The American Dream of success

• The American Dream of Success

  The idea that anyone regardless of their background or social status can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination
• The myth of meritocracy is being criticized for upholding the idea of the American Dream of Success
• Redefinition of success


  Not only wealth, material possessions and prosperity, but also personal fulfilment, happiness and social impact
• The redefinition of success is a more inclusive and upright vision for the American Dream of Success
• Arnold Schwarzenegger


  • An Austrian immigrant to the US in 1968
  • Dreamed of being the best in the world in something from age 10
  • Dreamed of being the best body builder in the world from age 15
  • Won the title of Mr. Universe five times
  • One of the most successful Hollywood stars
  • Became Governor of California
• Arnold Schwarzenegger's life motto


  Make up a dream and hunt after it!
• Angie and Jewell


  • Both worked very hard
  • Biggest problem: alienation of hopes
  • Middle-class life: finishing school, getting a job & forming a stable marriage
  • Rising of inequality in America
• A huge problem is that many people never got a shot at the American Dream
• Fire on Ellis Island burned the Immigration station to the ground


  June 15, 1897
• No lives were lost, the Immigration station was rebuilt under one important condition: fireproof
• Arrival and inspection at Ellis Island


  • Inspection process lasted 3-5 hours if immigrant's papers were in order and they were in good health
  • Doctors at Ellis Island soon became very adept at identifying medical conditions by glancing at a person
  • The island's reputation was "Island of Tears", but everybody was still respected and free to start a new life
  • Only two percent of the immigrants were excluded
• The busiest year at Ellis Island with 1.25 million immigrants processed


  1907
• Politicians and nativists demanded increased restrictions on immigrants like a literary test, the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Alien Contract Labor Law
• The paperwork and medical inspections were completed at the consulate, replacing the Ellis Island inspection process


  After the first world war
• Ellis Island was officially closed by the U.S. Government


  November 1954
• The Statue of Liberty


  Stands for American morals
• Emma Lazarus, 1883: 'America will host the immigrants and everybody will be accepted'
• The sonnet demands other countries to keep bad habits, portraying Europe as unable to care for their people
• In 1903, America wants to help immigrants and promises to take care of them