Christine So-Young Um

The American Dream as a subject in speeches: Jimmy Carter's Inaugural Address and Ronald Reagan's Acceptance Speech: A comparison Christine So-Young Um

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, 10 entries in the bibliography, 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 s