The American Dream is the illusion of anyone who aspires to be part of a nation that calls itself "the home of the free." Images of America often communicate ideas of freedom, equality and success in life, with these we associate the American dream. Immigrants are trying to flee other nations where there are people dying on the streets and families who can't earn enough to put food on the table. These people see America as the land of prosperity and opportunity; many come to this country for refuge. This vision is shared throughout American history, from the arrival of Native Americans, to the settlers who formed their colonies, to the Industrial Revolution, to the Gold Rush, and to the present day. Many people die to reach this land full of promises for a better life. However, the land of opportunity is not open to anyone, which is contradictory due to the nature of freedom and the history of immigration in the United States of America. Immigration is the reason our country was founded. Colonists first fled to America seeking freedom from religious oppression. As a result, white men wiped out large numbers of natives from the land through disease and battle. The debate over who has the absolute right to this land will never end: natives or immigrants. For many, many years immigrants have controlled America. The original immigrants founded a nation on this land and paved the way for opportunity for all other men, except the natives, whom they drove out into the worst real estate areas. After forming a nation, immigrants have one thing to fear: history repeats itself. This uneasiness was noted long ago by Benjamin Franklin who feared that the growing German population...... middle of paper ......al Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Ed. William A. Darity, Jr. 2nd ed. vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. 581-583. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Network. March 27, 2012.Lochhead, Carolyn. A legacy of the unexpected. 2006. Elements of Argumentation: A Text and a Reader. By Annette T. Rottenberg and Donna Haisty. Winchell. Boston, Massachusetts: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. 706-10. Print.Keen, Judy. “For immigrants, living the dream is becoming increasingly difficult.” USA Today June 16, 2009. Premier academic research. Network. April 2, 2012.Mintz, Steven. "Food in America." Digital history. History Online, 2007. Web. 01 April 2012. Samuelson, Robert J. The Ugly Truth of Immigration. 2005. Elements of Argumentation: A Text and a Reader. By Annette T. Rottenberg and Donna Haisty. Winchell. Boston, Massachusetts: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. 704-06. Press.