietnam, which was supposed to be quick and easy, turned out to be a long and grueling ordeal. The United States invested more and more American lives, but it did not pay off. As time went on, presidential approval ratings plummeted due to public disapproval of the war. After WWII, as I previously discussed, everyone avoided the policy of appeasement; however, the war in Vietnam made people realize that it was not always worth shedding American blood for another country. As Ball explained, “if we were actively helping a country with a stable, viable government, it would be a vastly different story”(141). The American Dream had to change, because people no longer wanted to see the government risk the lives of soldiers in efforts to help other countries. Appeasement in moderation became a political option after the war in Vietnam, in order to ensure that America would no longer be responsible for policing the world.
Events such as the vitriolic Vietnam War and the 9/11 terrorist attack both played their own crucial roles in reshaping Americans' perception of the "American Dream". The unexpected outcome of the Vietnam War left the country divided in regards to how to move forward after the war. Most Americans strongly disapproved of the war, but the way people treated returning war veterans varied. Many Americans shunned Vietnam War veterans for involving themselves in such a horrific, arguably unnecessary war, while others did their best to assist veterans in returning to their lives prior to the war. Many soldiers returned to their United States as "lost souls", drug addicts and/or alcoholics, and often could not return to their actual homes due to the humiliation they faced from their addictions and their loss of the war. Thus, many of them ended up homeless. Even today, there are countless Vietnam veterans who still have not recovered from the war. America felt the crushing effects of Vietnam, and it was evident that it put a damper on the spirit of many Americans, especially those who were directly involved in the war. It was increasingly difficult for these individuals to get back on the right path, and therefore find a way to achieve their perceptions of the "American Dream". Additionally, because America was unsuccessful in putting an end to the communist revolt, much of the population began to realize that our country was not as invincible as it was once thought to be. The "American Dream" could not always be achieved. The terrorist attacks orchestrated by the terrorist group known as al-Qaeda is a poignant moment in American history. The horrific onslaught halted all efforts the people of America made towards creating their dreams into a reality. Everyone's personal needs were put on hold as the whole country shifted their focus onto the tragedy that had just taken place. Naturally, the grief stricken nation took time to mourn the incredible loss, but we were soon able to convert our sadness and grief into motivation to make our country stronger and safer. After 9/11, people weren't so self involved as they were prior to the attacks. People began to think less about their individual needs, and more about our country's needs. We were forced to band together, putting our differences aside, to unite and come out of this tragic event stronger as a whole. Not only that, but people also banded together and began to accept a lack in personal privacy - something most Americans value - in order to support the common good of making our country safer from terrorist attacks. After 9/11, the American Dream became less of an abstract concept tailored to the needs and desires of each individual, but rather, a more unified concept in which we all worked towards meeting a similar goal, which was essentially to avoid a similar tragedy in the future.
Part of the American dream is the idea that people are free, within legal means, to do as they please. The ideas of democracy back this aspect of the American Dream thus, the two go hand and hand. Therefore when democracy is shaken, so is the American dream. In 1972, five men were arrested because they were part of an “elaborate plot to bug the offices of the Democratic National committee” (180). It was eventually leaked that President Nixon had ordered these men to bug the offices. This news shocked America, how could their own president be a part of such a plan? The Watergate Scandal would not have been such a big deal except for the fact that Nixon was trying to cover all evidence rather than revealing it. One piece of evidence in particular were tape recordings of people who visited the Oval Office. “By early 1974 the battle over Watergate was all about the tapes.” (184). Eventually the tapes were taken and they found the “smoking gun” (185) that proved Nixon’s attempts to cover up evidence and stop investigation by the FBI. The president of the United States is the leading figure of democracy in the whole world. Thus when he was questioned, so was democracy, proving that democracy has flaws. September 11, 2001, a day that will go down in American history in which hijacked planes crashed into both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Fear and sorrow erupted across America. Families of the thousands of victims spent their days mourning the loss of their loved ones and “for weeks Americans couldn’t laugh” (351). America was not invincible and these terrorists proved it. But as proven in 1941 with the attack on Pearl Harbor, Americans are not destroyed so easily. 9/11 brought citizens of America together creating a large sense of nationalism. These terrorists are preventing the people of America from living the American Dream. The terrorists are taking away the people's sense of freedom and safety which are included in the American Dream. Once someone begins to infringe on another person's possibility of living out the American Dream, action needs to be taken. Bush did exactly that by declaring a “war on terror” (353) in hopes to track down the people who did America wrong and prevent them from hurting anyone else in the world. Bush did everything in his power to ensure the safety of the citizens, thus protecting the dreamers. The attack of September 11 brewed nationalistic feelings and made the need to protect America stronger than ever. A safe America is a safe American Dream.
Throughout American history, many events have occurred that have changed Americans’ perception of the “American dream”. The bombing of the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 represents a significant change in the “American dream”. Prior to the Japanese attack, America followed a strict policy of isolationism, and until 1941, American thinking had been primarily “isolationist in its belief that America’s fate depended little on the fate of other countries” (17). As a result of the Japanese act of violence on American soil, the United States became involved in World War II. Following the war, America became much more involved in global affairs, because “Pearl Harbor [had] commenced a revolution in American foreign policy” (45). These changes in foreign policy led to a significant change in many Americans’ perception of the “American dream”. The basic ideals of the “American dream” remained intact; however, it shifted on to a more global scale. America’s involvement in the war displayed American idealism to other countries, and the “American dream” grew to encompass the promotion of peace, order, and democracy not only on a national scale, but a global scale. Additionally, Pearl Harbor led to America’s involvement in World War II, which led to an economic change in America, which in turn led to further changes in Americans’ perception of the “American dream”. As the men who fought in the war returned home, Americans’ desires to own a home, own land, and care for a family became achievable, and the “American dream” grew to emphasize individual prosperity and success. Nearly 60 years later, a second attack was made on American soil. On September 11, 2001, members of terrorist organization al Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes; two of which were flown into the hub of American trade and commerce: the World Trade Center in New York City. In the wake of the attacks, New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani reassured the public by stating that “we’re going to come out of this stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, economically stronger” (351). Giuliani was correct; not only was the country strengthened in terms of nationalistic feelings; the attack had a profound effect on Americans’ perception of the “American dream”. The “American dream” itself was attacked on September 11, 2001; however, it was only made stronger by this act of terror. Americans bonded over the fear and pain they felt that day, and felt that it became their responsibility to defend the “American dream”. The attacks on September 11th prompted President George W. Bush to launch the “war on terror”, a continuous effort to eradicate the world of groups and individuals who threatened the nation’s security, and any threat to what makes America so great: the pursuit of the “American dream”.
One event that changed Americans dreams was September 11th. The terrorist attacks that occurred on this day would bring sorrow and mourning, but would also unite the nation in a way no other event had. At first people were obviously sad and depressed that such an event had occurred on America. So many innocent people lost their lives that for some the pain was just unbearable. It wasn't until President Bush’s announcement, in the rubble of the twin towers with people shouting “USA”, that American views shifted. He exclaimed, “I can hear you. I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon”, (352). Americans dreams were now based off of national safety. Americans were able to give up some of their freedom and privacy to protect the country. For example security screenings grew a lot more effective at the cost of American’s privacy. Americans were more focused on stopping terrorists than their own privacy which was something new to Americans, who before 9/11 might have seen security screening as a hassle or an annoyance.
Another event that changed many American dreams and views was the Watergate scandal. In America the people are able to vote, and decide who they want to be there president. So when the country found out that their president, Richard Nixon, had sent people to spy on the Democratic National Committee taking place at the Watergate hotel in Washington, D.C., they were very disappointed. What made it even worse was the president and his administration's attempt to cover up its involvement. A president is supposed to be honest and trustworthy, but Nixon was not. This changed peoples views not just on Nixon but on the government in general. People were not sure if they could trust a government who is spying on itself. Before this event Americans weren't really thinking about problems within its own government.
The acts of terrorism that took place on September 11th, 2001 should have torn America apart, but, as Jamie said, it united the nation in an unprecedented way. A sense of patriotism emerged when Americans realized that while political views may divide them, national security affects all citizens. 9/11 impacted America's dream for a world without terrorism, and this dream was answered with President Bush's War on Terror. The Watergate Scandal changed American's views on government forever. When the truth of Nixon's actions was finally uncovered, Americans were horrified and realized that all governments, even democratic republics, can harbor corruption. This set the American Dream for a strong, pure government.
On the day of September 11, 2001, the world was changed forever. Early that morning, Arab hijackers who were part of the Islamic terror group al-Qaeda, hijacked four planes. Two of those commercial jets turned towards the Twin Towers, also known as World Trading Centers. This two buildings were a community within itself, always buzzing and full of intelligent, cultured people of the Manhattan and international workforce. But little did America know, that the beginning of New York City’s work day at the Twin Towers was about to end. 18 minutes apart, the planes crashed into each of the towers, killing over 3,000 people and sending America, and the rest of the world, into a state of shock. But as former President George Bush stated, the foundations of those two buildings had given out, but America’s foundation will never be touched. This moment in history is heart-breaking, but it fueled a nationalist movement and American fixed what was broken by the power of their pride for their country.
The last thing the United States wanted to do in 1941 was to get involved in another World War. They felt that they did not want to re experience the complexities and hardships that was brought onto their country after WWI. But Japan had a different plan for America on the morning of December 7, 1941. As bombs and torpedoes struck Pearl Harbor, causing thousands of casualties, pits formed in Americans stomachs; they knew a fight was coming, and their nationalistic passion fueled a desire to throw America into war.
The American Dream is an ever-changing ideal that is shaped by the events surrounding it. One date in particular impacted the American Dream greatly. On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Over 3,000 people were killed during the attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., including more than 400 police officers and firefighters. After World War II the United States believed they were more powerful than everyone else and that nothing bad could happen to them. After September 11, America realized they were not impenetrable. They had lost their sense of safety and security. Fear ran rampant throughout the country. This tragic event brought America back down to earth and forced all of the citizens to unite and encourage each other to build back up America. On the morning of June 17, 1972, several burglars were arrested inside the office of the Democratic National Committee, located in the Watergate building in Washington, D.C. The prowlers were connected to President Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign, and they had been caught while attempting to wiretap phones and steal secret documents. After the five men were caught, Nixon took steps to cover it up afterwards, trying to stop the Federal Bureau of Investigation from investigating the crime and destroying evidence and firing uncooperative staff members. In August 1974, the president resigned. After this scandal, America lost some of its faith in the government and the way it was run. By Nixon working behind America’s back, many were angered and began to realize the government was not running like a democracy should be. The result of the scandal lead many Americans to question their leadership and think more critically about the presidency.
After Reading “American Dreams”, by H. W. Brands, I realized that events such as Vietnam and September 11th had an impact on American’s perception of the “American Dream”. When America invaded Vietnam it was honoring a commitment it had already made, to protect democracy, and follow the policy of containment. The vastly superior United States military should have won the war quickly and decisively; however, we ended up sending more and more troops into the black hole that was Vietnam. Despite a wealth of American support for South Vietnam, the communists still toppled the government and American lives were lost, which led people to not support the war. This led to Americans no longer wanting the responsibility of being the world police, and instituting their democratic ideals. People began to oppose instilling American values all around the world; “if Johnson Americanized the world- which is what the Pentagon plan entailed- he would rue the day” (142). The cost of trying to police the world was not just American lives, but thousands of civilians were killed by American troops as well. This led to Americans realizing that going to war was not always the answer and dreaming of a world where peaceful negotiations were enough. On September 11th 2001, terrorists from a group called Al Qaeda hijacked four planes. Two were used to crash into the twin towers (one in each tower), the American symbol of economic strength, and one crashed into the Pentagon, the American symbol of economic power, and one was heading towards the White House, but was taken down early. This made all Americans feel vulnerable, but they resolved to come out more powerful than ever. Americans began to dream of a society without terrorism, and to try and make this dream a reality Bush made it clear by saying Americans should expect a long campaign with lots of tragedies, and any country that harbors terrorists will be viewed as a hostile regime. America declared war on terror by trying to instill democracy in the world. It declared war on terror by declaring war on Afghanistan, and later Iraq, to trying to put in place an American style government, and American ideals in these countries.
As said before, the American Dream inevitably changes depending on the events that have taken place. September 11th will be a date that will forever live in the heart of the citizens of the U.S. The new focus shifted from freedom, equality, and success, to security. After a terrorist attack on the twin towers as well as the Pentagon, American security boomed. The attack that hit us in our homeland warned many citizens that we were not the “almighty”, untouchables anymore. As isolated as we were, it was still possible for the enemy to get in our territory, and severely damage us. Just like Pearl Harbor, these attacks changed our mindsets. We cannot be proud all the time, and be ignorant enough to think that no one can currently get to us with all this technology available. These events created a feeling of fear, as well as animosity for the attackers. Just as Pearl Harbor was the reason we had entered the war in 1942, 9/11 was a reason that we had entered the war in 2003. Our goal was to spread democracy, as well as protect the Constitution and our homeland after the horrendous terrorist attack.
The September 11th attacks by terrorists prompted American patriotism just as it had during all other times of war. American’s felt very vulnerable after the attacks in 2001, and they were willing to give up some of their freedom, as with the Patriot Act, in order to feel protected from such future attacks. The dream in America changed and the attitude in America changed to one of vulnerability and defense. America's war on terror had changed the dream to become one that eliminates terrorists such as Al-qaeda and more recently Isis and Hamas,
Another place where America's dreams had shifted was during the Cold War, originally people thought that the wartime alliance might last and be good for the world as the two superpowers could have accomplished a lot together. Instead they engaged in a “war” in which they were always racing to have the most and newest weapons and technology. The dream was not to just be the best we can be, but to be better than the communist Soviets. Such an example is with the great Space Race, where the Russians had accomplished a mission into space first,but the Americans were encouraged by this to be first to reach the moon. The cold war prompted Americans to make leaps and bounds of progress in regards to technology to make sure that they conquer and outdo the enemy.
There were several events in American history that crippled the American peoples’ perception of the “American Dream”. A particular event that significantly damaged it was the unexpected failure in Vietnam war. In coming out of WWII, the United States refocused its attention to crushing communist insurgencies around the world. In battling Russia in the Cold War, America’s dislike for communism worsened and fear spread rapidly, and this was exhibited through, for example, the popularity of the politician Joseph McCarthy who had bizarre claims and opinions but successfully “tapped into the anxieties of the American psyche” (53) concerning the threat of communism. As the hostility between the Soviet Union and the United States lasted, it caused wars such as the Korean and the Vietnam war. As the U.S. found success in Korea, it expect to find success in Vietnam as well, but it was sadly mistaken. The failure in crushing communism in Vietnam led to widespread embarrassment in America and a newfound doubting in its strength. Particularly, Americans began to doubt their government’s strength. Americans “decided that the government didn’t know what it was doing in Vietnam… [and] they turned away from government and looked to the private sector once more,” (214-215). The doubt in the American government fractured the “American Dream” as Americans no longer saw their country with the same strength as before and they had lost loyalty to their government. A second example of a major event causing a shift in the “American Dream” was the events that took place on September 11th, 2001. When terrorists bombed the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Americans experienced something they had never before experienced. The only comparable event to the 9/11 attacks in American history were the bombings of Pearl Harbor, but even that attack was preceded by “months of tension and years of war…giving Americans a frame of reference for interpreting the 1941 attack,” (350). Also, modern technology let all of America see the 9/11 attacks with their own eyes, but the events at Pearl Harbor hadn’t been seen by “[anyone] outside Hawaii,” (350). Americans mourned for their loss for months after the attacks; still to this day the shorthand term “9/11” makes a room fall silent. Americans had never experienced the kind of tragedy they did that day in September; people still mourn today and they always will. That kind of grief refocused the “American Dream” once again, but this time to make sure America never suffers like that again. We’ve all waited in hour-long security lines to get on a plane and complained about it as we stood on aching feet with heavy bags on our backs, but that is the latest version of the “American Dream”. The 9/11 attacks refocused our dreams to protecting America like never before, and in their sorrow people “rallied around their elected officials” and “distrust disappeared in the sense of solidarity Americans felt for one another after the attack,” (351). Once again, the “American Dream” evolved, as it had dozens of times in the past century.
On September 11th, 2001, an attack occurred that not only changed the "American Dream," but America as a whole. Four planes hijacked, thousands of innocent dead, missing relatives and injured children…it sounds like a horror movie, but only the raw pain of reality would keep America from laughing for weeks. Although the initial reaction to the terrorist attack was grief, after President Bush rallied the city, the spirits of the population rose with the noise of the chanting. As many classmates have stated, although this tragedy should have ruined the morale and hopes of the Americans, it did the opposite. All of the sadness, disbelief, and anger brought this country’s population the closest it has probably ever been. “Our country is strong” (352). Uniting as a country under such devastating circumstances exhibited the notion that “No one can hurt me without my permission.” As the attitudes of the people of America excelled, as did the perception of the “American Dream.” The “American Dream” is not the same for everyone, but one common prerequisite needed to fulfill one’s goal in a society is a leader, like a peer already mentioned. In the Watergate scandal in 1972, President Richard Nixon was caught attempting to steal confidential files that revealed classified information and wiretap phones. Not only did he continually lie about and deny his part in the scandal, but he also “gave orders to find, at all costs, the sources of the leaks and to plug them” (181). He even led the FBI in search of someone that did not exist. Imagine going to school or practice one day and learning that your principal or coach was invading your personal belongings every time you were at lunch or on the field. Chances are you would feel betrayed and uncomfortable. This is how America felt after learning that their leader had not admitted to his actions until a multitude of evidence was piled against him. Unlike 9/11, the Watergate scandal heavily suppressed the great perception of the “American Dream” due to the deception and uneasiness felt by the country’s population in response to their faulty president.
Over the years, America has faced challenges and tragedies that have shaped the idea of what exactly the “American Dream” is. It is interesting how some of these challenges the United States has endured have affected the American people in totally different ways. One of these challenges was the Vietnam War. After twenty years of war and nearly 60,000 Americans dead, the United States was forced to retreat from Vietnam. Unable to achieve its goal of stopping the spread of communism and with a hurting economy back home, American morale plummeted. American’s began to second guess themselves and their pride in the United States. People began to wonder whether or not the American Dream meant trying to spread democracy by policing other smaller countries. Another tragic and challenging event that has happened to Americans was the terrorist attacks of Al Qaeda on September 11, 2001. Planes crashed into the World Trade Center buildings as well as the Pentagon, a symbol for American military strength. After a day of complete fear, and the unexpected deaths of nearly three thousand innocent people, one may expect the American Dream to have been shattered. However, in a way almost opposite from the Vietnam War, the United States used the attacks to grow stronger. The American people fostered their universal suffering and pain, into increased morale and motivation to prove to terrorists or any other potential threat that the United States is a force to be reckoned with. This reshaped the American Dream yet again, more similarly to what it had been before Vietnam, with the principles that America should go into other countries acting as police and fighting for its own prosperity. It is interesting to see how two events that are both seemingly negative can have such different effects on the same countries and cause Americans to dream of different ideas and goals. It goes to show that the American Dream is alive and ever changing. It shifts as the status of life in the United States does.
Over the years, America has faced challenges and tragedies that have shaped the idea of what exactly the “American Dream” is. It is interesting how some of these challenges the United States has endured have affected the American people in totally different ways. One of these challenges was the Vietnam War. After twenty years of war and nearly 60,000 Americans dead, the United States was forced to retreat from Vietnam. Unable to achieve its goal of stopping the spread of communism and with a hurting economy back home, American morale plummeted. American’s began to second guess themselves and their pride in the United States. People began to wonder whether or not the American Dream meant trying to spread democracy by policing other smaller countries. Another tragic and challenging event that has happened to Americans was the terrorist attacks of Al Qaeda on September 11, 2001. Planes crashed into the World Trade Center buildings as well as the Pentagon, a symbol for American military strength. After a day of complete fear, and the unexpected deaths of nearly three thousand innocent people, one may expect the American Dream to have been shattered. However, in a way almost opposite from the Vietnam War, the United States used the attacks to grow stronger. The American people fostered their universal suffering and pain, into increased morale and motivation to prove to terrorists or any other potential threat that the United States is a force to be reckoned with. This reshaped the American Dream yet again, more similarly to what it had been before Vietnam, with the principles that America should go into other countries acting as police and fighting for its own prosperity. It is interesting to see how two events that are both seemingly negative can have such different effects on the same countries and cause Americans to dream of different ideas and goals. It goes to show that the American Dream is alive and ever changing. It shifts as the status of life in the United States does.
The years following WWII were years filled with American supremacy. America emerged from the war as the strongest country in the world, however that title began to be threatened by the Soviets. Unlike America, the Soviets were communists and were strongly against the idea of democracy, so when they started spreading communism the U.S. felt obligated to step in and make it stop (part of their containment policy). One location in particular caught the attention of the Americans; Vietnam. Communist North Vietnam wanted to take over the American-backed South Vietnam in order to spread their influence. The Americans went into the war ready to quickly settle the matter thinking they could easily stop the advancement of one small nation. The soldiers fighting the war, along with citizens back home had the dream of quickly stopping the communists so that the soldiers could come back home and do it some place else if needed. Unfortunately, the Viet Congo (guerrillas fighting in the south) and the People's Army of Vietnam (North Vietnamese army) made the fight hard to win and the war seemed to stretch far longer than anticipated, killing many more Americans than expected. In the end America failed to stop the Communists and were forced to pull away from Vietnam, which caused a change in the American dream. Americans were no longer as eager to jump into war; “[Vietnam] seared itself on the American mind, replacing the Munich syndrome with a Vietnam syndrome. The former had said that when in doubt, America must fight. The latter asserted that when in doubt, America mustn’t.” (175) Overall, The Vietnam war taught America that jumping into a fight without much thought could have disastrous consequences. On September 11th 2001, America was victim to a series of terrorist attacks that left the world trade center and parts of the pentagon in ruins. Four airplanes were seized by radicals working with Osama Bin Laden to strike fear in the hearts of every living American; and they succeeded. Before the attack, the “War on terror” in the middle east was not widely known to the American people, nor was it a big issue. However, after, the “war on terror” became a personal fight to many Americans, inspiring many of them to join the armed forces to get rid of Bin Laden and all of his accomplices. With this new motivation to end the terrorists came the rise of nationalism; “the course of this conflict is not yet known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them.” (354) The Americans who listened to this speech rallied behind these words and the fight for “freedom” and “peace” became stronger than ever in America. Overall, the attacks that took place on September 11th 2001, initiated the spread of nationalism, as well as sprouting a new dream of the American people; to end the “war on terror.”
