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American Dream Essay, Research Paper

Introduction

The American Dream can best be defined as a “city upon a hill.” ?City upon a hill can be defined as an ideology based on the premise that the individual’s loyalty and devotion to the nation-state surpass other individual or group interests,?1 or in simpler terms, being superior over other nations. The Civil War, the Imperialistic Race of the 19th Century, the Korean War, the Klu Klux Klan (KKK), and the Gulf War are all examples of the “American Dream” of superiority, and how it has played a major part in America?s history. Each American has a different idea of superiority, but never the less strive to achieve it, whatever it may be in. Americans have developed a very deep sense of their own superiority as a nation, whether it is in political, social or economic organizations. This pride in the American nation was based on a feeling that the national characteristics of Americans were somehow superior to all other nations.

Civil War

The Civil War, which split the United States, was two different view

points of gaining the “American Dream” in a new America. Both sides, North and South, felt their idea’s and philosophies were superior to those of the opposing side and therefore would benefit the country better and make it superior. Both North and South wanted to improve their country to have it reach the “American Dream”. Slavery was one of the most important issues, the North against, the South pro-slavery. The disagreement on slavery lead to difficulty in the concern of Westward expansion. ?The compromise of 1850 stated that California enters free, and New Mexico and Utah decided on their own which is giving them more state rights in which the South heavily supported. This compromise did not satisfy each side fully. The issue of State rights intensified by the issue of slavery because the Southern states felt they had the right to decide on their own about Slavery without Federal intervention.?2 It seems as though the Southern states felt that the “American dream” was out of their reach because they felt powerless and inferior within the Central government.

American Revolution

?The American Revolution may be regarded as America?s first powerful manifestation.?3 When the American Revolution was fought to break from Britain, the Southern States thought they would be treated as sovereign and free. With the State’s limited power, they felt as if the Federal government would become a monarchy. The Northern States wanted the “American dream” achieved for the whole country to be industrial, anti-slavery, and very federalist. Within these institutions they planned to make the U.S the most superior nation in the world. The South wanted to achieve the same ultimate goal for the U.S but with agricultural, pro- slavery, and states sovereignty institutions. These are the differences between both

sides in achieving “the American Dream.” In order to resolve the conflict of interests, North and South had to go to war to prove superiority thus proving which side is “the city upon the hill” in which the losing side would follow.

Imperialism in the 19th Century

?Any schemes to forcefully annex Canada and to unite the North American continent under the U.S flag had been rejected. At the time, there were many other nations looking to expand its empire such as Britain and Germany.?4 ?After the Civil War, Secretary of State Seward had negotiated a treaty to purchase the Virgin Islands from Denmark, but the senate rejected this treaty.?5 ?In 1859, the U.S annexed the Midway Islands in the South Pacific, and half the Samoan Islands; the other half belonging to Germany.?6 It is this idea of expansion therefore gaining power and superiority over other nations that proves the American Dream/City upon a hill being about superiority. ?The invasion of South Korea by North Korea was the opportunity the U.S needed to invade and de-communize North Korea, causing China to intervene therefore justifying the possible invasion of China.?7 ?When World War II ended, the U.S and U.S.S.R agreed to occupy Korea. North became communist, South became capitalist. The U.S and the United Nations recognized South Korea while the Soviet Union and its allies recognized North Korea.?8 ?On June 1950, the North Korean army with Soviet weapons invaded South Korea, in an attempt to take it over. The United States, taking great interest, appealed to the U.N to condemn the invasion and to send forces to liberate South Korea. The Soviet representative to the U.N was not present to veto due to the fact that the Soviet Union was protesting against the refusal to allow China to enter the UN. When the U.N forces under U.S command liberated South Korea, U.S president Truman ordered that the forces go beyond the initial mission of liberation, and invade North Korea. As the U.N forces advanced deeper into North Korea, China warned them to withdraw. The forces refused and on November 1950 were attacked by 200,000 Chinese soldiers. The U.N forces faced with a fresh enemy, retreated south of the 38th parallel.?9 ?In order to defeat the Chinese forces, Gen. MacArthur, commander of the forces, requested that China itself be attacked.?10 ?The Korean War was fought to get into North Korea for these main reasons: To decrease the Soviet influence in the time of Cold war so it would cause an increase in U.S influence, and to get into China which has the largest market in the world.?11 ?MacArthur, after invading North Korea and setting off the Chinese, wanted to directly attack China. Truman who wanted no risk of direct intervention by the Soviets, wanted strictly just to take North Korea and perhaps delay the invasion of China, since providing North Korea was taken.?12 The Korean War clearly showed that the United States was pursuing the “American Dream” in two ways, one was to

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