The American Dream: Equality Defines Our National Ideals - Essay Sample

Introduction

Abraham Lincoln's definition of the American dream was embodied in ideals such as equality not only racial equality as parts of America's sense. It is only through equality that American can avoid the bane and curse that affect all human statement of self-righteousness, insidiousness, as well as condescension. Equality defines the national ideals as were postulated by the founding fathers. Bills such as the GI bill is only transformative because it promises equality and seeks to uplift the servicemembers and servicewomen. The bill was successful because it was believed to be a vehicle for growth and equality by giving them broad and generous economic right to educational support unemployment benefit and loan guarantees.

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What the Dream Would Look Like if Abraham Lincoln Controlled the Levers of Power

The American dream is grounded on the hopes of the framers. The vision that the framers had for America. However even the framer's vision was myopic because they envisaged an America in which the minority groups will forever remaining servitude. Based on the definition, the writer, the author is defining a hope for future success. I think the American. Dream should not be confined to prosperity but be defined by the level of equality. It is only on a system where people that people can thrive. If people could have equal access to resources and opportunities, then they would be able to uplift themselves. I believe Lincoln's dream would mean a better America but not the best society. The minorities would have access to resources, and opportunism and their economic level would be relatively better. Nevertheless, the dream would also attract dissent from the majority group who are focused on maintaining power.

Comparing Abraham Lincoln’s Ideal America With the Various Iterations of the Dream

The overarching ideal image of American as defined by the candidate is equality while in the other iterations of the dreams were based on freedom. Alexis de Tocqueville defined a dream as the anticipated success not only Material while Arthur Lovejoy argued that man should accept everything as designed by God. Puritans fought for their right to freedom, religious beliefs, individual prosperity, wealth and land ownership. In consideration of these iterations of the American dream, Abraham Lincoln's dream was preferable because it is espoused in the people of goodwill who are sincere and decent. It is also important to note that even Lincoln himself believed that it was not possible for the white and blacks to love as equal. Lincoln was in favors of having the superior position assigned to the white race but still thought that slavery was wrong. He stated that he did want a negro woman for a slave but necessarily wanted her for a wife (Cullen, 2004, p.91).

Why I Think Abraham Lincoln’s Version Is Good for America

Abraham Lincoln version of America was good for America because he prophesied equality. In his speech about the immigrants and the declaration of independence in Chicago in 1858, Lincoln argues that immigrants have a right to claim equality and independence as though they were the blood of the blood and flesh of the men who wrote the declaration (Cullen, 2004, p.101). Lincoln's version gives all Americans the hope for a better American where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

References

Cullen, J. (2004). The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation (3rd ed.). Oxford [England]: Oxford University Press.