The September 11th attacks and Watergate were major events that changed Americans' perception on the American dream. Watergate was a political scandal that came as a result of the June 17, 1972 break in at the DNC headquarters in Washington D.C. Richard Nixon had been trying to steal confidential information from the Democrats that would help him win the election. Nixon tried to cover up his actions, but he was eventually forced to step down as President. Watergate altered many peoples' view on the government. Citizens of the U.S. lost faith in the government and it proved how corrupt the government had become. On September 11th, 2001 19 four airplanes were hijacked and crashed by terrorists. Two planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. One plane crashed into the center of the U.S. military, the Pentagon. One plane was overtaken after the hijacking by heroic passengers who made the plane crash into a field instead of another important building where many more people would have dies. About 3,000 people died in this tragedy as it rocked the entire United States. People mourned for weeks, but then came out as a unified country. Everyone wanted to get back at the terrorists who planned the attack. Many people approved George Bush's "war on terror." Americans began dreaming of establishing peaceful societies around the world. Many citizens turned their focus towards the Middle East.
The Watergate incident with Nixon tested American democracy, and 9/11 was a test of will for America. Betraying one’s own people is a very dishonorable deed, and Nixon’s mistake changed America's perception on its own democracy. The federal government has never not acted in its interest, but to not work in its nation’s interest and instead serve to secure one’s power through shady means, goes against what America stands for. Trust then with the federal government declined because Nixon “treated his political enemies as enemies of the state” (182), which can lead to a totalitarian rule. Democracy is intended to allow many groups of thought therefore representing the interest of its people. Which is what most Americans want, causing the scandal to be revealed. The fall of the Twin Towers shook how Americans saw the world and themselves. The world’s largest military power who had not been attack on its own soil since Pearl Harbor had been outmaneuvered. As a result Americans became more aggressive in their views on foreign affairs: “Bush replied through a bullhorn: ‘I can hear you. I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.’ The applause and chanting grew louder: ‘U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!’” (352). This sense of revenge lead to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. The “American Dream” went to further degrees to protect its democratic society and capitalist system.
On September 11th, 2001, airplanes hijacked by terrorists flew into the Trade Centers in New York City, the center of U.S. capitalism, and the Pentagon in Washington, the symbol of U.S. military power. The attacks prompted national mourning, followed by a determination of the people to come out stronger as a nation. Subsequent to the attacks, President Bush initiated what he called the “war on terror”, a concentrated effort to eliminate terrorism in the world. Meanwhile, a new generation of neoconservatives gained influence, calling for an assertive position for the United States on the global stage and claiming that an offensive would serve the U.S. well. Some even dreamed of a “Pax Americana”, a global system where American values reign supreme, backed by the U.S. military. Although the neoconservatives’ radicalism never fully took hold, they nonetheless convinced the White House to take action against terrorists, especially Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden; subsequently, America attacked Afghanistan and later Iraq. Though neither of these attempts were fully successful, they demonstrated America’s dream of establishing peaceful and ultimately democratic societies across the globe. Prior to the attacks, the American government had focused on unification and interaction with Europe. After 9/11, Americans shifted their focus to the Middle East, and the United States took on the role of “policeman of the world” to realize its dreams.
ReplyDeleteIn June of 1972, a Special Investigative Unit employed by President Nixon was caught trying the bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee to glean information about the part’s strategy. The ensuing scandal, collectively known as Watergate, rocked the White House and led Nixon, whose involvement in the affair was obvious, to resign. Though Nixon’s presidential successor, President Ford, ultimately pardoned Nixon’s mistakes, the damage was done: Americans, having witnessed the failure of the federal government to conduct itself responsibly, became cynical of political leaders and disillusioned with democracy itself. No longer was there an idealist attitude towards the democratic system; Americans realized that just like every other political system, democracy had its failings. This shift away from idealism was evident in the attitude of the Carter administration after Ford, whereby the United States did not try to solve all of the world’s problems, since it could not even solve all of its own. The core of the American Dream had always been a staunch belief in the freedoms and opportunities of democracy, yet the Watergate scandal seemed to confirm the fears of many American dreamers that for all its perks, democracy was not perfect.
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ReplyDeleteThrough the beginning of WWII, the United States followed the policy of isolationism in order to avoid being dragged into another conflict. American citizens were exhausted from the measures taken in WWI and decided it was time to focus on internal issues, rather than those of the nation. However, on December 7th, 1941, their plans changed. The policy of “isolationism had been respectable until the moment the Japanese bombs and torpedoes struck the American ships at Pearl Harbor”(23). A surprise military attack by the imperial Japanese Navy on the United States’ naval base led to the United States’ decision to enter the war. American citizens were in shock after the attack; the incident killed 2,403 and left another 1,178 wounded. President Roosevelt declared December 7th “a date which will live in infamy”. The event triggered a sense of nationalism among the American population, urging their country to enter the war for protection purposes and to eliminate Japan as a threat.
ReplyDelete“At six o’clock on the morning of September 11th, 2001”(346), the course of American history took an unexpected turn. Arab hijackers associated with the Islamist extreme group known as al-Qaeda took control of four planes, redirecting two flights towards the World Trade Center. At 8:46, the first plane “slammed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan at 490 miles per hour”(347). 18 minutes later, the second plane smashed right through the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Just hours after, the third plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane descended straight into a field in Western Pennsylvania. The destruction from these terrorist attacks on 9/11 killed over 3,000 people and broke the hearts of an entire nation. President Bush addressed this event that night, declaring, “terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America”. The terrorists’ attacks only made Americans come back stronger. The events triggered the United States to strengthen our national security and combat terrorism in the future.
As individuals our experiences shape our values, belief systems, and dreams. This can also be said of our identity as a nation. The major events that make up our nations history shape its values and ideals. Therefore major events like Vietnam and 9/11 cannot help but to play a huge role in our perception of the American Dream. In both cases American reality was drastically altered by events which forced America to asses and become aware of its vulnerabilities. During WW2, America was thought to be the keeper of democracy. Our dream was to bring our ideal of peace and posterity for all to the world. We thought we should be our “brother’s keeper” and help everyone to share in our vision. Upon entering the war, Johnson did not think Vietnam would be any match for America, the greatest military power in the world. While Johnson was most concerned with the home front: the war on poverty and inequality, he knew he had to continue the inherited resolve of the prior three presidents to defeat communism. “He thought the war was worth paying the price of keeping the American vision of the great society alive” (138). However, he underestimated his enemy and the toll of American lives that would be paid. The war was extremely unpopular and the sentiment of the country changed towards the war and the government. The unity felt for in the WW2 era gave way to a more self interested society. The American dream at this time seemed to focus on personal freedom and self expression which was evident by the “hippy movement” that spread across the country. President Kennedy spoke to mitigate such behavior with his famous speech “Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country”.
ReplyDeleteYears of national prosperity continued an atmosphere of self indulgence and self interest that prevailed in the years preceding the new millennium. Excesses in wealth was checked with major events like the crash of the stock market in 1987, the recession after the dot com bubble burst and the housing market crash. However nothing made such an impact on our national identity as the attacks of 9/11. For the first time in 60 years there was an attack on U.S. soil. It was traumatic for a country who thought it was impervious. The effect was a profound regrouping behind President Bush. This type of pro America sentiment had not been felt since 1945. Flags were flying again and President Bush’s approval rating was the highest of any president ever behind speeches of retaliation. “‘Today our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack... Our country is strong’” (352). With that event the pendulum swung back to a collective dream much like the pervasive pro USA atmosphere of the WW2 era.
On September 11, 2001, nine terrorists hijacked four planes and used them as guided missiles to attack Americans and disturb their peace at home. One plane slammed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at about five-hundred miles per hour. About twenty minutes later, another plane flew into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. There was reason for those two buildings to be targets for the terrorists. The Twin Towers were located in the lower Manhattan, in the Financial District, which was the heart of American capitalism. The third plane targeted the heart of American military power. Many military officials and personnel were killed as well as civilians on the plane. The fourth plane failed to hit its target and slammed into the ground in Pennsylvania, killing everyone on the plane. All these events contributed to the change of the American Dream. Americans no longer wanted just the individual prosperity, social growth, and success. They wanted to leave in the peaceful world in which their homeland is not endangered by the terrorists around the world. That is why they supported Bush when he wanted to “put boots on the ground” to liquidate Saddam Hussein. They wanted to avenge all those innocent people who died on 9/11. The idea of fighting terrorists outside of the United States to protect Americans at home became the part of the American dream.
ReplyDeleteAfter WWII, two major superpowers, communist Soviet Union and capitalist United States resumed their competition against one another. They competed for the dominance in space, technology, and nuclear arsenal. But they also tried to get as many countries on their side as they can. The USSR had China, North Korea, and most of the countries in Eastern Europe in the camp. The US had Israel, Japan, and the countries of the Western Europe on their side. But since neither side actually fought one another in the battle, it became known as the Cold War. In the 1950, the two started the fight over the influence in Vietnam after the French left it. United States supported the anti-communist government, and the USSR supported the communist government. United States deployed boots on the ground to fight in Vietnam. The Soviet Union didn’t deploy their troops but they had provide communists with weapons, tanks, and other war equipment. As the war went on and the United States faced casualties, Americans were determined to defeat communists. However, the United States had to pullout from the Vietnam but the idea of defeating communism at all costs was integrated into the dreams of everyday Americans since then. Ultimately, the United States did come out on top. It did it not through the means of war. But through the means of Western culture being more appealing to Russians and the people all over Eastern Europe. In retrospect, the Vietnam War added the idea of defeating communism as a part of the American Dream.
September 11th and Watergate are events in America’s history that will never be forgotten. They both left a permanent mark on our nation, and drastically altered Americans’ perception of the “American dream”. On September 11th, 2001 terrorists hijacked numerous airplanes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York City, killing thousands of civilians. This tragedy left Americans in mourning and working together to try and overcome this period of weakness, but also left them questioning the security of their nation. The 9/11 attack proved that America is not invincible. It gave Americans a reason to challenge the effectiveness of their own homeland security. The attack was also the point in which the United States started seriously acting out against terrorist organizations. In the years following 9/11 President Bush declared war on both Afghanistan and Iraq, and took extreme measures against eliminating terrorists such as Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden.
ReplyDeleteOn June 17, 1972, President Nixon’s political party conducted a break-in at the Watergate complex where the Democratic National Committee had its headquarters. Their mission was to break in and steal information that would help Nixon win the election. Nixon attempted to cover up the scandal by destroying evidence and even paying off the burglars, but his involvement in the break in soon became known to all of America. The break-in at Watergate provided Americans with a reason to mistrust their own government; “after Vietnam and Watergate, Americans were willing to believe almost anything dastardly about their government” (191). The events at Watergate weakened many Americans’ faith and trust in the government and proved how corrupt the American democracy had become. It was crystal clear that America needed to sort out its own internal problems before attempting to interfere in those of other nations. In the end, 9/11 and the Watergate scandal challenged America’s dream of becoming a global superpower by exposing both its internal and external weaknesses.
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ReplyDeleteJune 17, 1972, President Nixon broke into the Watergate complex which was the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. Nixon attempted to spy on his political opponents by “bugging” them. Once Nixon was caught in the act, his administration denied any part in the scandal. However, after the U.S. Congress investigated, they found evidence of Nixon abusing his power and this led to having 48 people incarnated. After Watergate was reviled, President Nixon resigned. The Watergate scandal showed American’s the flaws in their democracy. Soon after, citizens began noticing the corruption in their democracy and that followed with mistrust in the American government. The American Dream of living under a “free government” was misleading with notice of flaws within Democracy.
ReplyDeleteTuesday, September 11, 2001, will forever be remembered as the day when four terrorist attacks struck America. An Islamic terrorist group, called al-Qaeda, attacked symbolic U.S. buildings. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center, which was in New York City and was the center of American capitalism. The third plane crashed into the pentagon in Virginia, which is the headquarters of the American military. The last plane was aimed for Washington, D.C., but the passengers courageously tried to stop the hijackers and crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. Overall, 2,996 innocent American citizens were killed in these terrorist attacks. The 9/11 attacks showed American citizens that the United States were not invincible and were able to be attacked. Also, Americans became aware of terrorism and started trying to combat terrorist, such as Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, which later caused for entering a war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The American Dream altered from being about individual prosperity to living in a world of peace, and the only way of achieving peace was to fight those who stand in the way: terrorist.
After WWII, the whole world longed for achieving the American dream. People wanted to live a long successful life. On September 11, 2001, the whole world stopped and everyone’s mentality changed. On this day, two planes attacked the World Trade Center in New York City. One more plane crashed into the Pentagon in Virginia and another aimed for Washington D.C. landed in Pennsylvania. Overall, these attacks took the lives of 2,996 people (History.com). This is just another event in history where people realized that they could lose their lives in a blink of an eye. Also, people recognized that the Middle East saw the U.S. as a target. In response to the attacks, Bush began military attacks in Afghanistan. The U.S. shifted its focus from making relations with Europe to the Middle East where the U.S. felt that it had to defend itself and would not let al-Qaeda go unpunished.
ReplyDeleteThe Watergate scandal of 1972 was a turning point for the view of many Americans. Several burglars were arrested in the early morning of June 17 for being inside the office of the Democratic National Committee. This would not have been such a huge scandal if it had not been traced back to Richard Nixon where he tried to cover everything up and raise hush money to make sure nothing got out. Eventually, the story got out, Nixon resigned, and the public’s reaction was very clear. This scandal made it difficult for American’s to fully trust the government and put their faith in democracy. This made people question what else the government was hiding and how they could trust all politicians. Since people’s view of democracy was in question, this changed their idea of the “American Dream” which people previously associated with a perfect democracy.
During the 1930s, the tragic losses in World War I and the economic problems from the Great Depression caused Americans opinions to favor the policy of isolationism, the idea to stay away from conflict, because they believed remaining away from conflict would prevent wars as terrible as World War I. As a result of the increase of public support, the policy of isolationism was enforced and the United States remained away from conflict before and at the start of World War II, until the bombings at Pearl Harbor. This event was a momentous signal to the United States that the policy of isolationism prevented America from getting involved with a world issue sooner and ending the issue faster.
ReplyDeleteOn September 11th 2001, 19 Islamic extremists from the group al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airlines. Two of the planes flew into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the third hit the Pentagon outside Washington D.C., and the fourth plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. As a result over 3,000 people were killed in the terrorist attacks and President George W. Bush and the public were filled with grief over the lives that were lost that day, and were determined to avenge the death of the thousands that were killed on September 11th. President Bush made it his mission to eliminate terrorism and called it the “war on terror,” and end the reign of extremist leaders such as Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden. The idea to fight terrorists in the world to protect innocent lives became part of the “American Dream.”
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ReplyDeleteAmerica identifies itself by being the home of the free. Where the American dream is more of a "national birthright" (385) than an ambition. A part of this national birthright was the assumption of American safety. People woke up everyday assuming that they would walk out their door without jeopardizing their safety or freedom. This assumption being justified by the fact that no wars had been fought on American soil for the past 136 years, with the exception of pearl harbor. Prior to events like 9/11 people's dreams mainly constricted to choosing one's own career, owning a home and bettering one's self in the social structure. Generally, achieving the American Dream was tantamount to individual success. However, the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, changed the perception of the American Dream. When the planes, hijacked by Al Qaeda radicals, rammed into the buildings of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon it transformed America into a place where "freedom itself [was] under attack." (353) People stopped worrying about bettering their own lives and instead turned toward helping their nation overcome this crisis. Americans pulled together in support for their elected officials, as they usually do in times of crisis. Rudy Giuliani, the New York mayor, becoming and "overnight hero" for his "calm reassurance"(351) during the chaos and George W. Bush's popularity reaching the highest level in history since polling began. Through this hardship America was put to the test and because of the modification of the American Dream was able to rise up to the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThe foundation of the American Dream is hope. It is hope that leads to the perseverance necessary to achieve these dreams. The events in Vietnam threatned this hope, and in doing this threatened America's ability to achieve its dreams. Some Americans had opposed the war in Vietnam from the get go. They questioned if the status of a small, far away country "justified the expenditure of American blood and treasure." (152) This belief was escalated in 1965 when Johnson intensified the war effort resulting in a growth of American casualties. People as high up as senators where preaching that the U.S. didn't belong in Vietnam. Some groups, such as the Weathermen, went as far as advocating violence in American with hopes it would end the violence in Vietnam. Administration officials had been lying to the public about their progress in the war, announcing that they were winning the war and that they had "never been more encouraged" (156) after admitting to each other privately that the it was not going well. However after Walter Cronkite, the news anchor for CBS, revealed macabre scene in Vietnam and the failure of the Tet Offensive to the public the approval for how Johnson was handling the war plummeted from 40% to 26%. The publics, as well as the soldiers morals were decreasing as in their determination the defend the anti communist South Vietnam against the "iron hand" (157) of the communist North Vietnam. The bloodiness of the Vietnam war made "hope almost impossible to maintain" (162) and lead to the demoralization of the Americans dream resulting in the "Vietnam syndrome" which stated that when in doubt America shouldn't fight, contrary to the previous belief that when in doubt it should.
Soon after June 17, 1972, the public learned of a break-in led by President Nixon into the Democratic National Committee in “an elaborate plan to bug the offices” (180). This crime would forever change the sentiment towards the American government. President Nixon attempted to cover up his involvement in the scandal and resigned before he was impeached on August 9, 1974 due to overwhelming evidence. This investigation not only uncovered the Watergate Scandal, but also the fact that these same agencies had been doing undercover work like this for years: “American voters had been engaged in combat operations while American voters were assured they were simply advisers,” “The Tonkin Gulf incident was not what Congress had been told it was” (187). This information devastated the young and old, who felt they could no longer trust their government. Citizens felt cynical of the government, and were suspicious of other undercover work. The scandals “indicated how demoralized American democracy had become” (191). That year, the American Dream changed, regarding citizens being able to trust their own leader. Americans wanted to live happily in their country, and most importantly trust their leader.
ReplyDeleteDecades later, another event took place that shook Americans’ confidence. The September 11th attacks made American citizens feel vulnerable to terrorism and danger. After two planes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, and one in the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Americans stood in disbelief, as they watched the “most powerful country in the world” be consumed in fires, dust, and fear. This event, “unlike anything in American history” (350), changed the way Americans thought of themselves and other countries. That day, the Americans had never felt more protective of their country; the Americans wanted to protect their American dream more than ever, and get revenge on the people who did this. The United States shifted its focus to the Middle East, where they would eventually kill Osama Bin Laden and bring American troops in to ensure stability. The citizens felt united and connected after this event, and would do anything to ensure the most important part the American Dream: to live peacefully in a safe environment.
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ReplyDelete"Americans have been dreaming since our national birth... The dreams weren't always sunny and hopeful, but they drew America constantly forward, enticing us towards a new horizon"(p. x) Americans have been dreaming of prosperity and new future since the day we were born, but as soon as tragedy occurs within us, we tend to take a step backwards. When we see that one of our own, someone who we put our faith into has defied us, we get this extreme feeling of uncertainty. When our leader, our president Richard Nixon went out of his way to abuse his power at the events at watergate, we as america didn't know how to feel. In June of 1972, 5 men were caught trying to steal information from the democratic national committee with large sums of money in their pocket traced back to Nixon's committee of re-election. Not only were these burglars payed off by one of Nixon's committees, but Nixon was also caught tapping all the conversations that go on in the White House. He was forced to give up these tapes and in one of them, Nixon was caught discussing the burglary. Nixon was on the verge of impeachment when he became the first and only president to resign. Nixon went through all of this to win an election only to be forced into resignation. The future of america seemed dim because we were without a trustworthy leader. We felt there was no one to lead us on a path towards the future. The American dream seemed to have vanished altogether
ReplyDeleteOn September 11th, 2001, the american dream took a step back. Al-queda, harbored by the Taliban hijacked 4 passenger airlines leaving from the east coast to California. Two of which were crashed into the north and south towers of the world trade center. One crashed into the pentagon and another crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania after some passengers tried to overcome the hijackers. The first two attacks resulted in the murder of thousands of people, friends and family. The September 11 attacks made the american people feel vulnerable to attacks from terrorists, a problem that hardly crossed anyones mind. Suddenly, the people of america were no longer looking forward at what they could accomplish, they rather looked back at what they should have done differently. 9/11 was one of the most tragic events to rattle this nation in history. This event drove america into the war on Terror which was a giant leap back from the seemingly peaceful world everyone become a custom to. Terrorism is still something that holds the american dream back, all because of the events of 9/11. Because of both the events at Watergate and 9/11, people now dream in fear that something will drag them down.
On September 11th, 2001, two airplanes hijacked by Islamic extremists were crashed into the World Trade Center located in New York City, the center of American capitalism. Another airplane hit the Pentagon in Virginia, the symbol of American military power, and the last one aimed at Washington D.C. crash landed in a field in Pennsylvania. The crashes led to the deaths of 3,000 people, including those within the planes, the buildings, and many innocent civilians located around the destruction. The attack left Americans all over the United States mourning over the events that occurred and struggling to overcome the challenge posed by the first major attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. The “war on terror”, dubbed by President George W. Bush, became a realization of America that the United States was not invincible against unexpected attacks. Amid the chaos of recovery from the events in New York City, New York mayor Rudy Giuliani promised to the American people that they would emerge stronger: “emotionally stronger, politically stronger, economically stronger” (351). These feelings of strength and resilience impacted America as a whole, and although a war started in the wrong country would be the result (showing their uncertainty but determination), Americans realized that the American Dream of safety and security for one’s future ultimately needed to be defended.
ReplyDeleteOn Sunday, March 7, 1965, Martin Luther King and multiple civil rights activists led a peaceful protest on Selma, Alabama in what later became known as “Bloody Sunday” for the violence that followed. Although the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 “which mandated an end to Jim Crow in nearly all areas of public life” (122) and gave African Americans many new opportunities, voting (particularly in the South) was still not one of these. Both the difficulty of registering to vote along with the danger threatened by conservative segregationists prevented polling of African Americans. They came to the realization that if and only if Southern blacks gain the power to vote independently “would they have a chance to defend themselves” (127), thus the march was arranged to be held in Selma because of its being known as unfair and impatient with opposition to the status quo. Although the nonviolent protesters planned to utilize the expected violence against their oppressors to gain public support, what occurred when they reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge “shocked even King” (128). Photographs and video footage recorded large, armored troopers mercilessly attacking the marchers with bludgeons, poisonous gas, whips and rubber hoses, causing seventy marchers to be hospitalized. With the growing popularity this event gained throughout the nation, President Lyndon Johnson became a major advocate for the cause, and was able to convince Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to open the doors to African Americans who had earlier been denied these rights. One aspect of the American Dream is the ability for people to have equal opportunities despite their background. With the bravery shown at “Bloody Sunday”, and the support given by a majority of the nation, a crucial milestone was made to enforce this belief.
