Add to ORKGThis paper examines the notion of what the American Dream and its consumer culture has meant to individuals throughout the history of the development of American society. As to fully understand the reasons of the creation of this notion, this study takes a closer look at the first American colonies in the light of their religious beliefs. The paper explains the principles that the Dream is built on as well as the virtues that reflect on modern society. Furthermore, the study makes evident that the development of the American society and of the American economy will force the colonies to reevaluate the old values in order to survive in the competitive society. Eventually, with the Competition’s byproduct that we call consumerism, we come to ...