The Changing Focus of the American Dream

The question that we now raise is, ‘How did the dream of the first European settlers in America, which was the simple desire for freedom and liberty under God, come to mean something different?’ While some would argue that the dream has never changed, the focus of our modern society is certainly different than that of our forefathers. While their belief was in the Sovereign God, only under whose wings[1] man could enjoy freedom, today’s concept of the American Dream has changed from that belief to a humanistic viewpoint. It has been a slow transition to be sure, but it has brought about a complete change in American society and culture. Consider the following quotes from throughout the history of America.

The First Charter of Virginia, granted by King James I, on April 10, 1606—“We, greatly commending, and graciously accepting of, their Desires for the Furtherance of so noble a Work, which may, by the Providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the Glory of his Divine Majesty, in propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God...”

The Mayflower Compact, authored by William Bradford, 1620— “Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together…”

Patrick Henry, May 1765—“It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.”

James Madison, 1778—“We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”

Thomas Jefferson, 1781—“God who gave us life gave us liberty.  And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God?  That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?  Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.”

George Washington, June 8, 1783—“I now make it my earnest prayer the God would have you and the State over which you preside, in His holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field; and, finally, that he would be most graciously pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation.”

James Madison, June 20, 1785—“Religion is the basis and Foundation of Government.”

Benjamin Franklin, 1787 —“Here is my Creed.  I believe in God, the Creator of the Universe.  That He governs it by His Providence.  That He ought to be worshipped.”

Benjamin Franklin, 1787 —“God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel”

James Madison, March 4, 1809—“We have all been encouraged to feel in the guardianship and guidance of that Almighty Being, whose power regulates the destiny of nations.”

John Adams, June 28, 1813—“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were. . . . the general principles of Christianity. . . . I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God; and that those principles of liberty are as unalterable as human nature.”

Abraham Lincoln, September 11, 1858—Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere.

Grover Cleveland, circa 1885—“A government for the people must depend for its success on the intelligence, the morality, the justice, and the interest of the people themselves.”

Woodrow Wilson, circa 1913—“Liberty has never come from Government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it.”

James Truslow Adams, 1931, the term, “American Dream,” was first used in his book, The Epic of America—“The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”

Franklin Roosevelt, circa 1944—“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.”

Franklin Roosevelt, circa 1944— “The only sure bulwark of continuing liberty is a government strong enough to protect the interests of the people, and a people strong enough and well enough informed to maintain its sovereign control over the government.”

John F. Kennedy, circa 1961—“Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.”

Gerald Ford, May 31, 1976—“In the two centuries that have passed since 1776, millions upon millions of Americans have worked and taken up arms, when necessary, to make the American dream a reality. We can be proud of what they have accomplished. Today, we are the world’s oldest republic. We are at peace. Our nation and our way of life endure. And we are free.”

Bill Clinton, Nov 4, 1992—“We need to empower our people so they can take more responsibility for their own lives in a world that is ever smaller, where everyone counts. We need a new spirit of community, a sense that we are all in this together, or the American Dream will continue to wither. Our destiny is bound up with the destiny of every other American.”

Wikipedia®, May 12, 2009—“The American Dream refers to the freedom that allows all citizens and all residents of the United States to pursue their goals in life through hard work and free choice. The American Dream often refers to the opportunity for immigrants to achieve greater material prosperity than was possible in their countries of origin. America has been viewed as a land in which one's prospects in life are defined by one's talents and energy rather than by one's family wealth or political connections.”

What is necessary to see, from the preceding quotes, is the very perceivable drift from the belief that God gives and sustains liberty, to the idea that men, through their own devices and systems, create and sustain their own liberty. What the change in the American Dream has been, is that we have attributed the dream to the principles of democratic government, education, and our own resolve to be free; and that it has been brought about by the efforts of the American people, past and present. Furthermore, while we are not debating the religious beliefs or affiliations of the sources which we quote—some of those who understood from Whom the well-spring of liberty comes, may have been non-religious; and those who gave a humanistic slant to the source of liberty, may themselves have been very pious— what is plan is the subtle change in American thought. It is the change from a dependence upon God to the belief that men must maintain, through human efforts, their own freedom and liberty.

Well might we ask, what bought about this change of philosophy? The steps that America has followed to its inevitable destruction, are the same as those outlined in the book of Romans.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

1. America began to forget. We forgot the feudal conditions under which our ancestors lived for centuries. When our forefathers came to this continent they tasted a breath of freedom that was only dreamed about in the old world. For the first hundred years or so of our existence the memories of that former life was still emblazoned upon the minds of the people. Even as the first pilgrims began to die off, the stories they had told to their children and grand-children kept the reality of what they had experienced alive upon the minds of the following generations. However, as the years began to separate us from those pioneers, so did our appreciation for true liberty begin to wane.

2. America became unthankful. The tendency of most people, who never experience the sufferings and hardships of life, is to be unthankful for what they have. Most Americans today take for granted what our forefathers only dreamed about. Many of them suffered and died to secure for us the liberties which we enjoy, while most Americans express little appreciation for them. Furthermore, and most importantly, we began to be unthankful to the God whose providence brought our forefathers to this shore, and endowed them with the ideals of true freedom and liberty. Those who ventured to this distant shore were keenly aware that God’s hand had brought them here, and they were diligent to offer Him the praise and thanksgiving He deserved. Thanksgiving Day has changed from a time when we reflect upon God’s goodness and give Him praise, to that of feasting and praising the gods of football and shopping.

3. America became proud. Instead of continuing to look to God as the author and sustainer of our liberty, we began to look to human efforts and institutions. Instead of giving God the glory for what He has done for us, we began to attribute freedom to our own doing. Even our history books have been humanized to reflect the changing philosophy of our country. When in times past children were taught about the strong belief in God of our early settlers, now, nearly all mention of God is deleted and forbidden. Today everyone is a “hero,” and God receives hardly any honor at all in our nation. Now, everything that happens is attributed to either natural forces or human efforts. Those who do attempt to glorify God in our country are belittled and scoffed at. Television, Hollywood, Universities, and our own government, has painted the picture that faith in God is only a “crutch” for the weak-minded; and that the “educated,” “scientific,” “up to date” view of our world is that our universe is the result of the “Big Bang”; life is the result of evolutionary forces; and man is his own god, and is responsible for his own destiny.

4. America became foolish. The Scriptures declare, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”[2] When America turned its heart from trusting in God, and seeking His face for wisdom and guidance, and instead looked to its own strength and wisdom, our downfall was determined. Those who first came to America were devote and earnest in seeking God’s protection and guidance. Those who framed the Constitution also showed great diligence to ask for God’s wisdom and direction in laying the cornerstone of our new nation. Now, most of those who sit in Congress scoff at the idea that we need God, or should pray to God. We now have “experts,” trained in humanistic universities, that have all the answers to our problems.

5. American became imprudent. When men turn their back on God, God’s in return gives “them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” Please note that the Scripture does not say that God causes, or brings about our foolish decisions, He merely lets us have our own way. When America, as a whole, began to think we didn’t need God, but we became “wise” enough to make our own choices, we were doomed as a nation. Soon to follow were extravagant, wasteful spending programs by our government; and a populace that was eager for free handouts. The government sponsored “party” had begun, but the real American Dream was over. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”[3]