Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Region: USA, grade: 1,7, University of Duisburg-Essen (Politische Theorie), course: Politische Rhetorik, language: English, abstract: The American Dream has always been a central subject in political speeches.Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan were not the only presidents who referred to
it in their speeches. Quite possibly every presidential candidate and president
related to it when they accepted their nominations and when they outlined their
political programmes at their inaugurations. Ever since it has become part of
the tradition of political rhetoric in the United States, one can say how centrally
important the American Dream (still) is and what great influence it has on the
American people.
So what exactly is the American Dream? Peter Freese calls the attempt of
defining it ¿subjective and imcomplete¿, especially because he is of the opinion
that the vision and beliefs transferred in the American Dream change with the
times. However, he quotes Hartmut Keil by using his definition of the American
Dream with a lot of its beliefs and convictions that are substantial parts of it:
¿Individual success, advancement, materialism, personal success,
neighborliness, naturalness, individuality, freedom, equality, equal opportunity,
search for identity, national purpose, American consciousness, democratic
dream, dream of paradise (¿), moving force, liberation of humanity, world¿s
salvation¿; but he comes to the conclusion that there is not the possibility of a
precise definition in case one does not want to list nearly every aspect of
¿American society¿.
Still, the fundamental values and virtues that build the basis and are the core
function of the American Dream, are the main part of American political
rhetoric. The metaphor of the American Dream has always been used by being
glorified by politians in their speeches, and mostly with the promise of fulfilment
soon after the elections in case it was a nomination speech. Therefore the American Dream seems to have a realistic side, it is not only a vision or a
utopia when presidential candidates and presidents talk about its fulfilment.
Since the promise of fulfilment is made ever since this subject has played a
major role in political speeches, it is a dream which can and ¿ referring to the
politicians¿ promises ¿ will come true.