Foundations of the American Dream
Early American Perspectives
19th Century Transformations
The AD in the 20th Century
Civil Rights
100

What year did James Truslow Adams coin the term "American Dream"?

1931

100

Who wrote "Letters from an American Farmer" and presented visions of America as a land of opportunity?


J. Hector St. John de Crèvecœur

100

What were the two major influences on the American Dream during the 19th century?

The Industrial Revolution and Westward Expansion

100

Which major economic event in the 20th century severely tested the American Dream?

The Great Depression

100

Which movement in the 1950s and 1960s redefined the American Dream to include racial equality and justice?

The Civil Rights Movement

200

What three key ideals does the American Dream traditionally symbolize?

Freedom, equality, and opportunity

200

Which early American poet critiqued the emerging ideals of the American Dream while being both a slave and a scholar?

Phillis Wheatley

200

How did the Industrial Revolution redefine the American Dream?

It introduced challenges like labor exploitation but also embodied the promise of prosperity through hard work.

200

What was the New Deal, and how did it relate to the American Dream?

A series of programs aimed at restoring economic stability and ensuring the American Dream was accessible to all.

200

Who delivered the famous "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington?

Martin Luther King Jr.

300

Which author's work in 1931 defined the American Dream as the ability to achieve success through hard work and determination?

James Truslow Adams

300

What does Benjamin Franklin's "Autobiography" illustrate about the American Dream?

It serves as a manual on self-improvement and embodies the spirit of personal freedom and economic self-sufficiency.

300

What doctrine encouraged Americans to expand westward during the 19th century?

Manifest Destiny

300

Which literary work by F. Scott Fitzgerald critiques the material excess of the 1920s?

"The Great Gatsby"

300

What major legislative acts in the 1960s expanded the legal foundations of equality?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965

400

"Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone." This quote represents which concept?

The American Dream

400

How did early American texts contribute to the national identity of the United States?

By cultivating principles of liberty and personal success, persuading both domestic and international audiences of the virtues of American life.

400

Who wrote "Democracy in America" and observed the fluidity of social classes in America?

Alexis de Tocqueville

400

What societal changes were spurred by the New Deal and World Wars?

increased roles for women and minorities, and a more collective responsibility for individual success.

400

Name one piece of literature that challenges the racial inequalities in America during the Civil Rights era.

"Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison or "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

500

Which historical ethos of the United States is central to the idea of the American Dream?


    • The ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity


500

What contrast did early American literature highlight between America and Europe?

The contrast between the oppressive regimes of Europe and the democratic promise of America.

500

Name one author from the 19th century who critiqued America's industrial progress and moral decay.

Herman Melville or Nathaniel Hawthorne

500

How can literature today influence or reflect changes in the American Dream?

By serving as a mirror to society’s values and struggles, literature can drive societal change and reshape the American Dream for future generations.

500

How did television and media impact the Civil Rights Movement and perceptions of the American Dream?

By bringing the struggles and injustices faced by African Americans into living rooms across America, hastening legislative changes.

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