American dream,

The  image  of  prosperity,  achievable  through  hard work. A political cliché invoked by candidates, it was used by Alexis de Toc- queville in Democracy in America (1835) but may be even older. In 1975 psycho- analyst  David Abrahansen  was  quoted  as  saying, “The American  dream  is  in part  responsible  for  a  great  deal  of  crime  and  violence, because  people  feel that  the  country  owes  them  not  only  a  living  but  a  good  living.” A  similar cliché of even less precise definition is the American way, evoking an image of democracy, fairness, and other desirable traits.