The American Dream is a subjective term usually implying a successful and satisfying life. This term usually implies financial security and material comfort, but can also imply a dream of fame, exceeding social, ethnic, or class boundaries, or simply living a fulfilling life. Perceptions of the American dream are usually framed in terms of American capitalism, its associated purported meritocracy, and the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S.
American Dream is a documentary film directed by Barbara Kopple centered on union meatpacking workers at Hormel Foods in Austin, Minnesota between 1985 and 1986. Hormel cut the hourly wage from $10.69 to $8.25 after posting a net profit of $30 million. The local P-9 union opposed the cut, but the United Food and Commercial Workers Union did not support them.