THE AMERICAN DREAM — often idealized by the house and white picket fence — has been debated, pondered and relentlessly pursued by those who have lived in the United States for generations, as well as more recent immigrants.
President Trump has nodded to the American dream time after time. In his first congressional speech in March, he described it as unstoppable — “surging bigger and better than ever before.”
But Americans are increasingly skeptical about the concept, both in whether the country can live up to its ideals or whether it can help its citizens fulfill their own personal goals. Today, just over half of the country still believes the dream is possible, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. Another 41 percent said the dream was no longer achievable, and 6 percent said it was never possible. The New York Times. Audra D.S. Burch
This lesson plan was found at The Learning Network, The New York Times.
For students from other countries, answer the questions and relate the American dream to your expectations in your own country. Look at the statistics here and note that the United States fell to its lowest ranking since the World Happiness Report’s launch 13 years ago. UsNews
Students, read the entire article and then tell us:
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Do you believe in the American dream? Why or why not? What does the concept mean to you?
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Do you think your family has achieved — or is on the way to achieving — the American dream? Why or why not? Do you think you will be able to achieve it when you are older? What leads you to believe this?
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What is your reaction to the article and the various responses by Americans across the country? Do they change how you understand the American dream? Which of the responses resonate most with your own thinking and why?
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The article notes that today, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, just over half of the country still believes the dream is possible; another 41 percent said the dream was no longer achievable; and 6 percent said it was never possible. Are you surprised by the findings? Do they make you more optimistic about this country and your future? Or perhaps less?
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Is the American dream equally available to everyone? Or are there barriers to achieving it? If the latter, what are some of the obstacles?
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How useful is the idea of an American dream? Is it still relevant in 2025? Do you believe it is, or has ever been, an ideal worth striving for? What are the drawbacks in continuing to use the concept even as its meaning evolves?