Defining the American Dream

Students will define the American Dream and apply their new knowledge to evaluate the main idea of H.W. Brands' "The Age of Gold."

A lesson plan for grades 11–12 Social Studies

By Benjamin Crawford

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Related topics

• Learn more about American Dream, American history, history, and social studies.

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Learning outcomes

• Students will define the American Dream.
• Students will read a book review of “The Age of Gold.”
• Students will apply knowledge of American history and their definition of the American Dream to evaluate the main ideas of “The Age of Gold.”

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

60 Minutes

Materials/resources

Teacher will need to provide a copy of the “American Dream Built on Rocks of Gold,” a book review, available at: http://rev.tamu.edu/stories/02/081202-4.html.

Pre-activities

The teacher will discuss the idea of achieving the American Dream throughout the course of American history with the class and develop a working definition of this abstract concept.

Activities

1. The class will review its working definition of the American Dream. Although the definitions will vary, teachers may want to consider the following three tenets of the American Dream:
2. America is a new Eden, a “promised land” of beauty, unlimited resources, and endless opportunities
3. the American birthright is one of ever-expanding opportunity
4. everything is possible for the person who places trust in his or her own powers and potential; the independent, self-reliant individual will triumph.
5. The teacher will handout copies of “American Dream Built on Rocks.” Teachers can print this document from http://rev.tamu.edu/stories/02/081202-4.html.
6. Students will read and analyze the book review.
7. Teacher and students will work together to identify the main ideas of H.W. Brands’ “The Age of Gold.”
8. Students will develop a written criticism of Brands’ thesis. Essentially, students will apply their knowledge of American history to determine if Brands’ emphasis on the Gold Rush and understanding of the American Dream are merited or not.
9. Students will submit written criticism at the end of class.

Assessment

Students will receive a grade for their written assignment based upon the following rubric.

3: Student creates a clear argument and supports the argument with details from the book review and facts from American history.

2: Student creates a clear argument, but does not support the argument with sufficient details from the book review and facts from American history.

1: Student does not make an argument and does not offer any details from the book review or facts from American history.

Supplemental information

Teachers may want to develop a cause and effect thinking map which describes, according to H.W. Brands, the multiple effects of the Gold Rush.

Related websites

http://rev.tamu.edu/stories/02/081202-4.html

Comments

The definition of the American Dream presented above is a summary of the description of the American Dream by John Leggett and John Malcom Brinnin in “Elements of Literature,” 2000.