Oxford AQA History for A Level: The American Dream: Reality and Illusion 1945-1980 (Oxford A Level History for AQA)

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The ‘American Dream’ encouraged individuals to pursue a goal of success which was largely measured in terms of the acquisition of wealth and material possessions. Strain Theory was first developed by Robert Merton in the 1940s to explain the rising crime rates experienced in the USA at that time. He argued that such an imbalanced society produces anomie – there is a strain or tension between the goals and means which produce unsatisfied aspirations. In the 19 th century, the beginnings of mass emigration were affected by and affected the American Dream. introduce a national health insurance scheme - this was rejected by Republicans close Republican Party One of the two major American political parties.

While most did not, and in fact, many men spent their families’ entire savings to find nothing, several men did become rich in a matter of days. IalsosaidhedelegatedthesegregationofschoolstohisVPSpiroAgnewwhichperhapssaysitsinthebackgroundandnotthefocusofhispolicieswhichIusedtoargueFORtheargument.The (2009) applies Merton’s strain theory to explain rising crime rates during a period of economic growth in Malaysia, suggesting we can apply this theory to developing countries and that a ‘general theory of crime’ may thus be possible. The true themes of the novel, however, are much more complex and include the American Dream, loss of moral values, and appearances versus reality. While it has changed through many years and different political and economic circumstances within the country, the belief that personal success is possible for anyone to attain is a dream that still motivates Americans today. He also noted the constant dissatisfaction and desire for even more and even better when he said, “If they attained Paradise, they would move on if they heard of a better place farther west.

desegregate close desegregation Removal of laws that separate people from different races in public places and day-to-day life.

AsforAmericanDream,likeyourteacherihaveastrongfeelingthattheextractessaymaybeonWatergate,theessayquestionsonTrumandomesticpolicy/problems,Kennedyforeignpolicyandmaybepossiblyoneonthemovements(youth,feminism). Withthestructureofsayingitisconvincing(withevidence)thensayingitisnot,howmanytimesperextract/paragraphwouldyoudothis? Merton argued that when individuals are faced with a gap between their goals (usually finances/money related) and their current status, strain occurs. Retreatism: to reject both the cultural goals and the means to obtain it, then find a way to escape it. Thus, it is not so much the individual’s flaws that lead them to crime, but rather ‘anomie’ in society – the combination of the pressure to be materially successful and the lack of legitimate opportunities to achieve that success.