When the U.S. Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago on July 4, 1776, a unique nation was seeded in the annals of history — a republic by the people, for the people. Thomas Jefferson memorably penned that these unalienable rights included “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
In the minds of many, the pursuit of happiness involves what became known as the American Dream. As our parents, grandparents and teachers told us growing up, if you worked hard and followed the rules, you could rise from employee to employer and achieve the financial independence to own a home, raise a family and become a vital member of your community. The American Dream was possible, we were told, because America is a true meritocracy.
