In 2009 Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States. He fascinated millions of people all over the world and even in Germany people recited his motto “Yes we can”. He inspired a nation. Obama and his speeches were so electrifying that a lot of people spoke of a national obsession with Senator Barack Obama.
I wondered how he managed to fill the people with enthusiasm. He was always speaking about the American Dream. So I asked myself: “What is this American Dream; which of its values and ideas are so fascinating that they inspired the nation, and how are they influenced by Obama using them in his speeches? Does Obama just use them for tactical reasons because they are so popular?”
In order to answer these questions it is at first necessary to define the term “American Dream” and to understand the history and meaning of its ideas and values. Then I want to look at Obama's biography, if there are any hints that show his interest in the American Dream and what influence does it have on his interpretation of the American Dream.
For the analysis of his interpretation of the American Dream I have chosen a selection of Obama´s most striking speeches up to April 2009 . These speeches show how he managed to inspire many citizens.
Because I want to illustrate all of the six fundamental concepts of the “American Dream” I scanned the whole collection for striking phrases exemplifying his use of these ideas. They will show his specific interpretation of the American Dream.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The American Dream
- 2.1 Definition
- 2.2 History of concepts
- 2.2.1 The belief in social progress
- 2.2.2 The belief in individual success
- 2.2.3 The belief in values and rights of the founding documents and famous reflections on it
- 2.2.4 The belief in the “melting pot” or similar images
- 2.2.5 The belief in ever new frontiers
- 2.2.6 The belief in American Exceptionalism
- 2.3 The concept of the American Dream since September 11th 2001
- 3. Biography of Barack Hussein Obama
- 3.1 Obama's curriculum vitae
- 3.2 Obama's biography and the American Dream
- 4. The American Dream in famous speeches of Obama
- 4.1 Obama's belief in social progress
- 4.2 Obama's belief in individual success
- 4.3 Obama's belief in values and rights of the founding documents and famous reflections on it
- 4.4 Obama's belief in the ideas of multicultural mixture
- 4.5 Obama's belief in ever new frontiers
- 4.6 Obama's belief in American Exceptionalism
- 5. Results
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work aims to understand the American Dream, its core values, and how Barack Obama utilized these concepts in his speeches to inspire the nation. It explores whether Obama’s use of the American Dream was purely tactical or reflected a genuine belief in its ideals. The analysis will involve defining the American Dream, examining its historical evolution, and exploring Obama's personal connection to it. The study will focus on a selection of Obama's speeches delivered before April 2009.
- Definition and historical evolution of the American Dream
- The core values and beliefs associated with the American Dream
- Barack Obama's personal connection to and interpretation of the American Dream
- Analysis of Obama's use of the American Dream in his speeches
- The impact of Obama's speeches on the American public's perception of the American Dream
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the entire work by posing the central question: how did Barack Obama manage to inspire a nation through his speeches and his consistent reference to the "American Dream"? It establishes the need to define the "American Dream," understand its historical context and underlying values, and analyze how Obama incorporated and interpreted these values in his speeches. The chapter outlines the methodology, focusing on a selection of Obama's speeches up to April 2009, to explore his specific interpretation of the American Dream and whether his usage was purely strategic.
2. The American Dream: This chapter delves into a comprehensive definition of the "American Dream," tracing its evolution from its initial conceptualization by Walter Lippmann to its popularization by James Truslow Adams. It highlights the shifting nature of the concept while establishing a consensus on six fundamental components: belief in social progress, individual success, the values and rights enshrined in founding documents, the "melting pot" ideal, the existence of ever-new frontiers, and the belief in American Exceptionalism. Each of these components is briefly introduced, laying the groundwork for a more in-depth analysis in later chapters.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
American Dream, Barack Obama, social progress, individual success, American Exceptionalism, speeches, political rhetoric, hope, inspiration, national identity, multiculturalism.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Barack Obama and the American Dream
What is the purpose of this text?
This text provides a comprehensive preview of a larger work analyzing Barack Obama's use of the "American Dream" in his speeches. It aims to understand how Obama utilized this concept to inspire the nation, exploring whether his usage was strategic or reflected genuine belief.
What topics are covered in this preview?
The preview includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It covers the definition and historical evolution of the American Dream, Obama's biography and its relation to the American Dream, an analysis of the American Dream in selected Obama speeches (before April 2009), and the overall results of the study.
How is the American Dream defined in this text?
The text defines the American Dream as a multifaceted concept with six core components: belief in social progress, individual success, the values and rights enshrined in founding documents, the "melting pot" ideal, the existence of ever-new frontiers, and the belief in American Exceptionalism. The text traces its evolution from its early conceptualization to its modern interpretation.
What is the focus of the analysis of Obama's speeches?
The analysis focuses on a selection of Obama's speeches delivered before April 2009. It examines how Obama incorporated and interpreted the six core components of the American Dream in his rhetoric and explores the impact of his speeches on the public's perception of the Dream.
What is Obama's personal connection to the American Dream?
The text explores Obama's personal connection to the American Dream through his biography and how this connection influenced his use of the concept in his speeches. This connection is analyzed in relation to the six core components of the American Dream.
What is the methodology used in this study?
The study uses a qualitative analysis of selected Obama speeches delivered before April 2009. It aims to determine whether Obama's use of the American Dream was purely tactical or reflected a genuine belief in its ideals.
What are the key themes explored in this work?
Key themes include the definition and historical evolution of the American Dream, the core values associated with it, Obama's personal interpretation and connection to the American Dream, the analysis of his speeches’ rhetoric, and the impact of his speeches on the public's understanding of the American Dream.
What are the key words associated with this study?
Key words include: American Dream, Barack Obama, social progress, individual success, American Exceptionalism, speeches, political rhetoric, hope, inspiration, national identity, and multiculturalism.
- Quote paper
- David Tebbe (Author), 2012, Barack Obama and the American Dream as Depicted in Some of His Famous Speeches, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/193467
