Where did the idea of the American Dream first originate? Immigrants to the New World were bent on creating a new society, one that thrived on democratic principles, where they could worship freely and having equal standing in the eyes of the law regardless of their financial situation or social status. We believe these ideas to be our own, but they are not; these ideas are not uniquely American ideas. They are drawn from the beliefs of the early Protestants, specifically the ideas of separation of church and state, equality for all and hard work and integrity.
The first influence of the Protestants that can be seen on American society comes in the form of separation of church and state. Martin Luther, the father of the Protestant reformation was a proponent of church and state. With his 95 Theses, he transformed both religion and government. He believed that the church had no place in government, that the Kingdom of God was entirely separate from the kingdom of the world. When Luther challenged the Church in the 16th century, his followers established their own religion. It was the descendants of these followers that populated the New World a Century later, bringing their belief with them. This Protestant belief is directly reflected in our Constitution, which states that Congress cannot bring about a religious state, and infers that all government decisions should be independent of any sort of official government ideology. This Protestant belief is reflected in some of the most controversial social issues of our day: homosexual marriage, women’s rights, and immigration. Supreme court decisions have also been made based on this Lutheran ideal, an example of which is Engle v. Vitale in 1962, which eliminated the existence of formalized prayer in school, and Stone v. Graham (1980) which outlawed the posting of the Ten Commandments in government buildings. (US Supreme Court Decisions, 1995)
A second Puritan ideal that has shaped the development of America is the idea of equality. This ideal was the foundation of the American Dream, and is reflected in the language of the Constitution that indicates that any man, slave or free should have equal standing under the law (14th Amendment). This idea has its roots in Puritan beliefs. Puritans believed that all were of equal standing in God’s eyes, and that each person held a direct route to God. This was in direct contrast to the belief of the HOly Roman Empire, which felt that there should be a designated intermediary between man and God. (What is Puritanism, 2002) This idea that each person has equal standing in God’s eyes appears in a multitude of social issues in American culture today. While there may be a clear separation of church and state, there are also moral beliefs that structure our attitudes toward our fellow man. It is apparent in our policies on immigration; many believe that America should welcome others from foreign lands because they have the same human rights as Americans. It is apparent in our foreign policy, when we defend countries that do not honor human rights, and mistreat their constituents. And it is apparent in our social programs; we work hard to provide for those who are having difficulties or struggling so that they may access the same opportunities as those who are more financially blessed.
The final manifestation of the Puritan belief system in American culture is the Puritan work ethic. The American dream is that anyone can be successful through hard work; they can attain financial security, raise a family in freedom, and be a productive contributor to society. This dream has been idealized in media, storytelling, and fables throughout the ages. We have seen this work ethic displayed throughout history in the pioneers that explored the West, in small business owners who grew their mom-and-pop establishments into large corporations, and in the spirit of immigrants who came to the United States in search of a better life, often working long hours for low pay to support themselves and their families. Hard work is often thought of as a uniquely American trait, but it has its roots in Puritan values. The Puritans were also hard workers, although the work came more out of necessity and a need for survival. Their simple lifestyle required them to work constantly to maintain their safety, security and standard of living. There was also the idea that each task should be done to the best of one’s ability. Based on the Biblical principle of giving God the firstfruits of everything - including our labors - early Protestants would make sure that each of their tasks were completed fully, to the best of their ability and with a joyful countenance. (Ryken, 2017)
The Puritan and Protestant people contributed much to our society that has been assimilated seamlessly into what if referred to as “The American Dream.” From the Protestants, we get some of our founding governmental principles, such as the separation of church and state. American values also mimic their ideas about equality and work ethic. Democracy is based on the idea that everyone has equal standing and an equal vote; so is the belief of the Protestants, that all have an equal standing with God. Hard work and integrity are also decidedly Protestant values that have been absorbed into American culture, the idea that if you work hard and do your best, you will be successful. These values have combined to create the standard of our culture, what we know today as the American Dream.
References
G. (2017, January 04). GotQuestions.org. Retrieved February 02, 2017, from https://www.gotquestions.org/Puritans-Puritanism.html
Ryken, L. (2017). The Original Puritan Work Ethic. Retrieved February 02, 2017, from http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-89/original-puritan-work-ethic.html
U.S. Supreme Court Decisions (arranged by date). (n.d.). Retrieved February 02, 2017, from https://infidels.org/library/modern/church-state/decisions.html
