The Divide
People first spoke of the American Dream in 1931 when James Truslow coined the term in his book, Epic of America. At the heart of this dream is the idea that individuals must work hard to succeed. If they work hard, they will be successful regardless of background. It’s a meritocracy; even lower-class individuals can make their way with hard work. This concept of pulling yourself up by the bootstraps and working your way up the ladder has been ingrained into the minds of Americans since the Founding Fathers included the phrase “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” in the Declaration of Independence.