Reviving the American Dream

BY SARAH SIEGEL

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For generations, the United States of America has stood as a beacon of hope and prosperity for those fleeing their homelands in search of a better life. The American Dream, as first articulated by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America, symbolized the aspirations of a land where anyone could strive for a better life through hard work and perseverance. Today, however, this dream seems increasingly distant as a sense of entitlement, identity politics, and the erosion of traditional values threaten the foundations on which the country was built. If allowed to continue its current course, this shift not only jeopardizes the American Dream but may lead to the destruction of all that makes the United States of America exceptional.

With traditional, stable family structures in decline, the American Dream fades alongside them. A recent Pew Research Center study explored this trend, revealing that only about 50 percent of adults in the U.S. today are married, down from 69 percent in 1970. Similarly, birth rates have fallen sharply, from 24 births per 1,000 people in the 1950s to just 12 per 1,000 people today. These declining rates directly correlate with the weakening of the American Dream. Sociologist Andrew Cherlin examines the rise of failing marriages in his book The Marriage-Go-Round.  He believes that Americans hold two contradictory views of marriage: they place high value on the institution itself, while also deeply valuing individual freedom. This tension contributes to the growing rate of marital breakdowns and the resulting decline of the nuclear family. 

Historically, the American Dream was built on the idea that hard work and family stability could lead to success, embodied by the countless immigrants whose strong family unit was central to their achievements. It is far more difficult to navigate life’s challenges, pursue higher education, and enter the workforce equipped for success for people born into families that don’t provide them with solid support. This reflects a broader cultural trend that prioritizes personal freedom over familial commitment, ultimately undermining the values that once made the American Dream attainable for all.  

Identity politics further exacerbates this trend by prioritizing collective identity over individual achievement. By categorizing people based on race, gender, sexuality, and other markers, this ideology fosters division. Politically, the divide has grown so stark that according to the Pew Research Center, 77 percent of Americans believe the country is more divided than ever, with the ideological gap between political parties wider than in decades. Instead of empowering individuals to overcome obstacles through personal efforts and responsibility, identity politics perpetuates the notion that success is determined by one’s group identity and the perceived advantages or disadvantages that come with it. 

This fundamentally contradicts the American Dream, which has always been rooted in the belief that success is earned through hard work, perseverance, and individual merit. America’s founding principles—expressed in the Pledge of Allegiance with its call for “liberty, equality, and justice for all”—reinforce the idea that every citizen has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background. While identity politics claims to champion equality, it paradoxically hinders individuals from rising based on their abilities and efforts. Encouraging a culture of blame over personal accountability, and a culture of collective identity over individual success, it undermines the values that make the American Dream attainable and sought after. 

Lastly, the explosion in growth of government programs has led many Americans to view themselves as being entitled to support without effort. A society once built on grit and labor has become one of frequent dependency and complacency. In Losing Ground, Charles A. Murray critiques the social policies and welfare programs introduced between the 1960s and early 1980s, particularly those aimed at reducing poverty and inequality. He notes that while well-intentioned, the expansion of welfare programs inadvertently discouraged self-sufficiency and work ethic. Decades later, his warnings ring true. 

Only 50 percent of children in America earn more than their parents—a stark departure from the upward mobility that once defined the American Dream. This does not reflect an inherent flaw in American culture, but rather that embedding welfare dependency into society has fundamentally altered our culture and by many metrics seems to be a devastating mistake. Nearly one in three Americans is enrolled in at least one government assistance program, according to statistics published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2023. As more and more individuals are told they are victims entitled to support rather than the creator of their own destiny, the self-reliance that was once the backbone of the American Dream is at risk.

The American Dream, once a symbol of hope and promise, is now teetering on the edge of irrelevance, dismissed by a culture that prioritizes entitlement, identity over individual responsibility, and the abandonment of traditional values. The survival of the American Dream demands a national awakening: a rejection of ideologies that fracture unity and stifle ambition. To restore the American Dream, we must reaffirm the values of grit, determination, and personal responsibility that once allowed anyone, regardless of background, to succeed. By rejecting entitlement, victimhood, and dependency, we can revive the spirit of the American Dream, ensuring that future generations can still achieve their aspirations through hard work and perseverance.