For thousands of generations, people have tried to define their ideal American dream. They believed this nation would give them the opportunity to start over. More than that, they knew they could succeed by joining together with the community. Since then, however, the American nation has changed and developed. Though it started full of unity and integrity, it has slowly declined. The idea of the American Dream was commenced to draw people together, but throughout time resulted in disenchantment. When America was first discovered, the Puritans came to live here. They chose to depend on each other. This affected their American Dream, because it forced them to put aside their pride. It also equipped them all with a mindset geared toward others. In Of Plymouth Plantation, Bradford states "They did all this willingly and cheerfully, without grudging in the least, showing herein their true love unto their friends and brethren; a rare example and worthy to be remembered"(27-28). This really demonstrates how the Puritans' dream was unified and for the benefit of the group. Unfortunately, that type of mindset rarely exists in our society today. People have become selfish and concerned mostly with themselves. That type of behavior goes far beyond covetous millionaires or egotistical celebrities, and is another example of how the American Dream has experienced decadence. Freedom has been a large part of what America has promoted. Even the Puritans came here to gain religious freedom. Our nation was seen as a place where all people could be seen as equal and free. However, as our nation progressed, the rights of the people have been degraded. In Langston Hughes' poem "Let America Be America Again", he recalls his idea of freedom here in America. "I came here to build a "homeland of the free". The free? Who said the free? Not me"(50-52). Hughes used this to say that the promises originally made to the people, were not fulfilled. It seems that sometimes people forget that the American Dream is just a dream. Many times that dream is left empty, leaving people hurt and confused. America has almost "falsely advertised" their exclamation of greatness. In fact, Michel-Guillaume Jean de Crevecoeur expresses the brokenness early on. In "What is an American?", he states "Forty years ago, this smiling country was thus inhabited; it is