The American dream is a set of values, ideals and freedoms. These values also include success achieved through determination and hard work. James Adams Truslow in 1931 defined the American dream as the effort to make people’s life better and richer giving them an opportunity to exploit their abilities and enjoy their achievements The American dream is rooted in the declaration of independence by Thomas Jefferson, which agitates that all men are equal. This essay will look at the theme of the American dream as was envisioned in the Declaration of Independence.
On July 1776, the second constitutional congress adopted “The Declaration of Independence” drafted by Thomas Jefferson. The document contains the reasons why the colonies chose to overthrow the British and decided to take their place in separate nations of the world. The document asserts that all men are equal; it also protects the right to life, happiness and liberty that the government should not violate. The document also gives people the duty to overthrow the government if it fails to protect these rights.
The declaration of Independence proclaims that governments are there to support the rights of the people and gain their power from the people they represent. Although, the document has no legal authority, it continues to be quoted as a basis for equality in America. This has helped people to understand their rights, freedoms and duty as citizens. In the pursuit of the American dream, the citizens are supposed to remain vigilant and hold the government accountable for its actions ensuring their rights as stipulated in the document are guaranteed. Though Jefferson in the declaration of independence stressed that all men are equal, various group has criticized this because he had a large plantation that used slaves in his farm. This was contrary to his message in the document.
Despite The Declaration of Independence, the government and society were still violating women's rights. This is clearly seen in the draft “The Declaration of Sentiments”, a document declaring the unjust violation towards women’s rights in America. This is contrary to the American dream as entrenched in the declaration of independence that states that all men are equal. The abuse by the colonial government was contrary to the stand that all men were equal. This formed a basis of the rebellion by the independent states of America. Jefferson highlighted the following abuses: establishment of a tyrannical authority to replace the representative government. The king at the time King George interfered with the process of making legislation proposed by the colonies, replacing colonial government ministers with his own ministers and interfering with civil rights and judicial process of the colonists.
This, amongst many other abuses, formed the basis of the revolt. According to “The declaration of Independence”, the foundation of the representative government is for people to have a contribution in law making. The continued abuses hindered the attainment of the American dream of prosperity, opportunity for all and freedom. Before the declaration, the colonialist’s did not use violent means to protest the abuses, however; their appeals were ignored. The colonies had no other alternative, but to initiate a war so as be granted their rights. Freedoms and aspirations to attain the American dream.
The values of all men are equal as stipulated in the declaration were applied selectively. This is because blacks who were the minority continued to be enslaved in white farms all over the colonies. The fundamental rights and freedoms of this minority were disregarded and accepted as a norm. This led to the famous “I have a Dream speech” by Martin Luther King Jr. on 28 August 1963. In his introductory paragraph of his speech, he emphasized the American dream as rooted in the Declaration.
“I say to you today, my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I Martin Luther King insisted that regardless of the difficulties, which the black people faced, there was still a dream rooted in the American Dream . His dream and aspirations were that one day in America all men will be treated equally irrespective of color .
The speech and the declaration shared the American dream concepts. In the case of Martin Luther king’s speech, the blacks should be allowed the equal rights and freedoms similar to those granted to the whites. Martin fought against the injustices and cruelty against the black people the same cruelty faced by the founding fathers of the nation in the hands of the British. He urged that one day the nation would rise and live in accordance with the actual meaning of the declaration . In the speech, skin color should not be used to judge men but their character. The first half of his speech shows a picture of the injustice upon the black people and a departure from the American dream. He said that time had reached for democracy as promised to become real. The nation should rise above segregation and racial injustice to justice for all and unity. He speaks about brutality by the police towards the black people, no voting rights of the blacks. Thomas Jefferson in his declaration of independence talks about the interference of King George in the judicial and democratic processes of the colonies and the tyrannical rule.
This can be compared to the rights the black agitated for such: as a lack of representation, the right to vote and the brutality by the police. Jefferson advocates that all men are equal so did Martin Luther King Jr. The same frustration the whites underwent at the hands of the British are the same the black underwent at the hands of the whites. The speech had a very strong message to the white people just as the declaration had to the British. However, at the end of the speech he brings a unifying message and a vision that all can relate with, this is the American dream that all can relate to as envisioned in the declaration. The speech goes to proclaim that America’s greatness can only be achieved if the vision as stated in the American dream becomes a reality. Additionally, it posits the vision that all men are equal, and governments are there to protect and uphold the freedoms and rights of the people.
Works cited
Armitage, David. The Declaration of Independence: A Global History. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2007, 2007.
Boyd, Julian P. The Declaration of Independence: The Evolution of the Text. Rev. ed. Charlottesville: : International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello in association with the Library of Congress, 1999.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Strength to Love. New York: Row Publishers, 1963.
Onuf, Christian Y. Dupont and Peter S. Declaring Independence: The Origin and Influence of America’s Founding Document. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Library, 2008.
Shepard, Clayborne Carson and Kris. A Call to Conscience: The Landmark Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. New York: Warner Books, 2001.
