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| Settlers travel westward |
Courtesy, Library of Congress
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Frontier Pathways
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Wayside Excursion: The American Dream
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The term “American Dream” was coined in the 1930s and became part of the national vocabulary after World War II. The first published use of the term may have occurred in 1931, according to economist Robert Samuelson. In The Good Life and its Discontents (1997) Samuelson quotes historian James Truslow Adams, author of The Epic of America. The American Dream was the "dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement." The American Dream holds out the promise of opportunity, abundance, equality, and personal happiness.
The American Dream has its roots in the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson’s idea of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" was influenced by the Enlightenment in Europe. The belief in the fundamental goodness of humanity held out the optimistic promise of a social order built on the concepts of democracy, liberty, justice, and equal opportunity, not on the circumstances of birth or position.
Seekers of what would become known as the American Dream came to the United States, and ultimately to Colorado, for a variety of reasons. The earliest settlers were fleeing from religious persecution. Other settlers were motivated by overcrowded cities in Europe and the lack of economic opportunity. As the nation grew, the frontier held out the promise of a new beginning with few restrictions. In recent times, people seeking political asylum have joined the seekers of the American Dream.
As Joanne Dodds says in Frontier Pathways, "I think it was the idea that you could own a part of this. It was that whole idea that was driving Americans from the beginning, having a better life, having more wealth than they did before, in an environment that they liked."
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