The basis of American political system is that the citizens elect their representatives and trust them to fulfill their responsibilities. In the twentieth century, a great part of the American presidents' responsibilities was the protection of democracy in the fight against Communism. "Americans had typically looked first to themselves and their families for support and assistance and only second to government," (Brands, p. 213) but when the national security was the concern of the hour, it was the president who took the situation under control. The president would become the commander-in-chief who was expected to preserve and spread peace so individual Americans could live the American Dream with no fear of losing faith in the system this nation stands for. That is one of the reasons why the election of a worthy president is such an important matter in this country. He is the face who represents the United States and its agenda to the rest of the world, but he is still human. There were a couple of cases when Americans were reminded of that.
ReplyDeleteOne such example would be the Watergate. President Richard Nixon had sent his Special Investigation Unit commonly known as Plumbers to bug the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate hotel to find out the Democratic strategy for the upcoming elections. When the Plumbers were arrested, Nixon denied any relation to the event. Later, he refused to give up the tapes that contained the important data relevant to the case. Once the Supreme Court demanded the tapes and Nixon handed them over, he was forced to resign on the basis of perjury. Nixon was pardoned, surprising many, but others knew that making a big case out of this event would take years, and the government had other things to do. Another president who was charged with perjury was Bill Clinton. The media coverage of the famous people's private lives brought upon the accusation of the president by various women on the topic of harassment and improper sexual relations. As the journalists and official investigators dug deeper, it was getting worse and worse. Clinton stood before the Senate and before the television cameras and used the gaps between the lines and definitions to deny the allegations set against him. He admitted to having had "an inappropriate encounter" (Brands, p. 321) multiple times, and that he was deeply sorry and that he thought of what he's done as disgusting and foolish, but he did not pledge guilty since, by definition, there was no sex. The people who spoke against him stated that it was not about sex, but about "the rule of law" (Brands, p. 325). Many were confused, and some even scared that "if you cannot believe in the President, who can you believe? If you have no one to believe in, then how do you run your life?" Clinton did not resign, though; the scandal brought him popularity, but the next Democratic nominees had to find a way to not be related to what happened. As it was evident, the affairs of the political representatives, whether private or government-related, were of a greater magnitude for the people whom they represented. If people believed the president to be trustworthy, they could continue going on about their lives and dreaming without interference. But from those experiences people knew that electing a president was now not only electing someone who would take control of economical and military spheres of the government; the moral influence was now also a great part of the election process.
One example of an event’s large scale impact on the American Dream is the movement towards racial integration following the infamous Bloody Sunday. During the post-war era, into the 1970s, many movements, protests, and speeches were made in support of racial equality and integration in the United States of America. The iconic leader of this movement, Martin Luther King, organized a number of rallies, including one in the spring of 1965 in Selma, Alabama. However, this march earned the title “Bloody Sunday” due to the heinous violence the white officers of Alabama committed against the black protestors. Since television and radio broadcasters from across the country covered the event, the masses of America who viewed it felt more inclined to address the issue of segregation in areas of the US other than their own state. It was at this point that Johnson began to call out segregationists, such as Alabama governor George Wallace, and proposed a bill to ensure black Americans’ right to vote, which proved to be highly successful. The passing of this bill was monumental, making racial integration a more solidified and sought after piece of the American dream. With Johnson’s bill, black Americans were now ensured the right to follow their own American dreams and the racist southerners no longer had a way to prevent them from doing so. Bloody Sunday was a final step in the civil rights movement that resulted in black Americans’ insurance of their ability to pursue their dreams, and racial integration and equality becoming a more essential piece of the American dream.
ReplyDeleteAnother even that had a large scale impact on the American Dream was the policy of “Vietnamization” carried out by president Nixon during the Vietnam war. The purpose of Vietnamization was to gradually reduce the number of American troops in South Vietnam while simultaneously training and arming the South Vietnamese troops. At the same time, Nixon began a war in Laos and Cambodia, so that other world powers would not assume the U.S. had lost interest in the affairs of Southeast Asia. Nixon’s decisions sparked a wave of antiwar movements in America; the Americans wanted their friends and family overseas to come home and felt that invading Cambodia was a step in the wrong direction. At this point, the American Dream was becoming one of living in a world without war. The policy of Vietnamization was also very demoralizing for the American troops stationed in Southeast Asia. The soldiers no longer valued their own efforts and felt their cause had been abandoned by the government, leading many to turn to addictive drugs such as heroin. Overall, the American citizens’ views of the Vietnam War and Nixon’s Vietnamization showed in their newfound distaste for their government and distrust in democracy. At this point, the Americans had lost the sense of idealism that had prospered during Johnson and Kennedy’s terms and simply hoped for an honest and peaceful leader. Due to Nixon’s Vietnamization, the American Dream became one of living without war and maintaining a functioning and sincere government in the US.
Events like Watergate and Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky wounded presidential credibility because the commanders in chief were largely or entirely responsible for scandals, and showed that they were not putting the best interests of the country first or exhibiting good judgment and morality. Blame was difficult to assign because the leaders in question were United States presidents, and to consider them bad people was to shatter the American Dream that democracy prevails and good wins.
ReplyDeleteOverseas conflicts such as the Korean War and 9/11 were easier to incorporate into the American Dream because there was a clear enemy against which Americans were fighting, rather than an internal problem which undermined American credibility. Blame could easily be assigned to communists or terrorists and to attack them because they threatened the United States was patriotic and clearly supported American idealism. This was significantly easier than trying to blame an American figure in American politics because it promoted an “us vs. them” attitude rather than one of internal conflict.
The American Dream is an ever changing idea that depends on the state of the country, and also the state of the world. There are many ways to define the American Dream, one being that as Americans we must do our best to defend our country's basic principles of democracy and individual freedom and spread these ideas across the globe. This wasn't always the case, such as in pre-WWII America. Before the forties Americans practiced isolationism and focused on the protection of our own rights as Americans. After the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December seventh, 1941 and the initial involvement of America in the global conflict, the importance of spreading democracy and stopping fascism became the goal of the government, the military, and therefore the country as a whole. The protection of our democracy and freedom had always been of great importance to Americans but until the Pearl Harbor attack in forty-one, protecting others was not part of the American Dream. But, as the American Dream is constantly changing, events such as the Vietnam War caused Americans to once again shy away from foreign involvement due to severe American casualties in these wars. In fact, many foreign policy experts such as in the Nixon administration felt that we as Americans should learn to live with communist nations as our neighbors. Page 237 of American Dreams describes "the conservative realism of Nixon and Kissinger, which had given rise to detente's live-and-let-live attitude toward the communists" that conservatives then disliked profoundly. While debates over America's foreign involvement went on before the turn of the century, the real turning point in which Americans once again took the offensive was after the 9/11 Islamic extremist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This event reminded Americans how important it is to defend our country's principles and serve as democratic missionaries in spreading it worldwide. In response to the attack, Bush launched the war on terror in the Middle East in order to end the totalitarian regimes which held power and in turn implement a democratic government in their place. Bush justified the declaration of war as a response to the attack, saying we are now in "a world where freedom itself is under attack." (p.353) Bush also stated that we must fight because the terrorist regime Al Qaeda "is remaking the world and imposing its radical beliefs on people everywhere." (p.353) These statements reaffirm the new American Dream in which America is once again a prominent power in the world and would work to protect other countries from oppressive authoritarian governments.
ReplyDeleteSince World War Two, there have been many events that have caused Americans to rethink their idea of the American Dream. One of these events was the failure and embarrassment of the Vietnam War. The war was an attempt to enforce the policy of containment by putting down a communist insurgency that was attempting to overthrow the Vietnamese government. As the U.S. military had recently played a major part in defeating the most powerful military in the world during World War Two, the Vietnam War was expected to be fast, easy, and light in casualties. Instead, the U.S. was involved in the war for almost twenty years, suffered over 350,000 casualties, and the communist insurgency succeeded in overthrowing the Vietnamese government. By the end of the war, almost all Americans strongly disapproved and all presidents that served during the war were forced to deal with it rather than perusing other, less futile, endeavors. The Vietnam War caused Americans to realize that their country was not an invincible superpower that could easily regulate world politics. This humbled the American Dream of the U.S. being a “world police” that could enforce capitalism and contain communism throughout the world.
ReplyDeleteThe Watergate scandal was another major event that forced Americans to reconsider the American Dream. During his presidency, Richard Nixon was involved in illegal activities such as bugging the offices of political opponents and harassing leader of activist groups. While he could have recovered from this if he had come forward and apologized, he withheld the recordings of meetings in his office that he kept which became crucial evidence in the investigation of the scandal. As the investigation revealed more information incriminating Nixon, he continued to lie and withhold evidence in a desperate attempt to save himself. After he was eventually forced to give up the tapes containing the recordings including the “smoking gun” tape that unequivocally proved his involvement in the illegal activities and the cover-up, he was impeached. Like the failure of the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal forced Americans to reconsider the American Dream. They had been shown that although the U.S. was trying to spread its system of government around the world, its own government was not free from major problems.
As major events like Watergate, 9/11, and Vietnam occurred, American’s perception of the “American Dream” was impacted immensely. For example, the war on Vietnam changed American’s perception of how realistic the “American Dream” really was. Having the heavy burden of government expenses due to the war was causing Americans to doubt if they really had permanently left the depression, or if they were plunging back into excess debt and that was just false hope. The president had made the assumption that this would be an easy war and thought it was worth it to keep American’s confidence of this great society high. But, clearly his conception of this war was incorrect. He underestimated the North Vietnamese because of the reassurance he had before the war as America being the number one military power in the world. Although there is debate on who won the war, because North Vietnam achieved all they had wanted, this changed American’s perspective on how unrealistic the “American Dream” could be at times. Americans started to turn against the war and distrust the government’s actions. But this government they suddenly had second thoughts about was supposed to be the frame of this great society they created. Americans also understandably questioned the government’s confidence in this “great” United States when they withdrew from Vietnam. What message would that send to people at home if the U.S. withdrew from what was supposed to be an easy win and a confidence booster?
ReplyDeleteOn September eleventh of 2001, American’s were greatly financially and emotionally impacted, as thousands passed away from this terrorist attack on the United States. This similarly affected their perception of the “American Dream”. For example, for all Americans knew, this was just the start of these terrorist attacks, and full safety from these would never again be a comfort they could rely on. How would the part of the “American Dream” pertaining to full freedom be realistic if paranoia of a possible terrorist attack was there? Safety to American’s would never again be guaranteed and would not be a privilege they possessed. This also led to the disastrous invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Another impact this had on the “American Dream” was the struggle between security and freedom. The aftermath of this event leads many to jump to the conclusion to increase security, but what about the goal of ultimate freedom? Now that was tarnished and would never again be a possibility.
Americans “...dream of liberty, equality, and happiness” (1). Every individual American has their own aspirations to prosper and succeed, so they can purchase whatever expensive goods they desire and ascend the social class ladder. The environment required to cultivate the opportunities needed to achieve the American Dream is a matter that is often overlooked. Thoughts concerning the strength of the U.S. military, or national security hardly ever crossed an American’s mind until the war in Vietnam, and certainly 9/11. Prior to Vietnam, it’s almost a fact to say that every citizen of the U.S. believed that the military was fairly invincible to any other military force. However, it came as a shock to the people and the government when Vietnam proved to be a “...sinkhole” (157). The U.S. was never matched with equal strength, so it was an even bigger surprise when Clifford said, “I see more and more fighting with more and more casualties on the U.S. side, and no end in sight” (158). For the first time in many years Americans were forced to come to the realization that their dreams were in jeopardy whenever the nation was as well. Citizens must take some effort to support the nation as a whole before diving head first into their own ambitions.
ReplyDeleteThe notion that American Dreams relied on the well-being of the nation, was hit home in the 9/11 attacks. “The shock of ‘9/11’ -- the shorthand soon applied to the events of September 11, 2001--was unlike anything in American history” (350). The suddenness and overall success of the attack was frightening for everyone in the country, including the government. It caused an immediate shift in the mindset of Americans and their goals. Americans were forced to put their individual tasks on hold while the well-being of the nation took priority. Citizens came to the understanding that once again like during the years of the world wars, they must adjust their immediate plans to not just aid themselves but the entire country. A new threat loomed over America and the citizens were summoned to take their own responsibility. As with Vietnam, the perception of the American dream was altered as citizens came to the harsh realization that their own dreams were only as successful as the country they supported.
Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, African Americans had few rights in public society. The race dreamed of freedom to go as they pleased, and although the Civil Rights Act only outlawed discrimination in theory, it was a step in the right direction. Martin Luther King Jr. personified this dream perfectly when he said, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” When he gave this speech, civil rights was just a dream, but after the Civil Rights Act, there was a reality that African Americans could accomplish. Their dreams changed from something that seemed unimaginable to something that was achievable, if improbable. For so long, the American Dream was perceived as a white man’s reality. With the Civil Rights Act, the American Dream could be anyone’s reality.
ReplyDeleteIn 1969, the space shuttle Apollo 11 landed on the moon. This marked the first time a manned spacecraft set down on the moon. As a part of the Space Race between the Soviets and the United States, Americans were watching every moment of the shuttle’s journey. For so long, putting a man on the moon was in many Americans’ thoughts and hopes. It represented their fight with the Soviet Union, and the possibility of one-up-ing them. With the landing of Apollo 11, the tone of the American Dream changed. Before it was hopeful, but after it was triumphant and a little bit pompous. Americans dreamed of their “America the Great” conquering the world. If they could put a man on the moon, what couldn’t they do? It brought the American Dream to a new level; one of freedom, opportunity, and glory.
Two events that strongly had an impact on Americans and their perception of the American dream were September 11th and the Watergate incident. “At six o’clock on the morning of September 11, 2001, Mohamed Atta and Abdul Aziz al Omari boarded a plane in Portland, Maine, for the short flight to Boston.” (pg. 346) Nineteen Arab men were all “traveling to California on the same morning at the same time.” (pg. 346) These men all had a plan, to destroy the Twin Towers located in New York. After all of the destruction and loss, it put Americans in a state of feeling weak and afraid of what else could happen to their country. The main American dream at this point was to help those going through grief and start to work on the areas of New York now destroyed from the terrorist attack. People after the attack “couldn’t laugh… the pain was too great.” (pg. 351) After the attack, Americans started to rally around their local elected officials hoping to rebuild and become strong once more as a nation. One man thats popularity heightened after September 11th was George W. Bush. An American dream was now formed to get George W. Bush to help defend their country and get America to become stronger than ever before.
ReplyDeleteAnother incident that impacted the perception of the American dream was the incident at Watergate. In 1972 President Nixon was caught in an attempt of bugging the offices of the Democratic National Committee. The plan to stop publication about Nixon’s involvement in the incident, in the Pentagon Papers failed. Having their own President commit such an act gave Americans]a reason to not trust their own government and leader. This changed the perception of the American dream because it changed how safe they would feel in their own country. Finding out that their own leader had committed such a terrible act, causes doubt of President Nixon’s intentions in leading America. Especially along the lines of if he was using his position to his advantage to get useful information for the future. “Nixon conducted a fighting retreat, surrendering transcripts while holding on to the remaining tapes more stubbornly than ever.” (pg 184) Having to deal with the new found information of what their President had done, Americans had now lost him as their leader as he was inevitably forced to quit. “To leave my office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body.. some of my judgments were wrong.. were made in what I believed at the time to be the best interest of the nation.” (pg. 185)
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ReplyDeleteAfter World War II, Americans’ found themselves as the undisputed leader in world affairs. Both World Wars essentially ended because our country’s involvement. We crushed fascism and blunted communism, and we brought freedom and liberation where we fought. Americans, “...dreamed we would save our souls and save the world” (1). We were living and exporting the principles of the American dream -- equality, freedom and justice. However, those principles were blurred on June 18th, 1972 when, “five men… were arrested at 2:30am… in what authorities described as an elaborate plot to bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee” (180). Richard Nixon was the president at the time, and the face that not only represented our country, but the attainment of our dream: fairness, democracy, and justice. When it became clear, “...forthrightness wasn’t in Nixon’s nature, and rather than revealing information, he did his best to cover it up” (182), people were distraught, surprised, and betrayed. This event shook the core values of the American dream because the most important, high-ranked individual in our country cheated his way to the top.
ReplyDeleteBecause of prior involvements in world affairs, American’s assumed our troops were always the good guys, and no matter who we had our guns pointed at, we were right. That idea became less clear during the Vietnam War. When Americans became involved in the war, we fought alongside the South Vietnamese against the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese, the enemies. However, after years of fighting, with little clear progress, America found itself mired in a complex, confusing, and bloody civil war. From the beginning there was skepticism, “we just [did not] belong there” (153), and as the war raged on many Americans posed the question, “what the hell is going on?” (156). America’s General Westmoreland, “...described the situation in Vietnam as ‘very, very encouraging’”, and that, “we [had] our opponent almost on the ropes” (156). However, every night the T.V. news told a different story, as did many returning soldiers who had fought there. Nothing was clear. Who the bad guys were was unclear, who the good guys were was unclear, and if we were making a difference was unclear. In short, it was not clear America was using its armed forces as a tool of liberation.
After WWII, America entered into a race with the Soviet Union to spread each nation’s own superior system of government around the world, called the Cold War. This race singled out underdeveloped nations whose governments proved to be the most easily manipulated, or completely replaced. This led to both the United States and Soviet Union fighting their ways into countries and creating wars such as those in Korea or Vietnam. Vietnam was particularly costly, both in money and lives. Along with the growing uncertainty about why America was involved in the war, “victory in Vietnam slipped from America’s grasp [and] Americans began to withdraw their confidence” (214) in Washington. The war in Vietnam was just one cause of the loss of faith in the federal government.
ReplyDeleteForeign affairs were not alone in sullying Washington’s reputation in the eye of the public. On more than one occasion, the morality of the President of the United States was called into question. Both presidents faced large amounts of public embarrassment and potential impeachment. Nixon and Watergate is undoubtedly the more famous scandal in the White House. This incident consisted of “five men…arrested at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate in June 1972” (182). These men were “Plumbers”, also known as Nixon’s Special Investigative Unit, and they had been attempting to bug the offices of Nixon’s Democratic political rivals. Impeachment was coming and Nixon had no choice but to resign in August, 1974. Although Clinton’s moral indiscretion did not involve the nation to the extent of Nixon’s, his affair with Monica Lewinsky brought unwanted public attention and embarrassment to the White House. Clinton’s lying about the affair even made it so “there were degrees of perjury” (326) in the case that brought it before the Senate, but the President was cleared. Both of these cases changed the way that Americans saw their government. All three of these events contributed to Americans losing trust in their government when dreaming about the future.
The beginning of the 1960’s marked a new kind of American dream: an expansion on the original blueprints, freedoms that were more inclusive and more radical. The election of John F. Kennedy in 1961 helped usher in this new dream; he was the youngest president ever elected, so not only could student protesters identify with him, he fit the fresh, renovative feeling of the decade. He touched on this in his inaugural address, declaring, “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans.” His election also broadened who could be a part of that new generation, as he was the first Catholic ever elected. So at the time of his death, young people were dreaming of progress, of revolution, and Kennedy represented that opportunity. The inconceivable death of someone so young felt like many steps backward.
ReplyDeleteEven further damaging to the idealism of this new American dream was the escalation of the Vietnam War immediately following Kennedy’s death. During the World Wars, there was an incredible glorification of soldiers, the images of patriotism and self-sacrifice. This near-worship of the American soldier disappeared during the Vietnam War, and rather than celebrated, veterans were spit on when they returned home. This war was the first to be televised as well, and the bloody and gruesome images displayed on news stations for all of America to see, contributed to the disenchantment. Confronted with these images, Americans were forced to question the moral superiority that they usually marched into battle with. The intentions of the war became muddled, and there was louder and louder opposition to America’s involvement in the war. During this time, “the Cold War dream of global hegemony dissolved in Vietnam,” (384) and many people lost faith in their government.
Americans dream of freedom and peace. Both John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. were making great strides towards these objectives when they were assassinated.
ReplyDeleteEven before his election, Kennedy showed a blatant support for King, leading Kennedy to become “ the political hope of the civil rights activists” (Brands 109). As president, Kennedy inherited the worldwide pressures of dealing with the Cold War. Kennedy cleverly navigated his way out of the Cuban Missile Crisis, returning “from the brink a hero in America for having boldly rebuffed the Soviet threat” (Brands 108). In these two examples John F. Kennedy fought for both the rights and freedom of the American people, and the safety and peace of the world as a whole.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s first political stand was during the Montgomery boycott beginning in 1955. The boycott began after the refusal of Rosa Parks to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Richard Nixon backed Parks and needed to find someone to head the boycott, so he called on King to lead the protest. Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled “that the Montgomery ordinance violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, [allowing] King and the boycotters able to declare victory” (Brands 88). Throughout all the chaos of the civil rights movement, King refused to act violently. Even during the extreme violence at Selma on March 7, 1965, the protesters were ordered to “move peacefully, demanding nothing more than what the Constitution...guaranteed” (Brands 126). Through peaceful protests, King attempted to fight for freedom.
America went into shock after the assassinations of these two men. Both John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. stood for the ideals of freedom and peace. The American people had been dreaming of achieving these ideals since the end of WWII, but with the death of these two leaders America belief in these ideals was cast into doubt. American freedom became more important than anything, even peace.
*E.D. Nixon
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ReplyDeleteOn September 11th, 2001 an Islamic terrorist group, known as al-Qaeda, hijacked four commercial Us airplanes. Two of them intentionally crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, one crashed into the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the last one crashed landed into a field in Pennsylvania, the location of where the plane was headed is still not quite certain. Overall, the four crashes killed over three thousand people, devastating loved ones all over the world. 9/11 showed that even the United States can be subjected to terrible things such as 9/11 and people started to question if we were safe. The same day as the attacks, President Bush addressed the nation and stated that his new mission was to end international terrorism and called it the "war on terror." Previous to 9/11, the United States was focused on relationships with Europe, but after they shifted to the Middle East, launching wars on Afghanistan and Iraq to try and end terrorism. Although both wars were not totally successful, they proved the point that the United states comes back even stronger after horrible things such as 9/11 and fighting the idea of terrorism became integrated into the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteOn June 17, 1972, intruders were arrested for sneaking into the watergate complex, headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. This was such a big deal because the intruders were people sent by President Nixon to bug his political opponents to spy on them. The Nixon administration denied everything having to do with the scandal, but soon after he resigned from presidency. The scandal tested the American Dream of having the best government for the country. People started questioning the government's authority and if it was trustworthy. Even though Watergate shined light upon the flaws in US government, all governments are flawed in some way, and the United States to this day has proven to have the best government, even though some Americans thought otherwise.
