Description
In the 19th century, fierce individualists — men such as Andrew Carnegie — represented those who had reached the height of the American dream. The idea that every person could succeed if only they tried hard enough was believed by many. But could rampant individualism be detrimental to society as a whole? If every man is an individual, seeking their own fortune, where does that leave society?
Could men such as Homer Plessy, or women such as Ida B. Wells, succeed in American society as individuals without having the same opportunities as everyone else? Or did they need collective action to achieve their dreams? If there is no equal opportunity for all, is the American dream a sham or a ruse? Have the inequalities that existed then been fixed and is the individualistic side of the American dream alive?
I’d like to hear your own personal views about the American dream, but I’d also like you to specifically mention some of the figures of the era and how you think they relate to the American dream as it existed then. Please feel free to use contemporary examples of those who have achieved the “American Dream” in your answer.
Sample Solution
