Photo of a building on fire in Washington DC, 1920

https://www.loc.gov/item/npc2007002626/

This is a photograph, taken in 1920, of firemen attempting to put out a fire outside a building in Washington D.C. Firstly, this highlights the point that Adams made that if a single man attempted to build a house, the chances are that something (Adams suggested an 'Indian') would cause it to be destroyed and consequently society would not progress. However, if a group of people started building and working together, they'd have the manpower to ward off any danger to their civilisation and be able to develop in harmony. This image shows that indeed American people have worked together to build cities and enhance their quality of life. It also shows the kind of threat that could be posed towards American society in the form of fire. Supporting Adams' theory though, American society had developed sufficiently that they had firefighters ready to help those in need and try to put out the fire. American people have built a society that functions by putting people in different roles and when they are called upon, they are expected to perform and do their duty.  

This image also depicts the 'American Dream'. Cullen explains that there is "no one American Dream" and this is supported in the photo. The 'American Dream' isn't the concept that everyone should be extremely wealthy just because they are American. It is more personal than that. The fact that there is a functioning society to go and be a part of, is arguably more of what the 'American Dream' is, and this is supported in the photograph. The firefighters are a key role in society, saving the lives of those inside the building (I am assuming there are people inside). I would argue that the people inside the building are living the 'American Dream'. The buildings look residential, so it is assumed that whoever is inside lives there, suggesting they have an occupation and some sort of income. Moreover, they live in the United States where they have the luxury of fire departments, even in the 1920s, which can be argued is part of the 'American Dream'. The fact that their property would have been damaged is a hindrance, as it is unclear how much of their property would have survived. But ultimately they lived in a fully functioning American society that was very prosperous in the early and mid 1920s due to the money the USA attained from the First World War.

References:

https://www.loc.gov/item/npc2007002626/

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=yM96DK4ELZkC&pg=PA3&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false

file:///C:/Users/Rob%20Brown/Downloads/AM1212-James_Truslow_Adams-The_epic_of_America-Chapter_of_The_epic_of_America-pp214-221.pdf