On September 11th, 2001 an Islamic terrorist group, known as al-Qaeda, hijacked four commercial Us airplanes. Two of them intentionally crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, one crashed into the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the last one crashed landed into a field in Pennsylvania, the location of where the plane was headed is still not quite certain. Overall, the four crashes killed over three thousand people, devastating loved ones all over the world. 9/11 showed that even the United States can be subjected to terrible things such as 9/11 and people started to question if we were safe. The same day as the attacks, President Bush addressed the nation and stated that his new mission was to end international terrorism and called it the "war on terror." Previous to 9/11, the United States was focused on relationships with Europe, but after they shifted to the Middle East, launching wars on Afghanistan and Iraq to try and end terrorism. Although both wars were not totally successful, they proved the point that the United states comes back even stronger after horrible things such as 9/11 and fighting the idea of terrorism became integrated into the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteOn June 17, 1972, intruders were arrested for sneaking into the watergate complex, headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. This was such a big deal because the intruders were people sent by President Nixon to bug his political opponents to spy on them. The Nixon administration denied everything having to do with the scandal, but soon after he resigned from presidency. The scandal tested the American Dream of having the best government for the country. People started questioning the government's authority and if it was trustworthy. Even though Watergate shined light upon the flaws in US government, all governments are flawed in some way, and the United States to this day has proven to have the best government, even though some Americans thought otherwise.
In modern American history there have been a few events that have altered the views and mindsets of Americans dramatically. One of the most significant among these was the culmination of the Manhattan Project when the world’s first nuclear weapon was detonated at Alamogordo, New Mexico. The initial response was joy, “but as the mushroom cloud ascended into the sky above the Jornada del Muerto, growing taller and taller and showing no sign of dissipating the way every other explosion any of the observers had ever witnessed had dissipated, the elation and relief gave way to other emotions, ‘There was a chill, which was not the morning cold,’ a physicist explained. ‘It was the chill that came to one when one thought, as for instance when I thought of my wooden home in Cambridge, and my laboratory in New York, and of the millions of people living around there, and this power of nature which we had first understood it to be—well, there it was’” (6). For the first time in human history, humans possessed a power which could conceivably exterminate our own race. Clearly the impact of this on Americans’ psyche was enormous. For most, if not all, it was a great confidence booster and a reminder of American power but for some of the more foresighted it was a preview to something like the Cuban Missile Crisis and what that could entail if it went the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteAnother event of an equal magnitude of importance was when OPEC put an oil embargo on America for providing aid to Israel after a war with Egypt. Because of Egypt’s relations with much of OPEC, they came to the aid of their beleaguered ally as best they could, by stopping all oil shipments to America. This was something that America had not seen coming as they thought the higher prices of war would be enough to keep their sellers content. When it happened though, Al Haig said from the White House, “all hell has broken loose” (195). The impact was felt immediately, first on Wall Street when buyers scrambled to get faster shipment just to get as much oil as they could before the prices ascended more. This translated to the general public as, “motorists watched as prices rose before their eyes—literally. Long lines developed at gas stations, where drivers sat for hours; station owners received regular updates from their suppliers on wholesale price increases, and upon putting down their phones marched out to change the prices on their signs and pumps” (196). Stations would run out of gas due to high demand and limited supply, speed limits were lowered to better highway mileage, and Americans began to realize a sobering fact. The age of American economic supremacy was over as other nations grew and America became more interdependent with the world and many had cause to reevaluate the direction they were headed in, turning, in most cases, to a less exorbitant life style.
American perception of the “American Dream” is constantly evolving and depends on several factors, including the leader at the time, and the state of domestic and foreign affairs. Watergate was a hugely influential event in regards to the “American Dream,” because for many Americans, the paragon of the American Dream is the president. A United States president supposedly stands for everything the people do at the time. In 1972, Richard Nixon’s political party betrayed American values of honesty and fairness by conducting a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters with the goal of sabotaging the election by “seeking information not about security leaks but about Democratic strategy” (182). President Nixon’s lack of forthrightness on his (party’s) misdemeanor led to a dramatic scandal revolving around the issue, and, eventually, his resignation on impending impeachment. This epic wrongdoing by the leader of a self proclaimed righteous nation had a finite impact on the American people. “If Americans grew cynical regarding their leaders - and regarding their entire political enterprise - they did so with reason” (192). With this, the American Dream of a perfect, free democracy was sent to trial and convicted of all wrongdoings, changing how citizens perceived it.
ReplyDeleteThe September 11th attacks continue to affect Americans even now, fourteen years later. The plane hijacking and death of thousands of innocent people brought into question the true state of our nations security. President Bush asserted in the aftermath of the destruction that “‘Our very freedom came under attack…” (352). Freedom has always been a major vein in the American Dream. The immediate response by President Bush to unite the American people in mourning and in the war on terror skyrocketed American morale and the perception of the American dream once again became positive and reassured. The war on terror soon became misguided and led to the fear and hatred of Muslim culture, but for the brief period following 9/11 that the country was more broken than not, the assertion of togetherness led to an inspiring revival of the “American Dream.”
As mentioned by many of my classmates the “American dream” changes by way of how the state of society changes. Events in history are the most powerful things that change the perception of the “American dream” for people. On September 11th, 2001 the image of the “American dream” changed drastically. On September 11th, 2001 with Osama bin Laden at the helm, an Islamic terrorist group known as al-Qaeda hijacked four U.S. planes and bombed three places. The event of 9/11 left americans shocked and terrified. As citizens watched, from their televisions, two planes crash into the twin towers in New York City their jaws dropped. The world went silent, its almost as if many people watch their “American dream” die right there. A “war on terror” was initiated that day in response to the attacks. U.S. citizens were shocked that something like this could ever happen in America. These terrorists attacks initially left Americans terrified and with the feeling that nothing ever good was going to happen. But, that all changed when the fuel burned under all citizens to defend their country. Americans banded together to work against the terrorists and in turn came back stronger. These devastating attacks sparked a strong feeling of nationalism among all Americans. So, 9/11 did initially ruin the dreams of Americans but in the end, it left Americans dreaming more than ever for a better future for all.
ReplyDeleteSixty years earlier another devastating attack changed the meaning of the “American dream”. On December 7th, 1941 the Imperial Japanese launched a surprise attack on an American naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This attack occurred during the beginning of WWII, a war in which Americans did not want to get involved with because of how the country was left after WWI. This attack scared Americans and forced them to enter the war. Eventually America defeated the Japanese and came out as the most powerful nation from WWII. Like after 9/11, Americans rallied in support of the nation to defeat any other nation that threatened the power of America. Both Pearl Harbor and 9/11 sparked an immense sense of nationalism among Americans. In both circumstances the “American dream” was crushed and immediately Americans assumed the worse. In both 1941 and 2001, as the strong country we are, Americans used their will-power and rallied their support for the country and maintained the true meaning of the quintessential “American dream”.
Multiple devastating events affected the Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” after WWII. The Americans had just won a Second World War and almost immediately they were plunged into another power struggle with the Soviet Union known as the Cold War. When Kennedy became president he was placed into office with the possibility of nuclear war. Kennedy’s approach to the United States crisis with nuclear weapons in Cuba was to talk directly and abruptly about the consequences if the Soviet Union attacked. He then placed an embargo on all items sent to Cuba until all nuclear weapons could be removed. The Soviet Union knew they did not want a nuclear war and eventually accepted Kennedy’s terms and the American people could finally breath believing they were no longer going to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon. Kennedy’s ability to halt the growing of nuclear weapons in Cuba and have them removed gave the American people faith that they could stop the Communist expansion. They also could have a new trust in their nation knowing the government would protect them. Their faith in the government soon ended when Johnson deployed troops to Vietnam in order to inhibit Communist growth in South Vietnam. The American people were very angry about his decision believing it was not their responsibility to fight in Vietnam. They also knew that the French failed to win the war in Vietnam, so the United States would probably fail as well. There were violent protests in the streets and bombings of ROTC buildings exemplifying the Americans unhappiness with the government. The American dream was changing. They no longer felt they could win this war against communism in Vietnam like they did with Kennedy in Cuba. The American’s simply wanted to remove themselves from a hopeless and bloody conflict in another country where US citizens were losing their family and friends to war. The American people continued to feel ashamed of their leaders when Nixon became president filling the government with corruption. Watergate was a scandal where Nixon’s “Plumbers” (181) searched his democratic rival’s building for secrets about their strategy. “The Plumbers” (181) were caught during their search. Nixon and his staff were soon known to be guilty by all of the American people when they refused to give pertinent videos for the investigation to court. Knowing he would eventually be found guilty, Nixon resigned from the presidency. The idea that the leader of America was a deceptive and dishonest man made the people of the United States question their government’s ability to carry out the citizen’s dreams for the future.
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ReplyDeleteFrom important events in our nation's history, Americans had derived one humbling concept: that the American Dream was not immune to threats from the outside world. Following World War II, the citizens of America were under the impression that their country "could accomplish almost anything it set its mind to"(22). This surge of confidence and patriotism had yet to be undermined by any foreign force, making the nation, as well as its right to dream, seem impenetrable. An event that impacted America's perception of the American Dream was the Soviet Union's successful launch of the satellite, Sputnik. This devastated Americans "who had believed that their country led the world in all important aspects of science and technology"(95). In regard to their slipping superiority, Americans discovered that they were not alone as dreamers of the universe; the Soviets had been dreaming , as well. As American dominance seemed to topple from their eyes, Americans' perception of the Dream changed; the uniqueness of their dream was eroded by the existence of a Soviet dream.
ReplyDeleteAs the first attack on American soil in 60 years, the events of September 11, 2001 brought a sense of vulnerability to the hearts of American citizens. The notion that America was unsusceptible to foreign aggression was immediately falsified, as was the idea that the American Dream could not be threatened. The dreamers began to perceive the Dream as a coveted asset instead of a guaranteed right, and the world as being a place "where freedom is under attack"(353). At the sight of their own buildings collapsing in futility, Americans were determined to seek justice, and protect a dream that was now at stake. A "war on terror" was commenced, and America had engaged in a battle to defend democracy and its freedom. Henceforth, Americans acquired a new appreciation for their ability to dream, and were more determined than ever to protect the newly vulnerable American Dream.
Two important events that took place in America’s history are the war against Vietnam and the terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001. These events will always be remembered as a part of American history because of the hurt they brought to our beloved country. Although these events were terrible, I believe that America would never be the dominant country we are today without tragic occurrences like 9/11 and Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteSeptember 11th, 2001 is the date of a tragic event that took America by surprise. Four planes were hijacked, two of which crashed into the twin towers and took them down. Al-Qaeda certainly accomplished what they were trying to do, but one thing that they did not do was damage American morale. In fact, the attack of the twin towers influenced a strong outbreak of passion for our country of America. On this day, the “American Dream” was almost impossible to consider because no one knew what was going to happen next. From encouraging and securing speeches from President George W. Bush to acts of sacrifice and bravery by the people of the U.S.A, America was slowly recovering. This recovery leads to new security methods and greater pride for America. Furthermore, the war against Vietnam was equally, if not more devastating than the 9/11 attacks. Vietnam was an underestimated opponent and America lost many more troops than suspected. In terms of military power, many people say that America won, but in other terms like death rate and struggle the war caused on America, many say that we lost. Just like 9/11, American’s perception of the American Dream definitely faded during the Vietnam War. Many lost their loved ones and thought that America might not be as dominant as it used to be, which brought worry to the people. After the war however, the people’s perception of the American Dream started to become real once again.
Since the surprise of 9/11 and War against Vietnam, the United States has not let its guard down and the American Dream, in my eyes, seems to becoming reality. Americans came together in these times of need and truly became a strong, powerful, and united land. The name of our country was not just given to us because it sounds good; The United States of America is a name that was earned through the cooperation and hard work of our people.
As many before me have stated, events in history are the main force that changes the meaning of the “American dream”. A date that will forever be remembered in Americans hearts changed the meaning of the American dream significantly. On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 a series of four coordinated attacks took place by the terrorist group al-Qaeda under the command of Osama bin Laden. America was shocked. The once untouchable country had been attacked. People were terrified of the events taking place. They just sat in their homes and watched on TV as their nation was being brutally attacked out of nowhere. Over 3,000 people were killed in the four crashes that took place. This terrible day made Americans question their safety. People never thought something like this was possible in the United States. The president quickly sent out a mission called “the war on terror” to end terrorism in the US. People had a new feeling of nationality and wanted to come out of this attack stronger than before. People were more determined than ever to defend their freedom and ability to dream.
ReplyDeleteA different incident that impacted the meaning of the American dream was the Watergate scandal. In 1972 Richard Nixon was serving out his presidency when a scandal rose to the surface. Nixon was found to be involved in illegal activities like bugging the offices of political opponents in the Democratic National Committee. Nixon withheld essential evidence from the investigation. President Nixon preceded lying as more evidence was discovered. Eventually the tapes were confiscated and he was impeached from being president. Similar to 9/11, this instance made people question the reality of the “American dream”. People were unsure about their trust for their own leader which is key in the American dream.
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ReplyDeleteThe basis of the “American Dream” is the idea that people living in the United States are guaranteed freedom and happiness, through hard work. The horrifying tragedies that took place on September 11, 2001 directly threatened that basis of the “American Dream”, and made people deeply question their freedom and security. The danger felt by the entire country can be summarized in President Bush’s words: “‘Today our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts’” (352). The fact that nineteen terrorists walked freely with bombs and weapons, passing security checkpoints, and hijacked four planes successfully and proceeded to kill thousands of American citizens shocked the country, leaving the United States and its people devastated and defeated. Refusing to let terrorists compromise the integrity of the “American Dream”, the country rallied together under Bush’s “war on terror” campaign: “‘We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest.’” (353).
ReplyDeleteIn the United States, people want to live freely and happily in order to fulfill the “American Dream”... yet how can we do this if we cannot trust our own president? The citizens of the United States found themselves struggling with this issue in June of 1972 when it became public knowledge that President Nixon was involved in a political scandal, referred to today as Watergate. Under Nixon’s command, five men were arrested “‘in what authorities described as an elaborate plot to bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee’” (180). Nixon tried his best to cover up the evidence of his involvement; however, he found himself “cornered” (185). Between impeachment, resignation, and stubbornly resisting to hand over the tapes, everyone began turning on their nation's leader: “A recording from June 23, 1972… caught Nixon ordering the CIA to block the FBI’s investigation of the Watergate affair. Now even Nixon’s supporters realized the game was up” (185). The effects of this national scandal caused the “credibility of our free institutions of government” (186) to be challenged and resented. The “American Dream” began to be questioned as the previously known freedom and happiness turned to betrayal and paranoia.
On September 11, 2001, airplanes hijacked by Islamic terrorists crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The crashes resulted in thousands of deaths including those in the plane, in the buildings, and outside the crash. The sudden and dramatic attacks forced Americans to question the strength of our government and homeland security. Later that night, President Bush spoke to the American people explaining that the terrorists attempted to scare America and its people, but had failed by saying “Our country is strong” (352). Although the crashes destroyed the centers of American capitalism and military power, America was determined to be a stronger nation and to take action against all terrorists. When declaring a “war on terror” Bush explains, “all of this was brought upon us in a single day, and night fell on a different world, a world where freedom itself is under attack” (353). 9/11 made Americans realize their nation is not invincible and we will continually have to fight for our freedom. Terrorist attacks have forced us to strengthen our national security, monitor calls and emails, and declare war on Afghanistan and Iraq, to achieve the American Dream of freedom and peace.
ReplyDeleteOn June 17, 1972, burglars were caught attempting to steal information and documents which allowed Nixon to win his reelection and were arrested inside the Watergate building. When his participation soon became known to America, Nixon tried to cover up his involvement by withholding evidence, deleting tapes, and firing staff members unwilling to lie. Nixon was constantly telling America “‘The president has nothing to hide’ after it had become obvious he had a great deal to hide” (185). His refusal to give up the recordings and tell the truth forced Americans to question their government and president. After finally giving up the “smoking gun” tape catching “Nixon forcing the CIA to block the FBI’s investigation of the Watergate affair” (185), he resigned. Without an apology, Nixon left Americans to wonder what else he had been secretly doing. Part of the American Dream has been believing in opportunities in democracy and the positive achievements that can be made; the Watergate scandal forced Americans to question their faith in leaders and realize even their democracy has flaws.
The dream of having an ideal government began with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Men from all over the now, United States signed their names with the pervasive thought of creating a government that would respect and be loyal to the people living under it. In the wake of the Vietnam War and Watergate, this perception of an ideal government for the people was tarnished. “Americans were willing to believe almost anything dastardly about their government” (191) the book states and the reality is true. Beforehand presidents like JFK and Johnson made an effort to make democracy appear to be ideal and the best form of government. After flopping in the Vietnam War people were left to question whether their dream government was what it appeared to be. By making the wrong call to continue fighting and the suffering from 350,000 casualties as a result, the public knew that their government had made a mistake and more could follow.
ReplyDeleteTo add to the distrust, the Watergate scandal in the 1970s obliterated the dream of prefect presidents. By breaking the law and eventually being impeached, Nixon tarnished the public’s views of idealism within the Executive Branch. With these two events occurring Americans had good reason to distrust their government and alter their dreams. To them, with a seemingly corrupted government running the country any dream that was held before seemed less of a reality. Dreams of future success and prosperity were broken due to the bleak future that appeared ahead. Trust in the government is the cement holding any dream together in America, and when that trust is broken dreams also begin to seem hopeless.
On the morning of September 11, 2001 our great nation was attacked. Four planes were hijacked by a terrorist organization known as Al-Qaeda; they used the planes to fly into the World Trade center and the Pentagon. These cowardly attacks killed thousands of innocent people. This was the first attack on U.S soil in sixty years, since the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Naturally the country was shocked and in fear. This tested the “American Dream” leaving the citizens of the United States of America feeling vulnerable and helpless just watching the attacks on TV. After these attacks the “American Dream” was left tarnished and ruined in many eyes of the public. However, eventually this attack brought everyone closer together and only strengthened the “American Dream” and this country. These attacks sparked a new war, a war on terror. We went to war in the Middle East for years to come until we finally found the man responsible Osama Bin Laden. This caused a roar in American spirit and morale, causing the rejuvenation of the American Dream.
ReplyDeleteThe “American dream” was put in peril again when the stock market collapsed in 2007. Citizens began borrowing money “Many borrowers, discovering that they owed more on their homes than their homes were suddenly worth-- such homes and owners were said to be ‘under water’”(377). Many Americans began to worry about the economy and their money. However, “The growing crisis in real estate soon became a crisis in finance”(377). The banks began to soon run out of money and in a last second fail safe Congress issued a 700 billion dollar rescue package. This proved to do no help in the situation, “But it didn’t stop the bleeding, and the damage began to spread from the financial sector to the broader economy. Stock prices plunged, erasing trillions of dollars in investments and making Americans feel collectively much poorer”(378). This caused American morale to to plummet and the “American Dream” seemed to slowly start to fade again. Americans were taking pay cuts or even worse losing their jobs from this economic collapse. Thought of the word “depression” slowly started to creep into many minds of Americans leaving the “American Dream” harder or near impossible to achieve. However, we got through the economic crisis of 2007 and the “American Dream” began to come back extremely strong with the election of the First African American, President Barack Obama.
Americans had long held the belief of American industrial supremacy. “In 1945 the United States produced substantially more oil than all other countries together” (194), making it highly independent, in terms of energy. Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, consumption began surpassing production. Quickly, many Americans realized their susceptibility to foreign markets. In October 1973, Egypt attacked Israel, causing the United States to send help to Israel. Following this incident, the Arab members of the OPEC “announced an embargo of oil shipments to the United States” (195). The unexpected embargo sent oil prices soaring as “panic hit the market” (196). To compensate for gas limitations, prices quadrupled and the speed limit lowered in an effort to conserve gas. Although the embargo was not long term, lasting only until March, some effects lingered and it changed America's perception on foreign nations. The embargo “epitomized the waning of America’s economic supremacy” (196), confirming a fear of many American citizens and politicians. Americans finally began realizing that their country was no longer the leader in economics and production, and were forced to compensate for oil and gas deficits.
ReplyDeleteThe tragedy occurring on September 11th united Americans as they mourned the terrible losses. “Newspapers and television shows were filled with heart-wrenching tales of loss” (351), as Americans stood together in empathy. “In their pain and disorientation, Americans rallied around their elected officials” (351), as figures of stability. Three days after the attack, President George W. Bush visited the site of the attacks. His arrival provoked cheers and “Bush replied through a bullhorn: “I can hear you. I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon”” (352). This event struck the lives of almost all Americans and they were more than ever determined to fight back against terrorism. It took people away from their individual problems and created unity among all Americans. Americans were brought together, in support of their country, to prove to the world they would persevere.
Events like Watergate, Vietnam, and September 11th heavily influenced the Americans' perception of the "American Dream." On September 11th, 2001, the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon triggered widespread sorrow. The moment the second hijacked plane crashed into the tower, jaws dropped all around the nation, and mixed emotions of shock, uncertainty, hopelessness, anguish, remorse, and fear filled the air. Then, when the third plane crashed into the Pentagon, and the fourth in Pennsylvania, the feelings escalated and America broke into a national sense of panic and fear. The September 11th attacks, which amounted to the deaths of nearly 3,000 innocent civilians, led to the realization that American safety was not perfectly secure. Upon this discovery, the “American Dream” shifted towards the goal of maintaining complete and utter protection of its civilians, which led to the beginning of America’s role as the “policeman of the world.” Furthermore, America’s attention shifted more to the Middle East and less to the Europeans.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the Watergate scandal, which took place in June of 1972, also led to an unsettling realization; American government was not perfect and democracy was not perfect. After President Nixon’s secret involvement in the scandal became public, Americans felt betrayed and wanted him out of office as soon as possible. In response, Nixon resigned, and President Ford took office. Ford acknowledged Nixon’s unacceptable mistakes, but that did not solve America’s problems; it was too late. The people had already realized their unfaithful officers had flaws and realized they were unable to fully trust the government. Thus, their dreams of future success were shattered by the reality of an unstable government. The "American Dream" of wealth, success, and an ideal democracy seemed unachievable, and the "American Dream" became merely a goal to fix the corrupted government.
