What is the American Dream, and has it become harder to achieve in recent years?

By: Mark Robert Rank, The Conversation

Outlets: Kentucky Lantern

Published: February 9, 2026

Words: 1,014

Last Updated: 3 weeks ago

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Few ideas are as central to the nation’s identity as that of the American Dream.

With the 250th birthday of the United States coming up in July 2026, it’s worth stepping back to examine a concept essential to the nation’s self-image.

The term “American Dream” was actually coined in the 1930s by historian James Truslow Adams. Ever since the establishment of the Colonies, however, America has been viewed as a land where individual and …

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