Does the American Dream still make the French dream?

If there is a country that makes the French dream, it is the United States and especially the American Dream. According to this concept, any person living in the United States can succeed in life, regardless of their social background or origins. For Americans, their country is “the land of opportunities”. Today, an estimated 150,587 French people live in the United States, this is the second largest French diaspora and the largest. In Hello! La Matinale TF1, (new window) Benjamin Muller deciphers the American Dream for you.

• Read also

  “America at a time of choice”: D-Day, the diary of a campaign under high tension

From the myth…

The American way of life has become a subject of envy for Europeans and the French since the 1950s, following the Second World War. While Europe is rebuilding itself and healing its wounds, the United States represents a symbol of prosperity and modernity: automobiles, successful businesses, individual homes and vast commercial space. The American Way of Life is a powerful driver of immigration. A way of life spread around the world, notably thanks to Hollywood and music stars. Europe discovers American landscapes, history and culture. Many French artists fell under its spell, like Johnny Hallyday or Eddy Mitchell, fascinated by Elvis Presley. The first will also launch the twist in France. The United States is also home to Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, and the films of Steven Spielberg which have contributed to fueling pop culture and rocking many generations.

…to the brutal reality

The American Dream takes a hit with the September 11 attacks, George Bush and the subprime crisis. Certainly, the election of Barack Obama has given hope, Silicon Valley attracts many young French people and Hollywood continues to inspire dreams, however the concept is on the decline. The accumulation of economic, social and political crises is increasing and the concept of “land of opportunities” seems to become an illusion as inequalities are widening in the country.

The fascination with the United States is more nuanced today. Social networks and continuous news channels show another image of the United States: violence, killings in schools, the death of George Floyd or even the excesses of Donald Trump. However, these inequalities do not seem to slow down the French's desire for American adventures since many of them still want to cross the Atlantic. It is true that there, salaries remain much higher than in France. For comparison, a teacher earns on average 4,700 euros per month compared to 2,700 euros in France.

For Yves Montand, “America is an idea, a hope. It symbolizes freedom and success, even for those who know it's just an illusion“. The American Dream remains an ideal which serves to promote its culture and its economy. And this illusion still attracts since one in four French people plan to go there on vacation in the next five years, according to a survey carried out by Hotels. com.