One of the most significant events in post-war American History is the passing of the Truman Doctrine, which has had a significant influence on US foreign policy and the American Dream for the past seventy years. The Doctrine stated that, "It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures" (Brands 34). This doctrine was starkly contrasted by the isolationist policy that the US had more or less followed throughout the entire existence of the country. The passing of the Truman Doctrine changed people's view on the American Dream in that they realized that United States has an obligation to use its extraordinary military might to protect people around the world from oppression. This policy was carried out through events like the Korean and Vietnam Wars, in that the US used its army to try to prevent the spread of communism in third world countries, albeit unsuccessfully.
ReplyDeleteThe Vietnam War was significant in altering the American Dream in that it changed the very fabric of the typical American lifestyle. Hard work and progress had characterized the two decades following World War Two, as the needs of the Baby Boomer generation spurred on a period of huge economic and technical advancements. This culminated in Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society," in which he envisioned a huge overhaul of American Infrastructure tat would improve all aspects of American life. This project was halted in its tracks, however, by the Vietnam War, which was fueled by the invigorated economy and many young lives. The Vietnam war was viewed in a negative light by most Americans because it drafted unwilling young men into the army, and the grotesque reality of war was brought to light through mediums like television. It was viewed especially negatively by the "Hippies," who valued self expression and exploration of one's self over working hard to achieve financial security. This type of thought has had a huge impact on the perception of the American Dream, as the US defeat in the Vietnam War caused people to lose faith in the military and government, and Americans became more focused on their own individuality than ever.
One of the most significant events in post-war American History is the passing of the Truman Doctrine, which has had a significant influence on US foreign policy and the American Dream for the past seventy years. The Doctrine stated that, "It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures" (Brands 34). This doctrine was starkly contrasted by the isolationist policy that the US had more or less followed throughout the entire existence of the country. The passing of the Truman Doctrine changed people's view on the American Dream in that they realized that United States has an obligation to use its extraordinary military might to protect people around the world from oppression. This policy was carried out through events like the Korean and Vietnam Wars, in that the US used its army to try to prevent the spread of communism in third world countries, albeit unsuccessfully.
ReplyDeleteThe Vietnam War was significant in altering the American Dream in that it changed the very fabric of the typical American lifestyle. Hard work and progress had characterized the two decades following World War Two, as the needs of the Baby Boomer generation spurred on a period of huge economic and technical advancements. This culminated in Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society," in which he envisioned a huge overhaul of American Infrastructure tat would improve all aspects of American life. This project was halted in its tracks, however, by the Vietnam War, which was fueled by the invigorated economy and many young lives. The Vietnam war was viewed in a negative light by most Americans because it drafted unwilling young men into the army, and the grotesque reality of war was brought to light through mediums like television. It was viewed especially negatively by the "Hippies," who valued self expression and exploration of one's self over working hard to achieve financial security. This type of thought has had a huge impact on the perception of the American Dream, as the US defeat in the Vietnam War caused people to lose faith in the military and government, and Americans became more focused on their own individuality than ever.
Events like Vietnam and September 11th greatly altered Americans’ perception of the “American Dream.” On September 11, 2001, four airplanes were highjacked by terrorists who were part of an Islamist group known as Al-Qaeda. At 8:46am, the first plane hit North Tower of the World Trade Center. The second plane hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03am. The third crash occurred at the Pentagon, in Washington D.C.. The fourth crash happened in a field in Pennsylvania about an hour after the planes struck the World Trade Centers. Killing thousands, this tragedy left America in a shaky state, leaving citizens questioning their safety and the security of their country. Although, it did not weaken America as a whole. The attacks only made America stronger and united the nation as a whole. To one’s surprise these events did not weaken the perception of what the “American Dream” was suppose to be, but made it stronger. “The terrorists had intended to intimidate America and its people. But they had failed, Bush said. “Our country is strong’” (352).
ReplyDeleteOn June 17, 1972, the public was informed that there had been a group of intruders, sent by President Nixon to “bug the offices” (180) in the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. As soon as the story of this event was released to the public, Nixon resigned, and the evidence of the scandal became very clear. This event drastically changed the way the people saw and put trust in their government and their politicians. People began questioning their “perfect democracy.” The American Dream of a “perfect democracy” became a false statement as the people lost a lot of trust in their government.
Events like Watergate and 9/11 influenced the American dream in drastic ways. Both traumatic events made Americans wake up and smell the roses. They were able to use these events to adjust their American dreams for the better. Watergate tested President Nixon's trust with the public. "The tapes he was required to release made his participation in the cover-up undeniable" (185). When people found out about his tapes of conversations held in the Oval office, they began to question the freedom they had and what was truly going on within the government. Americans began to lose trust in their government, as Gerald Ford said "Our people would again be polarized in their opinions.... The credibility of our free institutions of government would again be challenged at home and abroad" (186). The face of America began to change.
ReplyDeleteSeptember 11, 2001 is a day everyone will remember. It is the day I believe that changed the American Dream for good. Before 9/11 security was basically non-existent. No one had ever imagined something as horrid as 9/11 ever happening in America, the land of the free. As President Bush said, "Our country is strong." (352), the new outlook on the American Dream was unity. The 9/11 attacks brought everyone together, it didn't weaken us like the terrorists meant to. Americans were determined to rebuild their beloved nation and come out of this "stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, economically stronger" (351). The government steered their attention towards the Middle East instead of Europe. They focused on the different terrorists groups and how to get rid of them. Security at airports and public places increased drastically, overall America became safer. American's dreamed a new dream, a dream of peace, a dream of unity.
The strength of the US and of our democracy are what inspire Americans to dream the American Dream. The events at Watergate “demoralized American democracy” and made “Americans [grow] cynical regarding their leaders.” (191) Initially, Nixon created the Special Investigative Unit in order to protect national security (particularly concerning information leaked to the New York Times). However, when his “Plumbers” were caught trying to bug the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate, it could not be denied that his ambitions had changed. Nixon was using the Plumbers in order to determine the strategy of his Democratic rivals, which was a blatant abuse of power that undermined the core values of democracy. When Nixon resigned in 1974, people felt betrayed by the leader that represented American democracy, as could be seen when the American people had an overwhelmingly negative reaction when President Ford pardoned Nixon. Nixon’s deceit made Americans (and foreign nations) wonder if democracy really was the powerful and moral institution it was said to be, which made the American Dream seem like an idealist fantasy based on an faulty system of government.
ReplyDeleteIn contrast, the events that occurred on September 11th, 2001 caused Americans to more passionately defend the American Dream. In the weeks following the mysterious attack, Americans were collectively hurt, disoriented, and terrified; they did not know who had attacked them, or why. In their common grieving, the American people grew closer to each other, and closer to their leaders as they searched for consolation and an explanation. President Bush put the new “sense of solidarity” amongst Americans to good use - he turned the citizens of his country to his newest battle: the “war on terror.” (353) Bush used 9/11 to rally Americans and convince them that “freedom itself [was] under attack.” (353) This cause - defending freedom - gave every American a specific place to focus their previously undirected emotions. People condensed their fear and sorrow into a passionate resolve to defend their country and their democracy against terrorism. The idea of the American Dream was renewed in the people’s minds, and they were reminded that part of that dream was to defend liberty with an iron fist.
Events like September 11th, Watergate, and Vietnam had a detrimental impact on the “American Dream.” On September 11, 2001 America was attacked, four planes were taken by the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, two of which smashed into the World Trade Center, one the Pentagon, and one crashed landed in Pennsylvania. After these events, the country was shocked. 9/11 tested the “American Dream” leaving the Americans feeling vulnerable and their spirit demoralized. The “American Dream” was left in ruins to many. However, these attacks led to the war on terror. This caused American spirit to soar and helped to re-energize the “American Dream.”
ReplyDeleteSimilar to September 11th, the Watergate scandal also led to a negative impact on the “American Dream.” After President Nixon’s involvement in the scandal, Americans felt betrayed and wanted him removed from office. Due to this, Nixon resigned and President Ford took office. Ford acknowledged Nixon’s mistakes, but it didn’t solve America’s problems. The people realized that their government was no longer able to be fully trusted. This damaged the “American Dream” as people wondered if success was still possible in an untrustworthy government. The "American Dream" of wealth and success became ruined and replaced with a dream to fix their unstable government. September 11th and Watergate damaged the “American Dream.”
In America’s history when we get knocked down, we only get back up stronger. On December 7th, 1941 the Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the US naval base in Pearl Harbor, located in Hawaii. The attack killed 2,403 Americans and wounded another 1,178. The bombings also destroyed 8 US battleships and 188 aircrafts. This attack shocked America and convinced them to enter WWII. Instead of breaking after the attack and only being damaged worse in war, America came back stronger and defeated the Japanese. By the end of the war, the US was stronger than it ever was before. Americans came together with overpowering unity to end the war.
ReplyDeleteNearly 60 years later, on the morning of September 11th, 2001, nineteen men boarded four planes that would never reach their common destination of California. All four planes were hijacked by these men, two of which were flown into each of the Twin Towers, one flew into the Pentagon, and the final crashed into a field after the passengers stormed the cockpit. All of these events combined killed 2,977 innocent Americans. This attack was later found to be orchestrated by the extremist group al Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden. Like the Pearl Harbor attack, this brought the US into another war, this time against the Taliban. The goal of the terrorist attack was to break America by targeting the symbols for our economy (World Trade Center), military (Pentagon), and attempted to attack the democracy (the White House). Instead of weakening America and our spirit, these attacks strengthened it. Unlike the Pearl Harbor attacks, all of America watched the events of 9/11 unfold on their television and read about it in the newspapers. This helped fuel the skyrocketing nationalism and Americans unified in this widespread sadness. After 9/11, America once again became stronger by improving and increasing security, more closely monitoring foreign extremists, and continuing to be a unified nation. Instead of letting these two tragedies break American spirit, the American Dream of unity only grew stronger.
Vietnam impacted the Americans’ perception of the “American Dream”. The American Dream is built upon hope and trust, whether it be hope and trust in oneself, or in others. In the beginning of the Vietnam War, many believed the American’s had the power to diminish communism in Vietnam. The government fed these beliefs of victory with word of America’s success in Vietnam. General William Westmoreland stated “We have got our opponent almost on the ropes. We are confident that we are winning the war”. While his words were reassuring for some time, people began to reconsider and think they were being “played for suckers”. After weeks of fighting, although the communist’s losses were substantially greater than those of the Americans and South Vietnamese, reconsiderations were made toward the American’s policy toward Vietnam. Vietnam was a “bottomless pit” and would require much more time, energy, and supplies than America was willing to provide. The American government, which had once given words of encouragement about the war, now stated America could “no longer do the job [it] set out to do” (158). America was giving up, and people’s trust in the government was lost during this time. All hope that America could defeat the communists was gone. The hope and trust that builds the foundation of the American Dream was crushed after the Vietnam War.
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary, in July of 1969 America accomplished something that empowered the American Dream: they sent the first man to the moon. The Cold War sparked a competition, or Space Race, between the Soviet Union and America. The Space Race consisted of the Americans and the Soviets trying to oneup each other. After Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin had become the first human to venture into space, Kennedy pushed for an American to be the first man on the moon. The landing of Apollo 11 measured America’s ability to organize its energy and skill, and proved it was capable of achieving anything. The success of the trip reassured Americans of their greatness. “Humans, after hundreds of millennia of gazing up at the moon, had finally reached it”, entirely because of the people who lived with the American Dream.
As fellow classmates have said before me, the “American Dream” constantly changes with time. Events such as Watergate and September 11th have shaken the United States to the core. The American Public was unnerved to find out President Nixon had been involved in a political scandal, which “authorities described as an elaborate plot to bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee” (180). If Americans could not trust the President of the United States how could they trust the “American Dream”? A recording on June 23, 1972 “caught Nixon ordering the CIA to block the FBI’s investigation of the Watergate affair. Now even Nixon’s supporters realized the game was up” (185). After losing trust in Nixon, people of the United States lost trust in their government, making the “American Dream” of a perfect democracy seem unachievable.
ReplyDeleteAbout thirty years after the Watergate scandal, on September 11, 2001 a terrorist attack by a group of Islamic extremist associated with al-Qaeda, broke the hearts of millions of Americans. Four planes were hijacked by a group of nineteen terrorists, and two of the planes were re-routed to collide with the Twin Towers in the financial district of New York City; not only one of the most populated cities in the U.S., but the heart of American capitalism. One plane was set for the heart of the military, the Pentagon in Washington D.C. The fourth plane went down in a field in Pennsylvania, where everyone onboard was killed. These combined acts of terror killed thousands of civilians. These attacks showed the American people that they were not invincible. As President Bush said, “Our very freedom came under attack…”(352), this spurred the need to fight terrorism, and launched the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. The President’s immediate attempts to unite the American people in mourning boosted morale tremendously, people wanted to live in a world of peace and fight terror globally. After the 9/11 attacks the Nation stood together, which led to an encouraging rejuvenation of the “American Dream”.
September 11, 2001 will be a day that will be remembered by Americans forever. With the exception of Pear Harbor, this was the first time terrorists committed an act of war on American land in well over a century. Since 9/11, the United States focus on the “war on terror” has increased dramatically. Policies such as the Patriot Act have given national security priority over even civil liberties. Within a month following the attacks on the world trade center, the United States invaded Afghanistan in an attempt to rid al-Qaeda and the Taliban government that was protecting the terrorists. Busch exclaimed, “Al Qaeda is to terror what the Mafia is to crime.” As a result, post 9/11 defense budgets escalated to astronomical levels in order to win the “war on terror.” Due to increased safety measures to protect Americans and the rest of the world from these terrorists, millions of U.S soldiers have been deployed, while thousands have been either killed or severely wounded. After 9/11, the American Dream changed our idea about national security and our ability to protect Americans especially from foreign intruders. Americans came together as a country to fight for worldwide-peace, while taking great measures to ensure the safety of this nation. The nation’s focus changed from that of individual success to more of a worldly focus on the “war on terror.”
ReplyDeleteWatergate also had a profound effect on how Americans perceived the American Dream. On June 17, 1972, president Nixon tried to bug an office of his political opponents and then denied any involvement in the process. Nixon soon resigned from his presidency as the whole country was shocked by his unjust actions. After this scandal, many people lost trust in the United States democracy as it was clearly flawed after this incident. The American dream evolved after this to more individual thinking and affluence, rather than listening and obeying whatever the government says.
September 11th was a galvanizing event that brought the country together. I recall my parents going to New York shortly after 9/11 and there recounting about how somber New York was, how it seemed liked an entirely different place as everyone was helpful, mindful and courteous—not what you expect in your typical New York day. My dad’s best friend worked in downtown New York at the time and had to walk to midtown and then get a ferry to New Jersey to get home. As individuals, these catastrophic events shape us and bring us together—it is simply part of the DNA of being an American. We come together when in peril and we collectively work together to overcome adversity. I remember all the American flags that appeared on the road, outside people’s homes, and on all kinds clothing that everyone embraced to demonstrate their pride in being American. From “Freedom fries” to American Cheese, everyone was no longer an individual, but we were again focused as a people to ferret out the “evil doers” and bring them to justice. This wasn’t an individual ambition, or a government or military notion, but a country that was hurting and its people were forced to come together to find solace and resolve to recover.
ReplyDeleteTied to September 11th was the renewed patriotism in serving in the military and fighting in the Iraq war to protect and serve our nation against those who would harm us. I have to look no further than our own local congressman Seth Moulton (my brother Cole served as his personal aide), who joined the marines straight out of Harvard to serve his country with four tours in the Iraq War. This is an example of where an individual put their ambitions second to the ambitions of the country to help American again become safe so that future generations could again embrace and achieve the American Dream which seemed impossible immediately following September 11th. The Iraq war while arguably ill-conceived was another galvanizing event that brought Americans together where they prioritized the country’s collective ambitions and goals ahead of their own individual dreams.
Unexpected or disastrous events such as 9/11 and Pearl Harbor have had a profound impact on the contemporary understanding of the American Dream. In both instances, the U.S was attacked unprovoked, followed by mourning and American projection of military force. Interpreted as action against the democracy for which the U.S. stands, both lead to a surge of nationalism and fervor for lashing out at whatever force perpetrated the attack. The impact of these on the American Dream largely consisted of an increased responsibility felt by Americans as to their role in international politics. Despite wanting to stay out of wars, eventual (sometimes projected) impacts on the U.S. economy required intervention. As a superpower, it was not viable to stay out of war for any extended period of time, and these events served to illustrate this. As such, no American dream can exclude “policing” the world.
ReplyDeleteGovernment scandals have also significantly changed the perception of the American Dream. The fallout from Watergate and the Lewinsky scandal had very similar affects: a loss of faith in the bureaucracy running the American government. This change is less a change then a return to the views held by many Americans before the Great Depression; until the federal government stepped in to ease the depression, many were far too suspicious to allow anything like the New Deal or Johnson’s Great Society to exist. Thus, the scandals shook the faith of the American people in the morality of their leaders, more because of the perjury and obstruction than the scandals themselves. This served to dispel idealistic positions regarding democracy: nothing was infallible.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor during WWII was the first major act of terror upon the United States. The United States and its peoples were fully aware of the ongoing war and being afraid of only further damaging the crippled economy and making the nation suffer more we believed it was in our best interest to isolate ourselves from foreign affairs. On December 7th Japan made the decision to enter the war for us. With the devastation from the bombs killing more than 2,000 Americans and being the first act of violence upon us the government could not allow this to go without a response. Realizing how important our role in the war was the nation did not hold back whether it be from manpower or resources. While being a tragedy and test of the United States integrity the events on December 7th showed our influence as a nation on the rest of the world, and because of that it became an “American Dream” to protect and serve.
ReplyDeleteNations need to have a strong leader, and while most of the time they do, events like the Watergate scandal caused people of a nation to question basic rights and principles. When Richard Nixon's illegal activities were released to the public there was a brief moment of shock. Brands states “After Vietnam and Watergate, Americans were willing to believe almost anything dastardly about their government” (191). This quote shows how little experience the American people had with (known) corruption in our government. Watergate was an event that switched our whole nations opinions, if our own democracy at home is not stable enough to provide a solid government to the people then why should we be trying to influence it upon other countries and nations. With Nixon's resignation our nation was left with a feeling of insecurity and that our government might not be working for the interests of the people, but more for the people controlling it. This event shattered the feeling of unity that came with the American dream causing people to reconsider what they wanted from their nation.
March 7, 1965, better known as "Bloody Sunday", was one of the darkest days in American history. Martin Luther King led a civil rights demonstration in Selma, Alabama. King and hundreds of followers marched into Selma in an attempt to give African-Americans the right to vote. King expected a certain degree of violence; in fact he chose to march in Selma because its authorities were known for having a lack of patience. However, the violence displayed by the police force shocked even King. " They attacked the marchers with batons, tear gas, bull whips, and rubber hoses. They didn't distinguish women and elderly from young men; the most appalling news photographs and television footage showed burly, helmeted white troopers bludgeoning black women already on the ground." (128) This event led to action by President Johnson. He gave an emotional speech to Congress, asking them to pass a comprehensive voting rights bill. This bill eventually passed and King achieved what he sought out to do. "Bloody Sunday" changed America's perception of the "American Dream" because it spread the idea of equality for all.
ReplyDeletePresident Ronald Reagan told American citizens that his administration would not negotiate with kidnappers. “The United States gives terrorists no rewards. We make no concessions. We make no deals” (248) However, the Reagan administration did make such a deal. They agreed to sell firearms to the Iranians in exchange for the release of American hostages. Reagan used the proceeds from this deal to fund the contras in Nicaragua; this exchange is known as the Iran-contra affair. The American people had no knowledge of this deal at the time and when a Lebanese magazine broke the story in 1986 Reagan denied the claims. If proved true, Reagan would look like a hypocrite to the American people because he state earlier that Americans don’t make deals with terrorists. This scandal shook the nation’s confidence in their government. The “American Dream” can only be achieve with a strong government. Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” changed as they lost faith in government.
The Vietnam War and the tragedy on September 11th forced the adaptation of the American Dream for the citizens of the United States. Many American people believed that the United States was superior to all other nations. Losing the war in Vietnam was inconceivable to Americans; if the communist forces succeeded, the entirety of Southeast Asia would be lost to Communist China. A quick victory was expected from the armed forces of the United States. Following the loss of $360 billion dollars and 60,000 men (174), a cease fire was negotiated in which the U.S. forces withdrew from Vietnam, leading to complete communist victory. Before this military failure, the people of America had a firm belief in American exceptionalism and invincibility. Following the defeat, the citizens of the U.S. were reminded that there are limits to their actions. The Munich syndrome had dictated that, “. . . when in doubt, America must fight” (175). This was now replaced by the Vietnam syndrome, which “. . . asserted that when in doubt, America mustn’t” (175). The American military, whose previous successes had conveyed the feeling of American invincibility, suffered the loss of confidence of the American people.
ReplyDeleteOn September 11, 2001, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, and one crashed into the Pentagon. The civilian casualties were numerous. This horrible tragedy further weakened the idea of American invulnerability. However, the American Dream did not shatter, despite these trying circumstances. A new aspect was integrated into the American Dream; retribution. The American people were now determined to make those who would attack their country account for their crimes. The American Dream had changed once more. The nation stood united against a foreign threat that had no respect for civilian lives or the rules of war. Tragedy brought the American people together to make a stand against the forces of terror.
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ReplyDeleteSeptember 11th was a devastating day not only for the citizens of New York, but for every corner of the United States. The horrific terrorist attacks that occurred on this significant day, led by a group known as al Qaeda, shook the nation, and the entire world. Members of this radical gang boarded and hijacked several planes, and performed their premeditated destruction. The confusion and heartbreak that every citizen of the nation felt after these attacks was like none other; “For weeks Americans couldn’t laugh. At first nothing seemed funny; the pain was too great” (351). However, as Becky stated, these deliberate and evil attacks prompted the nation to eventually somewhat recover and emerge even stronger. The historic events prompted President Bush to declare a “war on terror,” which would strive to rid terrorism throughout the world. Heeding in part to the neo-conservative influence in the United States, promoting more aggression and offense, America entered a war against Afghanistan and later Iraq. Although these wars proved to be questionable in their effectiveness, they initially exhibited America’s desire for a bloodless, amiable, and democratic world. For many decades, Americans were adamant on affiliating and connecting with foreign powers in Europe, however, following the attacks on September 11th, they readjusted their attention to the Middle East. The American Dream became altered as the nation no longer predominantly cared about global connections and peace, but rather wanted to control and defend the world from future demolition.
