In the early 20th century the American Dream was something the wealthy created for the poor, encouraging them to work harder, and fit into the mold that was created, giving them the proverbial "perfect life". This would involve a married couple buying a home, having a family, and working at a large corporation. I believe that this image was created to help benefit the wealthy business owners, while creating a sense of security for those lower in the corporate ladder. It seems that now it is different. People have become wary of big corporations, and those in the lower class have a hard time moving up. The American Dream still exists, but it is different. The new American Dream has those who start out behind becoming successful by starting their own companies, and paving the way for themselves. The new American Dream can be seen throughout media, where fictional and factual stories of people becoming ridiculously successful in their business pursuits are common. America has become a place that allows anyone to go from the bottom to the top, if they work hard and get lucky.
The issue is that the American Dream is just a dream to many. It is often advertised and regarded as something that is possible and feasible, but rarely works in practice.
@Benbom