The idea of the American Dream began during the late 19th century during the Gilded Age. The idea behind the American Dream is anyone can become anything through work, innovation, and eventually a good education. There are no structural limits to what a person can achieve. This was a drive for immigrants to come to the US and make a new and better life. It was also the driver of innovators to create businesses and to become more than their past dictated. The rag-to-riches stories motivated generations to take advantage of free public education and become more. People like Andrew Carnegie became the model for this success.