America prides itself on being "the land of the free." From its very beginning, America had the concept of freedom as a core value. However, it took years for this to be a reality for all Americans. In the 1800's, the 13th and 14th Ammendments were added to the Constiution to abolish slavery and grant full citizenship to African Americans. It was not until 1920 that the 19th Ammendment was added to grant women the right to vote. However, it was the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which finally brought the most noticeable change. This act made it illegal to discriminate on the basis of "race, color, religion, or national origin."

Today the USA is a diverse nation, with people from all backgrounds having opportunity to advance themselves. While small pockets of racial prejudice can be found, it is becoming less and less common. Government legislation helps ensure that all Americans have equal opportunity to pursue their dreams.