For ages, the American Dream was one thing everybody may obtain in the event that they labored arduous sufficient. In the event you dreamt sufficiently big and gave it your all, you would get it. That was the promise of America.
However is that also true?
Extra importantly, is it nonetheless true if we don’t really feel prefer it’s true?
A number of surveys have been performed over time to ask folks whether or not they consider the American dream continues to be achievable.
As you’d anticipate, how you’re feeling in regards to the American dream has so much to do along with your age, the place you got here from, and what you’ve completed already. The older and richer you’re, the extra seemingly you’re to consider it is potential.
Let’s check out how revenue, age, and race can play a job in the way you’re prone to really feel in regards to the American Dream.
What’s the American Dream?
The phrase “the American Dream” first appeared within the ebook The Epic of America by James Truslow Adams the place he acknowledged that it’s:
“Not a dream of motor vehicles and excessive wages merely, however a dream of a social order during which every man and every lady shall be capable to attain to the fullest stature of which they’re innately succesful, and be acknowledged by others for what they’re, whatever the fortuitous circumstances of delivery or place.”
In different phrases, the American Dream shouldn’t be about people getting wealthy however about having a society that permits for social mobility and reaching one’s full potential.
Over time, the definition of the American Dream turned extra individualistic. It got here to imply incomes a snug revenue, homeownership, and having an pleasing life. It was one thing for people to achieve fairly than for society to construct.
Nevertheless, each definitions come to the identical finish. The American Dream is the power for anybody to dwell a cheerful, comfy life. For many, meaning a very good revenue, a snug residence, and sufficient cash to cowl the payments simply, with some left over for enjoyment.
Is it Nonetheless Attainable to Obtain?
Whether or not or not the American Dream is feasible relies on who you ask. Most lately, Pew Analysis discovered that 53% of individuals consider it’s nonetheless potential. 
A YouGov survey performed in 2023, confirmed that 44% of these surveyed felt the American Dream was both very or considerably attainable for them.
In 2019, Gallup performed a survey and located that 70% of individuals felt it was achievable.
A CNN ballot performed in 2014 requested whether or not folks agreed or disagreed that the American Dream is not possible to attain. On this ballot, 40% stated it was potential to nonetheless obtain the American Dream.
CNN conducts this ballot each few years, going again so far as 1995. Essentially the most pessimistic yr was 1996, when solely 34% of these polled believed the American Dream was potential for most individuals.
Earnings: How It Impacts Our Perception
Unsurprisingly, how a lot somebody earns impacts their perception within the American Dream. The extra somebody earns, the extra seemingly it’s that they really feel it’s inside their attain.
In response to Pew, solely 39% of low-income earners consider the American Dream is inside their grasp. Nevertheless, simply over half of low-income respondents really feel the American Dream was potential however is not, exhibiting fairly a little bit of pessimism among the many lower-income group.
In the meantime, 64% of upper-income earners consider it’s at the moment potential. (The precise revenue quantities weren’t outlined.)
The 2023 YouGov survey discovered related outcomes. Solely 35% of those that earn beneath $50,000 felt the American Dream is attainable, whereas 46% of those that earn over $100,000 felt it was.
Neither Gallup nor CNN’s polls categorized responses by revenue stage.
Age: How It Impacts Our Perception
Age additionally impacts whether or not or not somebody feels it is potential for folks to attain the American Dream. The older you’re, the extra seemingly you’re to consider it’s attainable.
In response to Pew, solely 39% of adults beneath age 30 really feel it is potential, whereas 68% of these over 65 consider it’s. Curiously, solely 2% of these over 65 really feel the American Dream was by no means potential.
The YouGov survey discovered the identical sample however extra pessimistic outcomes. This survey discovered that 27% of adults beneath 30 and 44% of these over 65 really feel the American Dream is attainable.
The 2019 Gallup ballot cut up the info a bit otherwise. They discovered that 73% of males beneath the age of fifty believed it was potential to attain the American Dream, whereas solely 58% of girls beneath the age of fifty believed so.
For these over 50 within the Gallup ballot, the outcomes have been related for women and men. 74% of males and 73% of girls over 50 believed it potential to attain.
Race: How It Impacts Our Perception
Your race additionally performs an element in whether or not you consider the American Dream is feasible; nonetheless, the survey outcomes from Pew and YouGov have completely different outcomes. Pew discovered those that determine as White to be essentially the most optimistic, whereas YouGov discovered Hispanic folks to be.
Pew Analysis’s ballot discovered that 55% of white folks consider the American Dream continues to be potential. Black folks have been the second most optimistic, with 52% believing it is nonetheless potential. Precisely half of Asian folks and solely 47% of Hispanic folks consider it is potential.
YouGov had barely completely different outcomes. It discovered that fifty% of Hispanic folks consider it is potential to attain the American Dream. White folks adopted carefully with 44% believing it is potential. Nevertheless, solely a 3rd of Black folks (32%) consider the American Dream is achievable. YouGov didn’t have information on Asian folks.
Neither Gallup nor CNN categorized responses by race. Race was decided by way of self-reporting.
Was the American Dream ever Attainable?
Pew requested if the American Dream was ever potential.
Total, solely 6% consider it was by no means potential to attain, and 41% consider it was as soon as potential however not is.
Outcomes for age and revenue teams are as you’d anticipate. The youthful you’re and the decrease your revenue, the extra seemingly you’re to consider the American Dream was as soon as potential however not is.
These beneath 30 and people with a low revenue have the identical outcomes with 51% believing it’s not potential, however as soon as was. Nevertheless, solely a couple of third of these over 65 and people with a excessive revenue consider it was as soon as potential.
The outcomes, when cut up by race, might or will not be what you’d anticipate. The most important share of those that consider the American Dream was by no means potential is Black folks, at 11%, whereas 35% of Black folks consider it was as soon as potential however not is.
Asian persons are the subsequent most pessimistic, with 6% feeling it was by no means potential and 42% believing it as soon as was however is not.
Hispanic and White persons are essentially the most optimistic, with 5% of Hispanic folks and 4% of White folks believing it was by no means potential. 47% of Hispanic folks consider it was as soon as potential and 41% of White folks consider it as soon as was.
The YouGov survey requested this query a bit otherwise. It requested if the American Dream exists, and 20% of total respondents stated it doesn’t and 19% have been not sure.
On this survey, 18% of each Hispanic and White folks consider it doesn’t exist. In the meantime, nearly a 3rd of Black folks (31%) consider the American Dream doesn’t exist.
Do you consider the American Dream continues to be potential?