ReplyDeleteScandalous events in U.S. history, such as Watergate, involving Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton’s public and scandalous affairs, definitely demoralized the nation’s perception of the government. The Watergate crime involved President Nixon and his all-encompassing need to win the upcoming presidential election. Nixon sent five men who were previous employees of the Central Intelligence Agency to break into the Watergate Offices, which serves as the Democratic National Committee’s meeting ground. Their mission was to rob any information that would benefit Nixon and help him win the election. However, the assignment was unsuccessful, causing Nixon to rid all evidence and bribe the robbers with money to keep them silent. Unfortunately, for Nixon, his involvement in the crime was soon discovered and crushed the image of a democratic, “for-the-people” government. The embarrassment to the nation caused Nixon to resign. Many years later, another scandal occurred in the White House, involving Bill Clinton. A woman named Gennifer Flowers admitted, during the 1992 campaign, that while Clinton was governor of Arkansas, she had an inappropriate relationship with the soon-to-be president. Clinton admitted to this slanderous accusation, proving that he was unfaithful to his wife, Hillary. Later, Clinton was accused of sexually harassing another woman named Paula Jones, which Clinton denied. Then again, Clinton was accused of having sexual relations with a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky. Sidney Blumenthal, a Clinton loyalist, stated, “I could not imagine that such careful political men would be reckless lawbreakers. An affair? I had no idea. But obstructing justice? Suborning perjury? This seemed impossible” (320). Clinton admitted to this allegation after many lies and fables, which he could no longer cover up. These events greatly dwindled the citizens of America’s faith and confidence in government. They no longer expected or trusted the honesty and loyalty that their leaders had promised to exhibit. September 11th and President Nixon and Clinton’s disgraces to the country showed that America’s dream of being a democratic and global superpower was considerably far from reach; these incidences showed their once disguised flaws and defects and their need for national stability. The notion of a democratic nation, “for-the-people”, was severely compromised.
Events like the Bay of Pigs invasion and September 11th challenged Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” with discouragement and fear. After just being inaugurated in 1960, President Kennedy was faced with a communist threat in Cuba quickly after, as Fidel Castro overthrew Batista, the nation’s American-backed president. America employed the CIA to a secret mission to destabilize Castro’s regime. However, as Kennedy took the role of President and approved the invasion of Cuba, everything went wrong. When the invaders were captured, the secret American failure was made public. Americans questioned the faith they had recently put into Kennedy as their new president and wondered whether his failure was to be “malign, in having attacked a country with which the United States was not at war, or to be inept, in not succeeding in the attack,” (105) since the U.S. is fifty times stronger than Cuba. Kennedy recognized this failure as a “tremendous setback” (105) and so did most Americans, seeing their country fail an attack when they were not even at war with Cuba. The belief that America can accomplish almost anything it sets its mind to was challenged with the recent humiliating failure in Cuba. Americans’ perception of the "American Dream" was reduced to a more realistic view as they realized they could not even succeed in a secret attack.
ReplyDeleteOn September 11th, 2001 the Islamic terrorist group, al-Qaeda, destroyed the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center and took thousands of innocent Americans’ lives. Tragedy had struck so sudden and so ferociously, the attack drew all citizens speechless. Prior to the attack the “American Dream” of living in the land of the free, where equality overcomes oppression, was nearly reality. A breakthrough era where segregation no longer existed, women won equal rights, and the economy was steady was shattered by a strike of terrorism and fear. At that time, the “American Dream” had developed into more of an expectation; to live a peaceful life where hardworking families acheived financial success under the safety and freedom of America. Concern for the country, and despair for all the innocent lives lost, washed over all America’s people. No longer was the “American Dream” attainable, since grief overcame most Americans who lost loved ones and lost faith in their own country’s security. Questioning the strength of the United States, many Americans lost hope in the “American Dream” in such an unbearable time of nationwide vulnerability.
Many tragic events in history have altered the way society perceives the American Dream. On the morning of September 11th, 2001, the United States was attacked by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington D.C and a field in Pennsylvania. Two of the hijacked airplanes were flown into the twin towers in New York, instantly killing over 3,000 people in the buildings and over 400 police officers and firefighters. This event was eye opening for America as citizens realized that our nation was vulnerable to terrorists. However, America was ultimately united by this common fear which helped bring a sense of nationalism throughout the country. Everyone focused on coming together instead of overcoming the tragedy as individuals. Although the American Dream was tested once again, America’s unity and determination to defend our country proceeding the event, helped to strengthen the ambitions of our nation.
ReplyDeleteAnother event that tested the perception of the American Dream was the catastrophe at Watergate. On the morning of June 17th, 1972 five men broke into the headquarters at the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate complex in Washington D.C. Five “Plumbers” went to work against the president’s Democratic rivals, seeking information not about security leaks but about Democratic strategy” (182). When the scandal was investigated, authorities learned that President Richard Nixon had prior knowledge of the crime, and “had taped the conversations of visitors to the Oval Office” (184) to prove it. However, “Nixon clung to the recordings, claiming executive privilege- the right of the executive branch, under America’s system of separated powers, to be free from legislative oversight” (184). Realizing that their own President had committed a crime led America to mistrust the leaders of our nation. This incident altered the ever-changing American Dream as citizens began to question the intentions of the officials running their country.
March 7, 1965, better known as "Bloody Sunday", was one of the darkest days in American history. Martin Luther King led a civil rights demonstration in Selma, Alabama. King and hundreds of followers marched into Selma in an attempt to give African-Americans the right to vote. King expected a certain degree of violence; in fact he chose to march in Selma because its authorities were known for having a lack of patience. However, the violence displayed by the police force shocked even King. " They attacked the marchers with batons, tear gas, bull whips, and rubber hoses. They didn't distinguish women and elderly from young men; the most appalling news photographs and television footage showed burly, helmeted white troopers bludgeoning black women already on the ground." (128) This event led to action by President Johnson. He gave an emotional speech to Congress, asking them to pass a comprehensive voting rights bill. This bill eventually passed and King achieved what he sought out to do. "Bloody Sunday" changed America's perception of the "American Dream" because it spread the idea of equality for all.
ReplyDeletePresident Ronald Reagan told American citizens that his administration would not negotiate with kidnappers. “The United States gives terrorists no rewards. We make no concessions. We make no deals” (248) However, the Reagan administration did make such a deal. They agreed to sell firearms to the Iranians in exchange for the release of American hostages. Reagan used the proceeds from this deal to fund the contras in Nicaragua; this exchange is known as the Iran-contra affair. The American people had no knowledge of this deal at the time and when a Lebanese magazine broke the story in 1986 Reagan denied the claims. If proved true, Reagan would look like a hypocrite to the American people because he state earlier that Americans don’t make deals with terrorists. This scandal shook the nation’s confidence in their government. The “American Dream” can only be achieve with a strong government. Americans’ perception of the “American Dream” changed as they lost faith in government.
On December 7th, 1941, the Japanese naval and air forces attacked the U.S. Naval Base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This disaster for the United States killed 2,400 Americans and influenced Americans to dream of a more peaceful world. Pearl Harbor also brought the idea of ending American isolationism. For the Americans, the policy of “isolationism had been respectable until the moment the Japanese bombs and torpedoes struck the American ships at Pearl Harbor” (23). Ending the policy of isolationism also opened the responsibility of maintaining world peace and order. Now caring for others, as well as maintaining peace, had become part of the American Dream. By allying with other countries during times of war, sending relief for natural disasters, and aiding countries during times of hardship and struggle, developing countries looked up to America as a role model. The American Dream was impacted greatly by Pearl Harbor, because it served as a turning point from isolationism to Americans promoting peace and order throughout the globe.
ReplyDeleteOn September 11, 2001, terrorists from the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four planes and attempted to destroy critical American control centers. Three of them succeeded with two crashing into the towers of the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon. The fourth plane was redirected from the intended target destination by brave passengers and flight crew who fought against the terrorists. Unfortunately the plane crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. About 3,000 people were killed in this tragic event that sent America into mourning. The new American Dream of national security and terminating terrorist threats and attacks flooded the minds of Americans. Although this event was devastating to Americans, it prompted the need for protection from terrorists and a stronger national security.
On September 11, 2001, two airplanes hijacked by terrorists from the islamic extremist group Al-Queda were crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City. That same day, Al-Queda also arranged for another hijacker to take over and crash a plane into the Pentagon in Washington, DC. These attacks shocked Americans and influenced President Bush to start the "war on terror". This was a war to stop terrorism worldwide. In addition to the war on terror, airport security became much more thorough in order to prevent people from being able to hide weapons and bring them onto airplanes. Because of 9/11, Americans felt more united. They had shared this hardship together, and the phrase "never forget" quickly caught on regarding the event. The "American Dream" was tested, and it became more about being able to defend the right to dream than the dream itself.
ReplyDeleteThe "American Dream" also was affected during the Watergate Scandal. An important element that is necessary for a good relationship between a leader and someone who recognizes that individual as their leader is trust. When President Richard Nixon was caught planning a break-in into the Democratic National Committee's headquarters to retrieve information about the Democrats strategies. The American people as a whole were hurt by these findings. They had voted for Nixon and put their trust in him, and he had betrayed them by conducting illegal activities. Nixon soon became the first president to resign, only because he would've been impeached soon after. The "American Dream" hit a rough patch here, and a time of uncertainty began of whether or not the american people could really trust those that were representing their country.
The perception of the American Dream depends on the economic state of America and the cultural standings for every individual. As North Vietnam was controlled and aided by Soviet Union communists, they threatened to expand into South Vietnam. Due to that fact that the US was against communism, they felt obligated to assist South Vietnam and halt the spread of communism. As the war worsened and the experience of the men fighting grew unbearable and unimaginable, at least two-thirds of the American population believed that involvement was a mistake. As Jake mentioned, many of the men being drafted into the war were being forced against their will, which heightens the feeling of spite against the US. After events, such as the war in Vietnam, “Americans were willing to believe almost anything dastardly about their government.” (Brands 191) It brought America to an economical place that was unwanted. In turn this impacted the perception of the American Dream by halting hope that it was possible. As men died overseas and wealth began to seem unattainable, the American leadership finally realized that the Vietnam War was a “bottomless pit” that would only drag the country’s finances and citizens down with it (Brands 158). The American Dream was put on hold the minute that America decided to aid South Vietnam and remained that way until they backed down from the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThe events that happened on September 11th changed America forever and stirred the perception of the American Dream. Anyone with a television was able to watch the terrible events that happened on this not-so-normal day. Planes were hijacked and so were the lives of people in the Pentagon, the Twin Towers, and on the planes, but the victory that the terrorists thought they would receive was easily lost. They may have scared the whole nation and briefly made them feel unsafe, but the leadership and response of the people who witnessed the attack first hand is what saved America. This only made us stronger and more willing to fight for our country. As New York mayor Rudy Giuliani stated: “We’re going to rebuild. We’re going to come out of this stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, economically stronger.” (Brands 351) Everything that he said was true. The events that occurred on September 11th may have brought terrible tragedy and loss, but it is something America will never forget and never stop fighting to find some sort of closure with. The American Dream was strengthened significantly in only one day. The feeling of national responsibility and the want and need for safety and success allowed the perception of the American Dream to become stronger. More people felt obligated to reach the American Dream, it became a country-wide goal that everyone pushed for together.
Events that shake the very foundation of society change the people, and how they view the world. Everyone has dreams that they build based on their life and what they see in the world, when these factors are radically changed or they are exposed to a new idea, those dreams change. September 11th is an example of radical change. In one day many lives were lost and America was exposed to the idea that not everyone liked the American way of life. Airports, travelling, and security changed to fit a dangerous new world, citizens of the US became aware of terrorists and anti-American groups. Radical change in people’s society made them take a closer look at their dreams, and change them to fit their new perspective on life. World War two also brought radical change to America. The US became involved in a war that touched every corner of our world, it was inescapable. Life changed to fit the demands of war, there were shortages of certain products and people fought across the world. An influx of new ideas once again spread through America, the idea that one group of people was superior to another, that the mass genocide of a group of people was for the greater good, or that people actually and truly believed in these ideas. Even once the war was over, the changes did not end. Refugees from across Europe came in droves to the US looking for a new life away from their battle torn homeland. New cultures, people, and religions poured into America, and society adjusted to fit it all. People are resilient when society changes radically, people will create new dreams to cope and find a way to fit ideas into their new perspective on life.
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ReplyDeleteThe American Dream will unavoidably change over time to meet the needs of the people who are dreaming as society develops too. However, a major event such as the terrorist attack on September 11th 2001 will immediately change the American Dream. As a society, we had never faced an enemy quite like the terrorists who attacked the twin towers in 2001. Many of the major battles in the past 100 years had been on enemy soil so the American Dream and altered and had less focus of self defense. People generally weren’t worried about being attacked on US soil. When we realized after the 9/11 attacks that we had a new enemy that was willing to go as far as to attack us at home, the American Dream changed and factored in a certain amount of defense and a desire for home to feel safe. Another different event like the Watergate scandal created much different problems for the people, namely because this time the enemy was coming from the inside. This brought a serious case of national insecurity to the US. Most people up until this point had very strong faith in the democracy of the US but this made most people very weary of how honest and by the people our democracy truly was. This change made Americans seriously question how they perceived the democracy we brag about. Both 9/11 and Watergate drastically changed the way people perceived the American Dream because even though they were both just singular events, they contrasted the current view of the American Dream so much that they caused panic and lots of changing opinions.
ReplyDeleteThe American Dream was hugely impacted by the Japanese attack on the naval base Pearl Harbor. It was the first foreign attack on home soil in decades and it sent a shock through the American people. After the attack Americans became extremely upset but that fear soon turned into anger, and Americans dreamed about seeking justice. They wanted to show all the other countries of the world just how powerful they were. Americans wanted to prove that no one could get away with harming the United States without facing brutal consequences. The Vietnam War impacted the American Dream vastly. When America entered this war they viewed themselves as the peacemakers and as the ones who would come in take control and establish a stable capitalist society. However, the war did not go as planed and America ended up pulling out their troops. This action made many Americans question their involvement in the war in the first place, many felt that this was not their conflict and that they had no business intervening in foreign affairs. The American Dream slowly crept back to the idea of focusing more on America instead of foreign countries.
ReplyDeleteThroughout Brands’ book, Americans have faced adversity, both on the home front and beyond. Three adverse events in particular caused a significant decline in Americans’ faith in the American Dream, and led people to realize that America’s strength was far from a permanent fixture in the world. In 1957, the Soviets successfully launched Sputnik I, the first artificial Earth satellite. America’s failure to beat the Soviets in this critical aspect of the Cold War proved that America was not invincible. It also served as an alarming wake up call to the public that the Soviets were far from technologically inferior to the United States, and in the aftermath of the Soviets’ space success, Americans watched the United States’ Vanguard rocket fail to achieve the same result. Almost two decades later, news of Nixon’s Watergate scandal reached the public. Americans learned that Nixon had created the group involved with the break-in at the Democratic National Committee, and that organizations like the CIA and FBI had been conducting investigations on members of the American public. This resulted in a decline in public morale, and additionally a loss of trust towards American leaders, and consequently, democracy. Finally, on September 11, 2001, airplanes hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists struck the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C., killing almost three thousand Americans and destroying symbols of American capitalism and military power, respectively. Again, this resulted in a severe decline in public morale. Additionally, September 11 was another reminder of America’s vulnerability; despite being a megalithic world power, it was still susceptible to the powers of evil, which had manifested themselves yet again in the form of terrorism.
ReplyDeleteOn September 11, 2001, the American dream was changed forever. Leading up to the tragic event, there was a tangible sense of progress in the U.S.. It seemed as if all of the dreaming of generations passed was finally about to become a reality. This is exactly why the blow hit so hard; at this point in U.S. history, a successful attack on American soil was nearly inconceivable. These terrorist attacks shocked the Nation to its core, but as expected the American dream adapted yet again. It had become apparent that the economic, political and social success of America was not reflected in the state of the world; this was, and is true to the extent that anti-American organizations such as Al-Quaeda, and now ISIS, arose. The American dream now not only incorporated citizens of the United States, but citizens of the world as a whole.
ReplyDeleteAn additional, but much less recent attack on U.S. soil was the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor during WWII. America had been practicing isolationism prior to this point, but with the war being made personal, it was now apparent to all citizens that The Axis Powers were a world-wide threat. As a nation of great scale and ability, entering the war reflected The U.S.'s new-found place as a world power, and hence our nation wide sense of responsibility.
The American Dream, in itself is constantly changing. In my opinion, the "dream" is different for everybody. The stereotypical version of the dream, in my view is working your way up to the top, the top being some sort of level of extreme material wealth. But as social and economic climates change, the American dream in itself is changing. My "dream" is to go to college. For someone else their "dream" may not be pursuing education, it may be to begin working after high school. Some peoples "dreams" may be to make enough money to feed their children; another's "dream" could be to buy a new car. Someone's American "dream" could be to save enough money to go on vacation; another's could be to become an American citizen. All in all, hope is cemented into the American Dream. Whatever the "dream" is, everybody's dream is affected by major historical events, including 9/11 and Watergate.
ReplyDeleteThe events that occurred on September 11th directly affected thousands of families, but it truly did directly affect the nation. The ramifications of the terrorist attacks are seen in the nation's social/political climate today. The way that it affected the 'American Dream' is that it really did instill fear in millions, and made safety the nations top priority. I'm not trying to come off as naive but since the attacks terrorists have been able to unite the country on one front; and that front is fear. The uniting factor is not just fear, but a sort of mindset that shows no mercy for terrorists in any way. The media is constantly reporting on terrorists and new statistics about terror (helping out with the fairly new fear factor in America.)
Watergate also changed the way Americans viewed politics, more specifically politicians. The distrust people felt after their President had committed illegal acts forced people to question their faith in their government that was supposed to be "for the people."
The Montgomery Boycott and the Civil Rights Movement brought a community together to fight for their rights and freedoms. Martin Luther King Jr. lead this boycott against unjust racial transit laws in Montgomery, Alabama. This boycott, which started with Rosa Parks refusing to sit in the back of the bus, made Americans aware of inequitable and discriminatory laws whether or not they fought for justice. Freedom has always been part of the American Dream and the people who participated in the Civil Rights Movement had a goal to achieve their freedoms. At the time of the boycott in 1955-1956, the Jim Crow laws and segregation were almost not to be questioned. A person’s life could be in danger if they disobeyed them. Violent outbreaks occurred and people were killed for fighting for what they believed in. However, those who knew their freedoms fought the laws in protests like the Montgomery Boycott.
ReplyDeleteMan on the Moon was a legendary moment in the history of the United States. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot where no man had before, astonishing the world and revolutionizing the American Dream. When Neil Armstrong first set foot on the dusty, rocky, surface of the moon he stated, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” By walking on the moon, Aldrin and Armstrong made America think anything was possible and the American Dream was achievable. With putting a man on the moon, Aldrin and Armstrong fulfilled President Kennedy’s goal to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade, which shows that Americans can accomplish anything they set out to do; a key component of the American Dream. Aldrin and Armstrong took a call from Richard Nixon while they were on the moon. The president declared, “Because of what you have done, the heavens have become a part of man's world.”
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ReplyDeleteWatergate had a major impact on the American Dream. The American dream had always been based on freedom without corruption. This scandal caused true damage to the image of the Dream. Elections are supposed to be decided by the people and the people only. The Watergate Scandal opened curtains of doubt in society whether or not this country is a true democracy with free and honest elections. The idea had been anyone achieve all that is possible and they are free to pursue it. Watergate showed the potential for corruption and Nixon was caught red handed cheating. It showed the public that everything isn't as pure as you think it is. There is a gray area that contains corruption, cheating, and lying.
ReplyDeleteVietnam also had an impact on the American Dream. Americans believed that they were a dominant world power and could convert countries going through civil war into democracies. In Vietnam the US put a great amount of money and effort into the war. They were trying to take a stand against the other side who were in support of communism. They could not liberate Vietnam and left the country split. When the U.S. left it was taken over by the communist side. It showed America doesn't always succeed and get what it wants. The Dream can fail. It showed people that even if the United States of America puts the lives of troops along with money towards a cause, it doesn't always turn out the way the dream was conceived.
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ReplyDeletePersonally I believe that everyone has their own unique interpretation of the American Dream. This "Dream" can be changed in an instant due to a traumatic event. Such an event was the deliberate terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Four planes were hijacked hoping to hit America at its economical, military, and political core. The two most devastating attacks were those of the twin towers in the heart of the United State's financial district. Two planes slammed into the towers causing the towers to collapse killing thousands and injuring more. While the towers were under attack another plane slammed into the Pentagon in Washington DC, the heart of the US military. The final plane was on route to crash into the White House the centerpiece of the US government and democracy. Thankfully brave citizens manage to take back control of the plane in crash it into a field. The attacks shocked the American people and struck fear into their hearts. It was a wake up call that the US could be attacked on its home soil which citizens believed to be impossible. The American Dream suddenly change to survival and defense of our country.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to the 9/11 attacks but taking place during the second world war was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. At that point during the war Americans were focused on isolating themselves and fixing national issues. This sudden and deliberate attack "A day which will live in infamy" (FDR) was a wake up call to the American people. It became evident that the axis powers were an immediate threat to American safety. The United States switched its focus overseas and entered the war. The bombing of Pearl Harbor rallied the American people and "awoken a sleeping giant" The American Dream was now about survival and wining the war to bring back peace. America proved its power by winning the war and came out a global powerhouse. Such events struck deep inside the American people and showed how the American Dream can change in the blink of an eye.
Every American has their own story of their experience regarding the terror from September 11th. The novel American Dreams, by H.W. Brands reminded me of my own family’s experience. The day that the two planes crashed into the World Trades Center was the day my father boarded a morning flight from Boston to New York. The rest of my family was unable to reach him, and for that day we hoped and prayed that my father was not among the terror. My family gathered in front of the television and watched the news in horror, as so many others did that day. The live news was horrifying, but probably not as scarring as it was for our family friends in New York who witnessed the events happen right before their eyes. At the end of the long day we cried in relief that my father’s plane had never taken off, but were soon devastated to learn that a family friend died in the plane crash into the Tower. This emotional day scarred my family, as it did so many others, but at the same time, the events made us stronger. We came out more prepared for consequences of inevitable future conflicts involving either personal family matters or world events. New York mayor Rudy Guiliani helped make Americans across the nation aware of this positive spin on such a tragic event. He promised that Americans would “’come out of this stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, and economically stronger.’” (351). President Bush then united the people of America by announcing the “war on terror.” Its proceedings may not have all been successful, but this effort did help Americans’ feel like we were moving forward and getting stronger. The events from September 11th changed the American dream as people felt the need to unite with the common goal to become stronger from the devastation.
