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The American Dream

The document discusses the American Dream and how it is founded on the freedom and rights described in the Declaration of Independence, allowing people to achieve success through hard work and determination regardless of background as demonstrated by presidents Lincoln and Reagan.

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167 views2 pages

The American Dream

The document discusses the American Dream and how it is founded on the freedom and rights described in the Declaration of Independence, allowing people to achieve success through hard work and determination regardless of background as demonstrated by presidents Lincoln and Reagan.

Uploaded by

api-512432099
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Nick, Jack, Emma, Lindsay

Taylor

Phoenix-2

24 October 2019

The American Dream

The Declaration of Independence is America’s statement of freedom: freedom from

government tyranny and the freedom to live your life as you see fit. This statement of freedom is

encapsulated in the first sentence of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by

their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit

of Happiness” (US 1776). Your God given right to live your life as you see fit and to secure your

happiness as you desire is freedom. It is this freedom that is the foundation of the American

Dream: “You can start from anywhere and become anything” and “You can rise to the heights no

matter where and in what circumstances you began” (Noonan, “What’s Become of the American

Dream?” ). Said more simply, with “dedication and focus” you can become anything (Noonan,

“What’s Become of the American Dream?” ). For example, Abraham Lincoln grew up in a log

cabin on the frontier and became President. Ronald Regan started as an actor and became

President. Lincoln and Reagan achieved the American Dream because they had the freedom to

achieve through hard work and determination.


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Works Cited

“Declaration of Independence: A Transcription.” ​National Archives and Records Administration,

National Archives and Records Administration, ​www.​archives.gov/​declaration-transript.

Web 23 Oct. 2019.

Noonan, Peggy. “What’s Become of the American Dream?” ​The Wall Street Journal,

6 Apr.2017, ​www.​wsj.com/articles/whats-become-of-the-american-dream-1491521229

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