Family Values And The American Dream - 1441 Words

Family values have become a central idea in the concept of the American Dream. For several decades, family values have received emphasis in the American politics. Particularly, the last three decades of the twentieth century were of critical importance in the development of the various movements that promoted family values. The rise of evangelical leaders and conservative politicians served to bring family values to the consciousness of the nation. The Christian right leaders came together to support a different agenda that fostered family values. Moreover, evangelical leaders and conservative politicians played an important role in fighting aborting, homosexuality, and feminist agenda that proved contrary to basic Christian teaching†¦show more content†¦Robinson was able to overcome various challenges such as racial discrimination and became a recognized baseball player. The ability to overcome such challenges and register a measure of success and an impact on the society r eflect the achievement of the American Dream â€Å"...the enduring belief that people can rise above their origins, however humble, and through hard work, honesty, and thrift achieve positions of power and influence.† (Livesay 1) For many people, the achievement of the American Dream requires hard work and commitment as demonstrated by Robinson and Carnegie. However, these versions of the American Dream did not give attention to family values. They focused on the accumulation of wealth, fame, and popularity. In the last three decades of the twentieth century, family values became an important concept in the American Society. Leaders, institutions, and lay Christians who were in support of the conservative politics formed the Christian right. In the 1960s, there was a cultural revolution that threatened the moral standing of the Americans â€Å"The social revolutions of the 1960s, then, caused many white Americans to feel as though the nation had lost its moorings.† (Dowland 15) As a result, the Cultural Revolution motivated the Christian right leaders to emphasize the need for family values in the achievement of the American Dream. The evangelicals initiated the familyShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream Essay1480 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Dream is a concept that has circulated around the world and has caused people from other countries, and those who live in America, to come to our nation and take advantage of the opportunities in place to better their lives. 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