ReplyDeleteEarlier in history, Americans were united during the moving speech made by Martin Luther King Junior that helped end segregation in America. In contrast to the terror from September 11th, Americans united in the 1960’s during King’s peaceful message that promoted equality. His speech stated that he dreamed of an “oasis of freedom and justice” and for the day “when all God’s children...will be able to join hands and sing...’Free at last!’” These strong words gave Americans the opportunity to stop and think about how intensely racism and segregation had been hurting the world and the people inside it. King’s call for freedom left a lasting impression on Americans that resonated similarly to the messages from the September 11th crisis: Americans have the capability to unite, whether through peace or through terror, to become a better, stronger nation.
Every American has their own story of their experience regarding the terror from September 11th. The novel American Dreams, by H.W. Brands reminded me of my own family’s experience. The day that the two planes crashed into the World Trades Center was the day my father boarded a morning flight from Boston to New York. The rest of my family was unable to reach him, and for that day we hoped and prayed that my father was not among the terror. My family gathered in front of the television and watched the news in horror, as so many others did that day. The live news was horrifying, but probably not as scarring as it was for our family friends in New York who witnessed the events happen right before their eyes. At the end of the long day we cried in relief that my father’s plane had never taken off, but were soon devastated to learn that a family friend died in the plane crash into the Tower. This emotional day scarred my family, as it did so many others, but at the same time, the events made us stronger. We came out more prepared for consequences of inevitable future conflicts involving either personal family matters or world events. New York mayor Rudy Guiliani helped make Americans across the nation aware of this positive spin on such a tragic event. He promised that Americans would “’come out of this stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, and economically stronger.’” (351). President Bush then united the people of America by announcing the “war on terror.” Its proceedings may not have all been successful, but this effort did help Americans’ feel like we were moving forward and getting stronger. The events from September 11th changed the American dream as people felt the need to unite with the common goal to become stronger from the devastation.
ReplyDeleteEarlier in history, Americans were united during the moving speech made by Martin Luther King Junior that helped end segregation in America. In contrast to the terror from September 11th, Americans united in the 1960’s during King’s peaceful message that promoted equality. His speech stated that he dreamed of an “oasis of freedom and justice” and for the day “when all God’s children...will be able to join hands and sing...’Free at last!’” These strong words gave Americans the opportunity to stop and think about how intensely racism and segregation had been hurting the world and the people inside it. King’s call for freedom left a lasting impression on Americans that resonated similarly to the messages from the September 11th crisis: Americans have the capability to unite, whether through peace or through terror, to become a better, stronger nation.
Large events in American history have greatly shifted the public perception of the American dream. The 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is one of many events that had changed America’s goals. 2,400 Americans were killed by Japanese bombs and torpedoes. The result was the end to American isolationism. The fatal losses of WWI as well as the Great Depression of the 1930s moved America toward isolationism. But, the outbreak of WWII and the attack on “Pearl Harbor finished off American Isolationism, convincing Americans almost to a man and woman that the country could never again turn its back on the world” (18). Because America stands as the symbol of freedom and democracy the large size of the assault increased nationalistic feelings among Americans. A new dream had formed, citizens felt the need to defend their political system. Soon the governments goal was to spread democracy and to stop the rise of communist powers. America’s foreign policy changed along with the dream, it was now one that included the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. This tragic event impacted people all over America and caused a change in citizens’ perception of the American dream.
ReplyDeleteAs the streets of New York City plumed with smoke on September 11, 2001 Americans across the nation were horrified by the visons on their TVs. Two hijacked planes had slammed into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center. Soon after, a third plane would hit the Pentagon and a half an hour later a fourth hijacked plane would crash in Pennsylvania. A blanket of fear and sorrow fell over the nation as “The shock of the day evolved into mourning for the thousands killed in the attacks” (351). At a time of chaos and confusion the American people came together and looked to their leaders with numerous questions. President Bush soon made it clear that America’s “freedom [had come] under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly acts of terror” (352). Americans may have been frightened by this event but they also felt a sense of patriotism much like they did after the defeat of Pearl Harbor. From the outside America may have appeared to be paralyzed and defeated. But, the Americans hadn’t lost hope and thus at a time when the U.S. looked depleted the American dream morphed into a goal to rebuild and grow stronger as a country even when clouded with fear. When President Bush visited the the rubble where the twin towers had stood he was greeted with a crowd of rescue workers chanting “U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” (352). He replied “I can hear you. I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon” (352). In the one statement President Bush shed light on the impact of this horrifying event by implying that as a nation we won’t go down without a fight.
America has always been a major force and political power across the globe for military reasons as well as being a protector of democracy, so to speak. However, for a period of time during and briefly after WWII, America decided to take a different approach towards the rest of the world, adopting the state of isolationism. However, this stopped when America came to the conclusion that their way of life is the only way and therefore all other countries should follow suit. The Vietnam War was more or less a war with this kind of approach. Being the keepers of democracy also means the chief preventers of communism. Basically, America attempted to prevent the challenging spread of communism in Vietnam, however results were ineffective. Instead, all the U.S. got out of the war was an immense loss of lives, and communism staying anyways despite their efforts. “The problem was that staying the course wouldn’t keep the communists from winning.” (138) While “the communists retained no territory, and their losses were substantially greater than those of the Americans and South Vietnamese….The operation proved a moral and psychological triumph.” (156) In the end, Americans viewed themselves and the Johnson administration differently by this defeat. The population “began to think they had been played for suckers” (156) as they has presumably thought that they were winning the war, not suffering huge losses while making little to no gains in North Vietnam. The perception of the American Dream dramatically changed after the defeat of the Vietnam War, making countless U.S. citizens wonder if they have a right to impose their will in other countries.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, as my fellow classmates have noticed, the tragic event of September 11th in 2001 forever changed the American Dream and reinforced widespread nationalism. The successful attacks on the World Trade Center administered by Osama bin Laden, resulted in the loss of thousands of American lives. New York mayor Rudy Giuliani even stated to the rest of the country, “we’re going to come out of this stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, economically stronger.” (351) People of America rallied and looked to their political leaders during this time of fear and uncertainty. George Bush was one of them who emerged to inspire the American people by stating, “the course of this conflict is not yet known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them.” (354) The attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon launched widespread nationalism throughout the country and caused America to increase and strengthen their military power for the years to follow.
On September 11th, 2001 Al Queda left a wound in every American heart. Members from the terrorist organization hijacked airplanes and crashed them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. 2,752 people were killed. Aside from the grievances of what happened that day, the "American Dream" was altered. Since the end of WWII, the mindset of the American mindset was that America was untouchable to attack. America had the atomic bomb, and the military strength, and since troops were sent abroad to help others instead of defend America, the nation seemed untouchable. September 11th changed that. It showed that the American dream had gotten too full of itself. This reality check was what America needed to stay on its toes. As the mayor of New York Rudy Guiliani stated to America, "we're going to come out of this stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, economically stronger."(351) In the years after 9/11, that's what the country has done. Events such as Pearl Harbor and 9/11 are full of grief, but they are important to the American dream as reality checks that allow the country to bounce back and become better than before.
ReplyDeleteThe Watergate scandal of 1972 put another damper on the "American Dream" As the bulguraries worked their way back to President Nixon, with Nixon's refusal and resignation, many American's lost trust in the government that had always been the "shining light" of America. In the eyes of Americans, the American government was the pure government that was free of corruption and ill-intent. The American people get their say, not the executives in charge of the process. The Watergate scandal made many Americans question the sanctity of their government, and whether the federal system was working.
ReplyDelete“After Vietnam and Watergate, Americans were willing to believe almost anything dastardly about their government.” (191) Going into the Vietnam War, Americans were confident in the fact that they could easily defeat the Northern Vietnamese Communists. They felt stronger than the Soviet Union and knew that their military was one of, if not the strongest in the world. However, after months of fighting, even though the United States and the South had more victories, the communists were not giving in. The war turned into a battle of which side would fight for their cause the longest, and many Americans felt they had already been there for too long. “The American people had run out of patience,” (158) and were ready to pull out of the war feeling defeated. The government started a process know as “Vietnamization” to slowly reduce the amount of soldiers stationed in Vietnam. Soldiers viewed “Vietnamization as a phased abandonment of the American mission in Vietnam, and few wanted to die for a cause Washington apparently considered lost.” (170) The morale of the soldiers plunged, and many turned to heroin and other drugs to entertain themselves in Vietnam. Many Americans wanted to avoid future wars because of their uncertainty in the successes they had left.
Richard Nixon committed the scandal known as Watergate in order to gain a leg up in the presidential elections. Americans soon became aware of his selfish act and demanded the tapes of the conversation with Nixon and the other members of the crime. Nixon refused to hand in the tapes to the authorities and also attempted to get rid of any evidence of the crime. Eventually Nixon was corned and resigned. Although America could have quickly recovered and continued on the path they were going, Americans began to question democracy as their form of government. They realized how corrupt their government was, and began to lose faith in their own country. Prior to this event, Americans saw the American Dream as limitless and with hope, however, after Watergate their hopes diminished to the feeling that their previous thoughts had been naïve. Both the Vietnam War and Watergate proved to many Americans “how demoralized American democracy had become.” (191)
The inauguration of John F. Kennedy and the beginning of suburbs based on “Levittown” were two events that had dramatic impact of the perception of the “American Dream”. When JFK came into the spotlight as a presidential candidate he was seen as “tanned, fit, and rested, while Nixon looked harried and worn”(103). Reiterated in JFK’s inaugural address was the idea that America was no longer the same, “the torch had been passed to a new generation of Americans.”(103) Kennedy embodied the “American Dream”, he was young, smart, attractive and believed that America could be great. He challenged America and the rest of the world, stating “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. Ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man” (103). The “American Dream” meant that all people could dream for a better world; Kennedy’s charisma and charm that was ushered into office after his inauguration made people believe that they could achieve these goals.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, Levittown was also making the “American Dream” a reality. William Levitt brought the assembly line to home making. As inexpensive and quickly made neighborhoods began springing up, people were able to move to the suburbs and accomplish the idea of the “perfect family”. Construction such as Levittown and its successors made the middle class possible. As the gap between the rich and poor became less, the image of equality became real, “Americans thought they were equal because they were equal” (80). The social etiquette of life became a normalcy despite wealth, “Men tipped their hats to women […] regardless of the disparity in wealth”(80). And even though the rich drove Cadillacs “rather than Chevrolets, […] the Chevy owners could aspire to move up the ladder” (80). The belief that the American Dream was a reality and if not a very plausible goal, was a new concept brought forth by people such as JFK and creations such as Levittown.
The "American Dream" had been longed for by people believing in a long and fulfilled life- the events that took place on September 11, 2001 changed that. The reality that people could so easily lose their lives began to afflict the dream, as the United States could be vulnerable to other powers such as terrorist groups. The focus of the "American Dream" shifted from success and freedom to security and power.
ReplyDeleteThe United States favored the policy of isolationism, "the belief that a country should not be involved with other countries" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary), in regard to World War II for many reasons after the damaging World War I. This policy stayed in place until the bombings at Pearl Harbor. Not only was the event a wake-up call to the United States that, as a dominant world power, they should have entered the war earlier to try to address the global issue, but showed the government and the people that there was an urging need to spread democracy and put an end to fascism. The termination of isolationism and the involvement in the war altered the "American Dream" by stressing the important of practicing and spreading democracy.
Large events in history have led to the shaping of the American Dream regardless of if they are caused by or happen to America. Vietnam changed the American view of how to use power. By getting trapped into what many thought was a useless fight, people began to shy away from the might is right mentality. This is a large change because it directly conflicts with the mentality that was established after Hitler wasn’t stopped early enough. Vietnam also changed the hopes for the “Great Society” and therefore powerfully altered the domestic situation in the home land. The Vietnam conflict ended up slowing down progressive ideas in the American Dream and altering the ideas of it.
ReplyDeleteA non-violent and non-American caused event was the launching of the first space craft by the USSR. This had the opposite effect on the American Dream as it expanded the hopes of the common people and made them want to assert dominance over their enemy. By being spurred into action, the American public decided it would not be beaten and began to praise those who were scientifically gifted. By changing the culture they sought to beat their age old rivals to the moon, which they did. This event helped to alter the American Dream in a positive way instead of turning the public against the governments actioins. When an event causes the dreams of the American Public to align with the goals of the government, the result is profound on the American Dream.
The events of September 11th had a monumental effect on Americans’ perception of the “American Dream”. It was the second time in American history that there had been a attack on American soil (the first being Pearl Harbor). However this was the first time that there was live footage of the attack. The simultaneous attacks on multiple different high profile targets was a major shock to the American psyche, it showed that America’s most important buildings might be vulnerable to attack. Television stations were airing the live footage as the second plane hit the tower, this forever encapsulated what had happened on that day. Americans feared that this was only a group of Terrorists, people began wondering what a attack from an actual country could do to America. After the tragedy of 9/11 it sparked a the war on terror, which brought the people behind these attacks to justice.
ReplyDeleteIn June 1972 five men were arrested in the Watergate Complex (this was the democratic party headquarters). The men were attempting to wiretap and bug the building so that the republican party could gain insight on the on democratic campaign strategy. The intruders were later found out to be working for Nixon and the republican party, Nixon and others tried to cover up what had occurred. Once it was found out that there was a cover up it blew the republican’s face. Nixon was forced out of office, but later pardoned for his involvement by Gerald Ford. The events of the “Watergate Scandal” proved that the government system in place wasn’t always perfect, it also showed that the leaders of the government weren’t always the most morally sound people. After Watergate people’s perception of the “American Dream” was shown to be as sound, due to the corruption by political officials.
Tragic events such as the Oklahoma City Bombing and September 11 attacks affected the American dream by threatening the American sense of security. The morning of April 19, 1995 the front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building was blown off by a rented Ryder truck filled with five thousand pounds of homemade explosive killing 186 people and injuring 800 including 19 young children in a daycare near by. “ The blast ripped the near wall off the building , besides damaging dozens of other structures in the surrounding blocks. The sound of the blast was heard as far as fifty miles away” (304) . The American people changed from their fear of the Cold War and “nuclear annihilation” to fearing terrorism. If terrorism existed so did the possibility of threat to the nation's security.
ReplyDeleteOne of the nation's most devastating days was the day of September 11, 2001. A day where the United States lost 2,996 civilian lives due to a terrorist attack. Fear once again stuck the American people as their freedom and safety felt at risk. President George W Bush said in a speech to congress about his plan of “war on terror”, “ All of this was brought upon us in a single day, and night fell on a different world, a world where freedom itself is under attack” (353).The original American dream was the security of their freedoms and this was under attack. The idea of an “American Dream” was proven to be at all times vulnerable. A terrorist attack could shock the public into the fear of losing American securities such as freedom and safety.
In a similar vein, events such as the Columbine shooting posed another threat to America's safety, therefore affecting the American dream. On April 20th, 1999, two teenagers by the names of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shot students attending their school, Columbine High School. These teens were influenced by the Oklahoma City bombing. After the tragic event, more questions were raised about gun control in America and policies relating to bullying in schools were explored. The event opened the eyes of America to see that even schools are not necessarily safe, and extreme violence can occur in our own backyards. This is not a concept that can coexist within the framework of the suburban, happy-family American dream made popular after the war.
DeleteAdditionally, September 11th, 2001 is a day that is "unlike anything in American history" (350). As Maddie explained, thousands lost their lives due to terrorist attacks the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This threat on American safety changed the outlooks of many Americans on George W. Bush, whose popularity soared as he vowed to protect the country from the threat of terrorism. People spent more time with family and media moved to more emotional stories surrounded by the event. Currently, many people have been directly affected by the losses of life on that day.
Events like Columbine and 9/11 prove to the American people that terrorism can attack close to home, directly posing a threat to the American dream. "Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war..." (354), and Americans hope for freedom and justice to prevail to preserve their hopes for the American dream.
Pearl Harbor and the events that took place on September 11th affected the American Dream of both times. Americans had adopted a policy of isolationism and wanted to stay neutral during WWII to avoid another bloodbath like that of WWI. Once the Japanese launched the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, hatred towards the Japanese and Japanese-Americans fueled American involvement in WWII. The American Dream was to stay neutral during WWII, but soon transformed into the want to destroy the Japanese Pacific Empire. Prior to September 11, 2001, the U.S. did not have an enemy that rivaled them in war. September 11th showed the U.S. that they were not invincible in terms of war. The terrorists that hijacked the planes involved in the fateful day, gave Americans a reason to improve their national security. Other Americans were furious at Al-Qaeda, the terrorist group that was responsible for hijacking the planes. Many Americans wanted to put a stop to Al-Qaeda, while others wanted to fix the security problems on the Homefront. Both Pearl Harbor and the events that took place on September 11th changed the American Dream towards defeating the enemy, and fixing problems at home.
ReplyDeleteCertain events in the history of the United States have altered Americans’ perception of the American dream. As I discussed in a previous blog, Vietnam shifted the American dream drastically. Prior to the war, Americans thought of themselves as almost a police to the world. They believed that if a threat broke out somewhere in the world that potentially threatened their own sense of liberty and freedoms, they must act immediately upon it. This was called the Munich syndrome. That is exactly what the United States attempted to do in Vietnam. They realized that communist influence was spreading in the region and that North Vietnam, who was under a communist regime, was attempting to unify all of Vietnam with a communist state. So they stepped in; they put boots on the ground to combat the spread of communism half a world away. Obviously, the rest is history; the United States was not able to overpower the North Vietnamese forces as they thought they could, which led to a humiliating and unproductive withdrawal from the country after many American lives had been lost in vain. After the war, Americans were far less hesitant to jump into other international affairs, “[Vietnam] seared itself on the American mind, replacing the Munich syndrome with a Vietnam syndrome. The former had said that when in doubt, America must fight. The latter asserted that when in doubt, America mustn’t” (175). Americans no longer dreamed of crushing every little issue that could possibly pose a threat, instead they opted to protect themselves immediately first and foremost, a lesson they certainly learned from their days fighting in Vietnam.
ReplyDeleteThe events that took place on September 11, 2001 undoubtedly altered American’s perception on the American dream. On that day, two hijacked airplanes flew into the two World Trade Center buildings in New York City, killing 2,996 Americans. This changed they way that Americans went about their daily lives. They no longer felt untouchable, that no harm could come their way. They lost their complete sense of security. Also, they no longer continued to fear the Cold War and the constant nuclear threat that it posed, rather, they began to fear terrorism. Their dreams shifted from preventing a nuclear disaster to eliminating and preventing future terrorist attacks. 9/11 led to a heightened increase in security on a national level. Ever since that horrifying day, things in this country have not been the same and they never will be.
Events such as September 11th and Pearl Harbor have a large impact on the American dream. On September 11, 2001 terrorists hijacked four planes and used them to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. These attacks took the lives of around 3,000 people and crippled American morale. The American dream came to a standstill as many people morned their fallen loved ones. People began to realize that Americans aren't indestructible and that we have to fight for the relative safety of the U.S. In the months and years following the attack American citizens would rally around each other. As a result the U.S. and the American dream came away stronger than ever.
ReplyDeleteIn the early year of WWII the U.S. had a policy of isolationism to avoid war. This would change on December 7, 1941 when Japan launched a preemptive strike on Pearl Harbor. As on September 11th people morned their losses. A combination of Pearl Harbor and the Great Depression had slowed the American dream to a crawl. This would change in the years following Pearl Harbor because America would join WWII on December 8, 1941. Involvement in the war would greatly boost the manufacturing power of the U.S. leading them out of the Depression and making the American Dream possible again. Overall tragic events such as Pearl Harbor and September 11th can be very difficult to deal with, but they make us unite as a country and evidently make us stronger.
After World War II, America stopped dreaming for itself and began dreaming for the world as a whole. Because of its policy of isolationism, and the European policy of appeasement, a preventable war, turned into the bloodiest war in history. This led to America completely rejecting the policies of appeasement and isolationism; Americans realized they needed to pay attention to events outside of its borders, in order to prevent another massive war. This was especially important because the newly developed nuclear weapons posed threats never before seen. It became America’s responsibility to police the world, fight communism, and promote American ideals, such as freedom and democracy.
ReplyDeleteThe war in Vietnam changed the American Dream yet again. The American invasion of Vietnam was an effort to uphold the policy of containment and stop the spread of communism. Americans dreamed of a world where everyone had freedom and democracy. However, the war in Vietnam, which was supposed to be quick and easy, turned out to be a long and grueling ordeal. The United States invested more and more American lives, but it did not pay off. As time went on, presidential approval ratings plummeted due to public disapproval of the war. After WWII, as I previously discussed, everyone avoided the policy of appeasement; however, the war in Vietnam made people realize that it was not always worth shedding American blood for another country. As Ball explained, “if we were actively helping a country with a stable, viable government, it would be a vastly different story”(141). The American Dream had to change, because people no longer wanted to see the government risk the lives of soldiers in efforts to help other countries. Appeasement in moderation became a political option after the war in Vietnam, in order to ensure that America would no longer be responsible for policing the world.
Events such as the vitriolic Vietnam War and the 9/11 terrorist attack both played their own crucial roles in reshaping Americans' perception of the "American Dream". The unexpected outcome of the Vietnam War left the country divided in regards to how to move forward after the war. Most Americans strongly disapproved of the war, but the way people treated returning war veterans varied. Many Americans shunned Vietnam War veterans for involving themselves in such a horrific, arguably unnecessary war, while others did their best to assist veterans in returning to their lives prior to the war. Many soldiers returned to their United States as "lost souls", drug addicts and/or alcoholics, and often could not return to their actual homes due to the humiliation they faced from their addictions and their loss of the war. Thus, many of them ended up homeless. Even today, there are countless Vietnam veterans who still have not recovered from the war. America felt the crushing effects of Vietnam, and it was evident that it put a damper on the spirit of many Americans, especially those who were directly involved in the war. It was increasingly difficult for these individuals to get back on the right path, and therefore find a way to achieve their perceptions of the "American Dream". Additionally, because America was unsuccessful in putting an end to the communist revolt, much of the population began to realize that our country was not as invincible as it was once thought to be. The "American Dream" could not always be achieved.
ReplyDeleteThe terrorist attacks orchestrated by the terrorist group known as al-Qaeda is a poignant moment in American history. The horrific onslaught halted all efforts the people of America made towards creating their dreams into a reality. Everyone's personal needs were put on hold as the whole country shifted their focus onto the tragedy that had just taken place. Naturally, the grief stricken nation took time to mourn the incredible loss, but we were soon able to convert our sadness and grief into motivation to make our country stronger and safer. After 9/11, people weren't so self involved as they were prior to the attacks. People began to think less about their individual needs, and more about our country's needs. We were forced to band together, putting our differences aside, to unite and come out of this tragic event stronger as a whole. Not only that, but people also banded together and began to accept a lack in personal privacy - something most Americans value - in order to support the common good of making our country safer from terrorist attacks. After 9/11, the American Dream became less of an abstract concept tailored to the needs and desires of each individual, but rather, a more unified concept in which we all worked towards meeting a similar goal, which was essentially to avoid a similar tragedy in the future.
