The American Dream
The American Dream is “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement…”
—James Truslow Adams, The Epic of America, 1931
The American Dream
The American Dream is “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement…”
—James Truslow Adams, The Epic of America, 1931
Key Findings
America at 250 Survey Highlights
For America’s semiquincentennial, we produced a special edition of our annual American Dream Snapshot. The seventh edition of this survey revealed that America’s most unifying narrative remains remarkably resilient. While concerns about affordability, economic opportunity, and emerging technologies have contributed to rising pessimism, most Americans continue to believe that the American Dream is achievable.
What is your American Dream?
We asked Americans to describe their American Dream in one sentence.
Click on each state to see individual responses.
![What\\\\\\\](https://americandreamsurvey.com/wp-content/plugins/interactive-world-maps/imgs/placeholder.png "What\\\\\\\")
What\\\\\\\'s your American Dream?
Achieving your American Dream
Achieving Your American Dream
We asked Americans who is most responsible for helping them achieve or pursue the American Dream.
Click on each state to see individual responses.
Latest Articles
Living the DreamOngoing seriesRead Article →
American Optimism Proves Its ResilienceDecember 22, 2025Read Article →
American Billionaires and Their Fair Share of TaxesDecember 9, 2025Read Article →
This Thanksgiving, Celebrate a New Beacon of the American DreamNovember 27, 2025Read Article →
EP9: Gonzalo Schwarz and Clay RoutledgeOctober 7, 2025Read Article →
Is America Now Becoming a Nation of Pessimists?September 19, 2025Read Article →
July 4th Is Behind Us, the American Dream Is NotJuly 12, 2025Read Article →
An Interview With Archbridge Institute CEO Gonzalo Schwarz on the American DreamJuly 2, 2025Read Article →
America's Greatest Need: A Culture of EntrepreneurshipFebruary 4, 2025Read Article →
Why You Should Buy the American Dream at the Point of Maximum PessimismOctober 12, 2024Read Article →
The Psyche That Unites Americans Is Deeper Than the Politics Dividing UsMarch 20, 2024Read Article →
A Recipe to Revive the American Dream in 2024March 4, 2024Read Article →
The Four Myths of the American DreamOctober 28, 2023Read Article →
The American Dream Is Alive, But Doubts Loom This 4th of JulyJuly 4, 2023Read Article →
Dreaming Our Way Toward RedemptionJune 30, 2023Read Article →
The American Dream as the VisionSeptember 27, 2022Read Article →
I Became an American Citizen and I'm Proud of This CountryDecember 31, 2020Read Article →
My $4.92 American DreamNovember 24, 2020Read Article →Living the Dream Minute
What Is the Next American Frontier? | Living the Dream
Can America's History Be Redeemed? | Living the Dream
What If I Don't Reach My American Dream? | Living the Dream
Can the American Dream Bring Us Together? | Living the Dream
The American Dreams Survey is a project of the Archbridge Institute, whose mission is to lift barriers to human flourishing. Founded in 2016, Archbridge seeks to inform research, policy, and cultural conversations by building a bridge between cutting-edge data insights and the narratives that drive individuals and society. This work strengthens the American Dream, supporting freedom and opportunity for all while promoting character, personal agency, positive-sum thinking, entrepreneurship, innovation, and common ground. The Archbridge Institute is a nonpartisan, independent 501(c)(3) think tank.
