Dreams as we see them are our hopes and desires. Doctor Martin Luther king Jr. in his famous speech in Washington on August 28th, 1963 said, "I have a dream". For doctor King that was his hope for equality and justice for all. Today people dream or hope for different things and for different reasons. Some may be for power, others dream of wealth, others religious freedom and yet others simply desire a roof over their heads. The American dream encompasses all of this, James Truslow Adams first used this statement in his book entitled epic of America, written in 1931. He stated "The American dream, is the dream of a land in which life should be richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement...a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest statue of which they are innately capable". (p.214-215) The purpose of this essay will be to examine the American dream, give examples of what it means to different people as well as myself. Though the phrase " American Dream" was first used by James Adams it was an idea that began long ago. In fact, it was first borne when the founding fathers stood up against the British and signed their names to the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776. It was solidified when the Bill of Writes became law and was signed on December 15,1791. The dream continued through history when the homesteaders moved west in search for riches and prosperity for themselves as well as their families. The great influx of immigrants between the 1930's and early 1940's was also a continuation of the search for this dream. They came from around the world from many different backgrounds and cultures; the Irish, Jews, Italians and the Chinese, to name a few. They all came in search of a better life, a life that was unattainable in their homeland. America offered them opportunity and prosp...