Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It's a phrase all Americans know because it describes our American values ​​and establishes our Declaration of Independence. Many Americans consider themselves part of a nation of opportunity for all, regardless of race, gender, or nationality, and yet we almost never choose to question whether or not this is actually true. As Americans, there are certain values ​​we hold dear, such as freedom, equality, and opportunity. These are the values ​​on which our nation is based, but are these standards really respected in our modern society? I will argue that while our nation prides itself on its equality and freedom; in reality, we do not defend these values ​​and are confronted with inequalities and imbalances. The modern American class system highlights many of the inequalities that plague our nation. In a country that prides itself on equality, there is ample evidence of social stratification and the importance of social class. According to the 2010-2011 American Community Survey, “46.2 million Americans live below the poverty line. This number includes 21.9% of children under the age of eighteen, 27.5% of African Americans, and 25.3% of Hispanics” (US Census Bureau, 2010). With so many people living in poverty, they must be doing something wrong. Why would a country so founded on equality let 47 million people live in a state of destitution without there being a reason behind it? Well there is little to no reasoning, in reality many people living in poverty find themselves in this situation for no reason other than the flawed class system. For example, children born into poverty are more likely to stay in poverty and then have children of their own, thus creating a cycle... middle of paper ...... and we would indeed have a free country and egalitarian. It would undoubtedly be difficult to eliminate all of the disparities, inequalities, and imbalances that characterize America today, but if there is one characteristic of Americans that has stood the test of time, it is our perseverance, and it is this perseverance that will bring freedom, happiness and equality to our nation. Works Cited Alexander, Michelle. The new Jim Crow: mass incarceration in the age of color blindness. New York: New Press, 2010. Print. Corcoran, M. “Rags to Rags: Poverty and Mobility in the United States.” Annual Review of Sociology 21.1 (1995): 237-67. Internet. May 5, 2014. United States Census Bureau. (2010). Poverty data. In American Community Survey. Accessed 04/05/2014. Gibelman, Margaret. 2003. So how far have we come? A pestilential and persistent gender pay gap. Social Work 48 ( 1 ): 22 – 32 .