In chapter 1 of The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea the Shaped the Nation, Jim Cullen defines the American Dream as fostering traits of confidence and hope, which can be seen in the Puritans, who wanted a better life for themselves and their children. One quote from this chapter that describes the Puritans states, “Their confidence--in themselves, in their sense of mission for their children, and in a God they believed was on their side--impelled them with ruthless zeal to gamble everything for the sake of a vision. In the process they accomplished the core task in the achievement of any American Dream; they became masters of their own destiny (18).”
Think about how this quote from Cullen relates to the central idea of "Upon the Burning of Our House." How do this quote and the poem exemplify the traits of "confidence and hope," key aspects of the American Dream?