In recent decades, the American Dream has often been equated with material success—owning a house, securing a stable job, sending children to college. But rising inequality, student debt, and political polarization have led many to question whether the dream is still attainable.

Simultaneously, "America First" made a political comeback. Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign used the slogan as a rallying cry, framing it as a defense of American workers, values, and borders. Churchwell shows how Trump’s version drew directly from earlier 20th-century rhetoric—sometimes echoing even the phrases of figures like Lindbergh.

Yet, even as these exclusionary currents rise, a different American Dream persists. Immigrants still come seeking freedom. Activists still fight for inclusion and justice. And many Americans still believe in a version of the dream that is open, egalitarian, and ever-expanding.

Conclusion: Beholding America Anew

Behold, America is not merely a historical narrative—it is a warning and a call to reflection. Sarah Churchwell invites readers to examine the myths we tell ourselves, the slogans we embrace, and the ideals we live by.

The story of America is not one of a perfect dream nor a dystopian nightmare. It is, instead, a nation caught between aspirations and anxieties, inclusion and exclusion, dream and fear. To behold America honestly is to recognize these contradictions—and to choose which legacy we wish to carry forward.

As Churchwell writes, the American Dream is only meaningful if it is available to all. And "America First" must be examined for what it has historically signified. Only by reconciling these competing visions can the United States hope to live up to the ideals it so boldly proclaims. shutdown123