The Cohen Journal Volume 1 Article 4 Issue 1 Inaugural Issue 2015 The American Dream, Equal Opportunity, and Obtaining the Vote Benjamin Wyman University of Maine,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/tcj Part of the American Politics Commons, Defense and Security Studies Commons, International Relations Commons, Political History Commons, Social History Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Wyman, Benjamin (2015) "The American Dream, Equal Opportunity, and Obtaining the Vote," The Cohen Journal: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1 , Article 4. Available at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/tcj/vol1/iss1/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in The oC hen Journal by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Wyman: The American Dream, Equal Opportunity, and Obtaining the Vote UNIVERSITY OF MAINE THE COHEN INSTITUTE for Leadership and Public Service N W E S THE COHEN JOURNAL Issue 1, Volume 1 Spring 2015 Published by DigitalCommons@UMaine, 2015 1 The Cohen Journal, Vol. 1 [2015], Iss. 1, Art. 4 __________ The American Dream, Equal Opportunity, and Obtaining the Vote __________ Ben Wyman, BA.1 The further the limit of voting rights is extended, the strong is the need felt to spread them still wider; for after each new concession the forces of democracy are strengthened (A. D. Tocqueville 1835). Introduction The United States was founded on the principles of inalienable and natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.