Part of the American dream is the idea that people are free, within legal means, to do as they please. The ideas of democracy back this aspect of the American Dream thus, the two go hand and hand. Therefore when democracy is shaken, so is the American dream. In 1972, five men were arrested because they were part of an “elaborate plot to bug the offices of the Democratic National committee” (180). It was eventually leaked that President Nixon had ordered these men to bug the offices. This news shocked America, how could their own president be a part of such a plan? The Watergate Scandal would not have been such a big deal except for the fact that Nixon was trying to cover all evidence rather than revealing it. One piece of evidence in particular were tape recordings of people who visited the Oval Office. “By early 1974 the battle over Watergate was all about the tapes.” (184). Eventually the tapes were taken and they found the “smoking gun” (185) that proved Nixon’s attempts to cover up evidence and stop investigation by the FBI. The president of the United States is the leading figure of democracy in the whole world. Thus when he was questioned, so was democracy, proving that democracy has flaws.
ReplyDeleteSeptember 11, 2001, a day that will go down in American history in which hijacked planes crashed into both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Fear and sorrow erupted across America. Families of the thousands of victims spent their days mourning the loss of their loved ones and “for weeks Americans couldn’t laugh” (351). America was not invincible and these terrorists proved it. But as proven in 1941 with the attack on Pearl Harbor, Americans are not destroyed so easily. 9/11 brought citizens of America together creating a large sense of nationalism. These terrorists are preventing the people of America from living the American Dream. The terrorists are taking away the people's sense of freedom and safety which are included in the American Dream. Once someone begins to infringe on another person's possibility of living out the American Dream, action needs to be taken. Bush did exactly that by declaring a “war on terror” (353) in hopes to track down the people who did America wrong and prevent them from hurting anyone else in the world. Bush did everything in his power to ensure the safety of the citizens, thus protecting the dreamers. The attack of September 11 brewed nationalistic feelings and made the need to protect America stronger than ever. A safe America is a safe American Dream.
Throughout American history, many events have occurred that have changed Americans’ perception of the “American dream”. The bombing of the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 represents a significant change in the “American dream”. Prior to the Japanese attack, America followed a strict policy of isolationism, and until 1941, American thinking had been primarily “isolationist in its belief that America’s fate depended little on the fate of other countries” (17). As a result of the Japanese act of violence on American soil, the United States became involved in World War II. Following the war, America became much more involved in global affairs, because “Pearl Harbor [had] commenced a revolution in American foreign policy” (45). These changes in foreign policy led to a significant change in many Americans’ perception of the “American dream”. The basic ideals of the “American dream” remained intact; however, it shifted on to a more global scale. America’s involvement in the war displayed American idealism to other countries, and the “American dream” grew to encompass the promotion of peace, order, and democracy not only on a national scale, but a global scale. Additionally, Pearl Harbor led to America’s involvement in World War II, which led to an economic change in America, which in turn led to further changes in Americans’ perception of the “American dream”. As the men who fought in the war returned home, Americans’ desires to own a home, own land, and care for a family became achievable, and the “American dream” grew to emphasize individual prosperity and success.
ReplyDeleteNearly 60 years later, a second attack was made on American soil. On September 11, 2001, members of terrorist organization al Qaeda hijacked four commercial airplanes; two of which were flown into the hub of American trade and commerce: the World Trade Center in New York City. In the wake of the attacks, New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani reassured the public by stating that “we’re going to come out of this stronger than we were before: emotionally stronger, politically stronger, economically stronger” (351). Giuliani was correct; not only was the country strengthened in terms of nationalistic feelings; the attack had a profound effect on Americans’ perception of the “American dream”. The “American dream” itself was attacked on September 11, 2001; however, it was only made stronger by this act of terror. Americans bonded over the fear and pain they felt that day, and felt that it became their responsibility to defend the “American dream”. The attacks on September 11th prompted President George W. Bush to launch the “war on terror”, a continuous effort to eradicate the world of groups and individuals who threatened the nation’s security, and any threat to what makes America so great: the pursuit of the “American dream”.
One event that changed Americans dreams was September 11th. The terrorist attacks that occurred on this day would bring sorrow and mourning, but would also unite the nation in a way no other event had. At first people were obviously sad and depressed that such an event had occurred on America. So many innocent people lost their lives that for some the pain was just unbearable. It wasn't until President Bush’s announcement, in the rubble of the twin towers with people shouting “USA”, that American views shifted. He exclaimed, “I can hear you. I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon”, (352). Americans dreams were now based off of national safety. Americans were able to give up some of their freedom and privacy to protect the country. For example security screenings grew a lot more effective at the cost of American’s privacy. Americans were more focused on stopping terrorists than their own privacy which was something new to Americans, who before 9/11 might have seen security screening as a hassle or an annoyance.
ReplyDeleteAnother event that changed many American dreams and views was the Watergate scandal. In America the people are able to vote, and decide who they want to be there president. So when the country found out that their president, Richard Nixon, had sent people to spy on the Democratic National Committee taking place at the Watergate hotel in Washington, D.C., they were very disappointed. What made it even worse was the president and his administration's attempt to cover up its involvement. A president is supposed to be honest and trustworthy, but Nixon was not. This changed peoples views not just on Nixon but on the government in general. People were not sure if they could trust a government who is spying on itself. Before this event Americans weren't really thinking about problems within its own government.
The acts of terrorism that took place on September 11th, 2001 should have torn America apart, but, as Jamie said, it united the nation in an unprecedented way. A sense of patriotism emerged when Americans realized that while political views may divide them, national security affects all citizens. 9/11 impacted America's dream for a world without terrorism, and this dream was answered with President Bush's War on Terror.
DeleteThe Watergate Scandal changed American's views on government forever. When the truth of Nixon's actions was finally uncovered, Americans were horrified and realized that all governments, even democratic republics, can harbor corruption. This set the American Dream for a strong, pure government.
On the day of September 11, 2001, the world was changed forever. Early that morning, Arab hijackers who were part of the Islamic terror group al-Qaeda, hijacked four planes. Two of those commercial jets turned towards the Twin Towers, also known as World Trading Centers. This two buildings were a community within itself, always buzzing and full of intelligent, cultured people of the Manhattan and international workforce. But little did America know, that the beginning of New York City’s work day at the Twin Towers was about to end. 18 minutes apart, the planes crashed into each of the towers, killing over 3,000 people and sending America, and the rest of the world, into a state of shock. But as former President George Bush stated, the foundations of those two buildings had given out, but America’s foundation will never be touched. This moment in history is heart-breaking, but it fueled a nationalist movement and American fixed what was broken by the power of their pride for their country.
ReplyDeleteThe last thing the United States wanted to do in 1941 was to get involved in another World War. They felt that they did not want to re experience the complexities and hardships that was brought onto their country after WWI. But Japan had a different plan for America on the morning of December 7, 1941. As bombs and torpedoes struck Pearl Harbor, causing thousands of casualties, pits formed in Americans stomachs; they knew a fight was coming, and their nationalistic passion fueled a desire to throw America into war.
The American Dream is an ever-changing ideal that is shaped by the events surrounding it. One date in particular impacted the American Dream greatly. On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Over 3,000 people were killed during the attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., including more than 400 police officers and firefighters. After World War II the United States believed they were more powerful than everyone else and that nothing bad could happen to them. After September 11, America realized they were not impenetrable. They had lost their sense of safety and security. Fear ran rampant throughout the country. This tragic event brought America back down to earth and forced all of the citizens to unite and encourage each other to build back up America.
ReplyDeleteOn the morning of June 17, 1972, several burglars were arrested inside the office of the Democratic National Committee, located in the Watergate building in Washington, D.C. The prowlers were connected to President Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign, and they had been caught while attempting to wiretap phones and steal secret documents. After the five men were caught, Nixon took steps to cover it up afterwards, trying to stop the Federal Bureau of Investigation from investigating the crime and destroying evidence and firing uncooperative staff members. In August 1974, the president resigned. After this scandal, America lost some of its faith in the government and the way it was run. By Nixon working behind America’s back, many were angered and began to realize the government was not running like a democracy should be. The result of the scandal lead many Americans to question their leadership and think more critically about the presidency.
After Reading “American Dreams”, by H. W. Brands, I realized that events such as Vietnam and September 11th had an impact on American’s perception of the “American Dream”. When America invaded Vietnam it was honoring a commitment it had already made, to protect democracy, and follow the policy of containment. The vastly superior United States military should have won the war quickly and decisively; however, we ended up sending more and more troops into the black hole that was Vietnam. Despite a wealth of American support for South Vietnam, the communists still toppled the government and American lives were lost, which led people to not support the war. This led to Americans no longer wanting the responsibility of being the world police, and instituting their democratic ideals. People began to oppose instilling American values all around the world; “if Johnson Americanized the world- which is what the Pentagon plan entailed- he would rue the day” (142). The cost of trying to police the world was not just American lives, but thousands of civilians were killed by American troops as well. This led to Americans realizing that going to war was not always the answer and dreaming of a world where peaceful negotiations were enough.
ReplyDeleteOn September 11th 2001, terrorists from a group called Al Qaeda hijacked four planes. Two were used to crash into the twin towers (one in each tower), the American symbol of economic strength, and one crashed into the Pentagon, the American symbol of economic power, and one was heading towards the White House, but was taken down early. This made all Americans feel vulnerable, but they resolved to come out more powerful than ever. Americans began to dream of a society without terrorism, and to try and make this dream a reality Bush made it clear by saying Americans should expect a long campaign with lots of tragedies, and any country that harbors terrorists will be viewed as a hostile regime. America declared war on terror by trying to instill democracy in the world. It declared war on terror by declaring war on Afghanistan, and later Iraq, to trying to put in place an American style government, and American ideals in these countries.
As said before, the American Dream inevitably changes depending on the events that have taken place. September 11th will be a date that will forever live in the heart of the citizens of the U.S. The new focus shifted from freedom, equality, and success, to security. After a terrorist attack on the twin towers as well as the Pentagon, American security boomed. The attack that hit us in our homeland warned many citizens that we were not the “almighty”, untouchables anymore. As isolated as we were, it was still possible for the enemy to get in our territory, and severely damage us. Just like Pearl Harbor, these attacks changed our mindsets. We cannot be proud all the time, and be ignorant enough to think that no one can currently get to us with all this technology available. These events created a feeling of fear, as well as animosity for the attackers. Just as Pearl Harbor was the reason we had entered the war in 1942, 9/11 was a reason that we had entered the war in 2003. Our goal was to spread democracy, as well as protect the Constitution and our homeland after the horrendous terrorist attack.
ReplyDeleteThe September 11th attacks by terrorists prompted American patriotism just as it had during all other times of war. American’s felt very vulnerable after the attacks in 2001, and they were willing to give up some of their freedom, as with the Patriot Act, in order to feel protected from such future attacks. The dream in America changed and the attitude in America changed to one of vulnerability and defense. America's war on terror had changed the dream to become one that eliminates terrorists such as Al-qaeda and more recently Isis and Hamas,
ReplyDeleteAnother place where America's dreams had shifted was during the Cold War, originally people thought that the wartime alliance might last and be good for the world as the two superpowers could have accomplished a lot together. Instead they engaged in a “war” in which they were always racing to have the most and newest weapons and technology. The dream was not to just be the best we can be, but to be better than the communist Soviets. Such an example is with the great Space Race, where the Russians had accomplished a mission into space first,but the Americans were encouraged by this to be first to reach the moon. The cold war prompted Americans to make leaps and bounds of progress in regards to technology to make sure that they conquer and outdo the enemy.
There were several events in American history that crippled the American peoples’ perception of the “American Dream”. A particular event that significantly damaged it was the unexpected failure in Vietnam war. In coming out of WWII, the United States refocused its attention to crushing communist insurgencies around the world. In battling Russia in the Cold War, America’s dislike for communism worsened and fear spread rapidly, and this was exhibited through, for example, the popularity of the politician Joseph McCarthy who had bizarre claims and opinions but successfully “tapped into the anxieties of the American psyche” (53) concerning the threat of communism. As the hostility between the Soviet Union and the United States lasted, it caused wars such as the Korean and the Vietnam war. As the U.S. found success in Korea, it expect to find success in Vietnam as well, but it was sadly mistaken. The failure in crushing communism in Vietnam led to widespread embarrassment in America and a newfound doubting in its strength. Particularly, Americans began to doubt their government’s strength. Americans “decided that the government didn’t know what it was doing in Vietnam… [and] they turned away from government and looked to the private sector once more,” (214-215). The doubt in the American government fractured the “American Dream” as Americans no longer saw their country with the same strength as before and they had lost loyalty to their government.
ReplyDeleteA second example of a major event causing a shift in the “American Dream” was the events that took place on September 11th, 2001. When terrorists bombed the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Americans experienced something they had never before experienced. The only comparable event to the 9/11 attacks in American history were the bombings of Pearl Harbor, but even that attack was preceded by “months of tension and years of war…giving Americans a frame of reference for interpreting the 1941 attack,” (350). Also, modern technology let all of America see the 9/11 attacks with their own eyes, but the events at Pearl Harbor hadn’t been seen by “[anyone] outside Hawaii,” (350). Americans mourned for their loss for months after the attacks; still to this day the shorthand term “9/11” makes a room fall silent. Americans had never experienced the kind of tragedy they did that day in September; people still mourn today and they always will. That kind of grief refocused the “American Dream” once again, but this time to make sure America never suffers like that again. We’ve all waited in hour-long security lines to get on a plane and complained about it as we stood on aching feet with heavy bags on our backs, but that is the latest version of the “American Dream”. The 9/11 attacks refocused our dreams to protecting America like never before, and in their sorrow people “rallied around their elected officials” and “distrust disappeared in the sense of solidarity Americans felt for one another after the attack,” (351). Once again, the “American Dream” evolved, as it had dozens of times in the past century.
On September 11th, 2001, an attack occurred that not only changed the "American Dream," but America as a whole. Four planes hijacked, thousands of innocent dead, missing relatives and injured children…it sounds like a horror movie, but only the raw pain of reality would keep America from laughing for weeks. Although the initial reaction to the terrorist attack was grief, after President Bush rallied the city, the spirits of the population rose with the noise of the chanting. As many classmates have stated, although this tragedy should have ruined the morale and hopes of the Americans, it did the opposite. All of the sadness, disbelief, and anger brought this country’s population the closest it has probably ever been. “Our country is strong” (352). Uniting as a country under such devastating circumstances exhibited the notion that “No one can hurt me without my permission.” As the attitudes of the people of America excelled, as did the perception of the “American Dream.”
ReplyDeleteThe “American Dream” is not the same for everyone, but one common prerequisite needed to fulfill one’s goal in a society is a leader, like a peer already mentioned. In the Watergate scandal in 1972, President Richard Nixon was caught attempting to steal confidential files that revealed classified information and wiretap phones. Not only did he continually lie about and deny his part in the scandal, but he also “gave orders to find, at all costs, the sources of the leaks and to plug them” (181). He even led the FBI in search of someone that did not exist. Imagine going to school or practice one day and learning that your principal or coach was invading your personal belongings every time you were at lunch or on the field. Chances are you would feel betrayed and uncomfortable. This is how America felt after learning that their leader had not admitted to his actions until a multitude of evidence was piled against him. Unlike 9/11, the Watergate scandal heavily suppressed the great perception of the “American Dream” due to the deception and uneasiness felt by the country’s population in response to their faulty president.
Over the years, America has faced challenges and tragedies that have shaped the idea of what exactly the “American Dream” is. It is interesting how some of these challenges the United States has endured have affected the American people in totally different ways. One of these challenges was the Vietnam War. After twenty years of war and nearly 60,000 Americans dead, the United States was forced to retreat from Vietnam. Unable to achieve its goal of stopping the spread of communism and with a hurting economy back home, American morale plummeted. American’s began to second guess themselves and their pride in the United States. People began to wonder whether or not the American Dream meant trying to spread democracy by policing other smaller countries.
ReplyDeleteAnother tragic and challenging event that has happened to Americans was the terrorist attacks of Al Qaeda on September 11, 2001. Planes crashed into the World Trade Center buildings as well as the Pentagon, a symbol for American military strength. After a day of complete fear, and the unexpected deaths of nearly three thousand innocent people, one may expect the American Dream to have been shattered. However, in a way almost opposite from the Vietnam War, the United States used the attacks to grow stronger. The American people fostered their universal suffering and pain, into increased morale and motivation to prove to terrorists or any other potential threat that the United States is a force to be reckoned with. This reshaped the American Dream yet again, more similarly to what it had been before Vietnam, with the principles that America should go into other countries acting as police and fighting for its own prosperity. It is interesting to see how two events that are both seemingly negative can have such different effects on the same countries and cause Americans to dream of different ideas and goals. It goes to show that the American Dream is alive and ever changing. It shifts as the status of life in the United States does.
Over the years, America has faced challenges and tragedies that have shaped the idea of what exactly the “American Dream” is. It is interesting how some of these challenges the United States has endured have affected the American people in totally different ways. One of these challenges was the Vietnam War. After twenty years of war and nearly 60,000 Americans dead, the United States was forced to retreat from Vietnam. Unable to achieve its goal of stopping the spread of communism and with a hurting economy back home, American morale plummeted. American’s began to second guess themselves and their pride in the United States. People began to wonder whether or not the American Dream meant trying to spread democracy by policing other smaller countries.
ReplyDeleteAnother tragic and challenging event that has happened to Americans was the terrorist attacks of Al Qaeda on September 11, 2001. Planes crashed into the World Trade Center buildings as well as the Pentagon, a symbol for American military strength. After a day of complete fear, and the unexpected deaths of nearly three thousand innocent people, one may expect the American Dream to have been shattered. However, in a way almost opposite from the Vietnam War, the United States used the attacks to grow stronger. The American people fostered their universal suffering and pain, into increased morale and motivation to prove to terrorists or any other potential threat that the United States is a force to be reckoned with. This reshaped the American Dream yet again, more similarly to what it had been before Vietnam, with the principles that America should go into other countries acting as police and fighting for its own prosperity. It is interesting to see how two events that are both seemingly negative can have such different effects on the same countries and cause Americans to dream of different ideas and goals. It goes to show that the American Dream is alive and ever changing. It shifts as the status of life in the United States does.
The years following WWII were years filled with American supremacy. America emerged from the war as the strongest country in the world, however that title began to be threatened by the Soviets. Unlike America, the Soviets were communists and were strongly against the idea of democracy, so when they started spreading communism the U.S. felt obligated to step in and make it stop (part of their containment policy). One location in particular caught the attention of the Americans; Vietnam. Communist North Vietnam wanted to take over the American-backed South Vietnam in order to spread their influence. The Americans went into the war ready to quickly settle the matter thinking they could easily stop the advancement of one small nation. The soldiers fighting the war, along with citizens back home had the dream of quickly stopping the communists so that the soldiers could come back home and do it some place else if needed. Unfortunately, the Viet Congo (guerrillas fighting in the south) and the People's Army of Vietnam (North Vietnamese army) made the fight hard to win and the war seemed to stretch far longer than anticipated, killing many more Americans than expected. In the end America failed to stop the Communists and were forced to pull away from Vietnam, which caused a change in the American dream. Americans were no longer as eager to jump into war; “[Vietnam] seared itself on the American mind, replacing the Munich syndrome with a Vietnam syndrome. The former had said that when in doubt, America must fight. The latter asserted that when in doubt, America mustn’t.” (175) Overall, The Vietnam war taught America that jumping into a fight without much thought could have disastrous consequences.
ReplyDeleteOn September 11th 2001, America was victim to a series of terrorist attacks that left the world trade center and parts of the pentagon in ruins. Four airplanes were seized by radicals working with Osama Bin Laden to strike fear in the hearts of every living American; and they succeeded. Before the attack, the “War on terror” in the middle east was not widely known to the American people, nor was it a big issue. However, after, the “war on terror” became a personal fight to many Americans, inspiring many of them to join the armed forces to get rid of Bin Laden and all of his accomplices. With this new motivation to end the terrorists came the rise of nationalism; “the course of this conflict is not yet known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them.” (354) The Americans who listened to this speech rallied behind these words and the fight for “freedom” and “peace” became stronger than ever in America. Overall, the attacks that took place on September 11th 2001, initiated the spread of nationalism, as well as sprouting a new dream of the American people; to end the “war on terror.”
The September 11th attacks and Watergate were major events that changed Americans' perception on the American dream. Watergate was a political scandal that came as a result of the June 17, 1972 break in at the DNC headquarters in Washington D.C. Richard Nixon had been trying to steal confidential information from the Democrats that would help him win the election. Nixon tried to cover up his actions, but he was eventually forced to step down as President. Watergate altered many peoples' view on the government. Citizens of the U.S. lost faith in the government and it proved how corrupt the government had become.
ReplyDeleteOn September 11th, 2001 19 four airplanes were hijacked and crashed by terrorists. Two planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. One plane crashed into the center of the U.S. military, the Pentagon. One plane was overtaken after the hijacking by heroic passengers who made the plane crash into a field instead of another important building where many more people would have dies. About 3,000 people died in this tragedy as it rocked the entire United States. People mourned for weeks, but then came out as a unified country. Everyone wanted to get back at the terrorists who planned the attack. Many people approved George Bush's "war on terror." Americans began dreaming of establishing peaceful societies around the world. Many citizens turned their focus towards the Middle East.
The Watergate incident with Nixon tested American democracy, and 9/11 was a test of will for America. Betraying one’s own people is a very dishonorable deed, and Nixon’s mistake changed America's perception on its own democracy. The federal government has never not acted in its interest, but to not work in its nation’s interest and instead serve to secure one’s power through shady means, goes against what America stands for. Trust then with the federal government declined because Nixon “treated his political enemies as enemies of the state” (182), which can lead to a totalitarian rule. Democracy is intended to allow many groups of thought therefore representing the interest of its people. Which is what most Americans want, causing the scandal to be revealed.
ReplyDeleteThe fall of the Twin Towers shook how Americans saw the world and themselves. The world’s largest military power who had not been attack on its own soil since Pearl Harbor had been outmaneuvered. As a result Americans became more aggressive in their views on foreign affairs: “Bush replied through a bullhorn: ‘I can hear you. I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.’ The applause and chanting grew louder: ‘U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!’” (352). This sense of revenge lead to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. The “American Dream” went to further degrees to protect its democratic society and capitalist system.