Resources about The American Dream in Early American Literature

1. The Library of Congress. “What is the American Dream?”  American Dreams. 12/19/02. http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/97/dream/thedream.html

The theme of the American Dream relates to how people have embraced the new life in America upon the settlement of the America. In the book The Epic of America written by James Truslow, he refers to this term as “The American Dream is ‘that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each’” Adams in the time period I’m studying is about the great historic movement. This is the colonization of the Great West when new settlers were moving westward to take up free land, so to speak. At that time, the only known people on this continent were the Native American Indians who were affected by this era. The white people came to take over the land that we now call the United States. The settler took up land for plantation, which led to the industrial development.  This time period also led to some Indian wars and peace. In summation, the frontier led to the formation of a new government for America.The main purpose of this website is to teach young learners study the history of America. It is a learning page that keeps references and collection of information on American history. This website is like a library online because users can actually chat with a Librarian. The site also is referred to as the American Memory Historical College. And, hey it’s the Library of Congress, and aren’t they a trusted organization? Of course, so I’m going to say this is a trusted site. The literary text this website used are information from source of trusted organizations. The links to the resource on this site provides us with trusted organization such as other educational institutions. The criterion used to define the term is based on the originator of the word. This resource was helpful and credible to me because of its content. It helped me read about history I may have overlooked in the past. The website is credible because it was designed by the Library of Congress. These are people who have extensive knowledge and research on our history. We look up to them and trust their information.

2. Cross, Gary. "Persuing the American Dream: Opportunity and Exclusion over Four Centuries."  EBCSO Research Databases. April 2006. Online Resource. 5 June 2007. < http://ezp.mc.maricopa.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=20715177&site=ehost-li >

The review of Persuing the American Dream is very informative and well explained. It covers the book and the ideas and views that it has about the subject that is spans over four centuries. One great resource that gives understanding about those periods of time. The literary period covers the period of the slave movement and the idea of the American Dream during that period. It helped making sense of what various authors during that period were going threw. It kind of gave it a background and setting. It help give further interpretation of the texts to give more depth to the information. This site is credible because its apart of the EBSCO Research database for MCC library.

3. Cullen, Jim P. The American Dream: a Short History of an Idea That Shaped a Nation. Oxford: Oxford UP, Inc., 2003. Mesa Community College Library 9 June 2007

The main purpose of the website is to define the theme of the American Dream. The website defines the specific literary theme as dream of: the good life, becoming an individual, and the dream of equality. John Winthrop fits into this literary theme because his writings all contain these dreams. This resource is helpful in reading and interpreting the author and texts because this theme is apparent in both. The website is credible because it contains a section call Notes of Sources, or a bibliography. The author and publisher are clearly present.

4. Carpenter, Frederic I.  American Literature and the Dream.  New York:  Philosophical Philosophical Library, 1955. < http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=165475&oplinknum=1 >

 This short article talks about the founding of the new world and the institution of a new opportunity.  This new opportunity is described as freedom.  This new found freedom is the ability to worship how you will, think what you will, and for the most part say what you will.  This is the American dream.  While the idea and concept of the American dream has always been present, it wasn’t until the 1930’s that this idea was defined as the American dream.  

    The article uses a quote from 1654 that announced that the new land that would become known as the United States, would be, “Know this is the place where the Lord will create a new Heaven, and a new Earth in new Churches, and a new Commonwealth together.”  The ideas of “new Heaven” and “new Earth” can be debated.  No matter what the debate, the idea of the new world is that it is full of infinite possibilities.  The new world was a virgin land without a people or government, according to Europeans.  They believed it a place far, far away where they could live independently of the governments and countries they left.  This is the idea of the American Dream. 

    The concept of the American Dream is present in any work that is published in this country.  The idea of the American Dream is that you can publish or say what you feel.  Every author that publishes fits into the idea of the American Dream.

    This website is an online library.  It provides links for fast research.  This website lists the authors, publishing companies and bibliographic information of all the works they hold.  

5. "American Dream." Answers.com. 20 June 2007 < http://www.answers.com/topic/american-dream >.

The purpose of the site is to provide various information on various topics. Although credibility could be in question, the information provided are more factual than opinionated. Also, information are referenced.

The Amercian Dream is defined as the hope for freedom, opportunities, and working hard to achieve a better living. The 'american dream' was first coined by James Truslow Adams in his book "The Epic of America." The site goes on to  provide a history of the 'american dream' and the influences that helped develop the 'american dream.' The page also mentions the significant people who also affected and developed the aspect of living the 'american dream,' such as the Founding Fathers of America. The page also provides a list of literature writing that expressed the 'american dream' theme. The American Dream is now broadly defined but always has that core meaning of freedom, opportunities, and a better living.  -DR