A new poll by the Washington Post and the University of Virginia’s Miller Center surveying Americans about the American Dream suggests that, despite their economic circumstances (only 15 percent of Hispanics have graduated from college, and their incomes remain far below average), Hispanics have more faith in the American Dream than Whites or African Americans.

• 57 percent of Hispanics predict that they are more likely to move up than down in social class over the next few years, and that they are better off than their parents were at the same age.
• Two thirds believe that a college diploma is a major part of the American Dream, compared with half of whites and African Americans. 
• Seven in 10 cite education or hard work as most important in climbing the economic ladder. 
• 60 percent believe that their children will be better off than they are (more than double the share of whites who predict improvement).

"The upbeat attitude, [experts explain], is due in part to the fact that Hispanic immigrants often start with little and expect to sacrifice much to move up, while native-born adults may have already seen their expectations lose ground in an ailing economy."


Read more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/hispanics-often-lead-the-way-in-their-faith-in-the-american-dream-poll-finds/2014/01/30/c9d4d498-6c2a-11e3-b405-7e360f7e9fd2_story.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/polling/postmiller-center-poll-american-dream-financial/2013/09/28/b9cec6ca-2892-11e3-8ab3-b5aacc9e1165_page.html

TeachingwithData.org resources:
The American Dream at the Turn of the 21st Century: A Data-Driven Learning Guide (http://www.teachingwithdata.org/resource/3463)
National Identity Learning Module (http://www.teachingwithdata.org/resource/3038)