The American dream was born from the minds of Enlightenment thinkers, such as Locke and Rousseau, and enshrined in the constitution by the founding fathers of the new nation. The American Dream asserted that every American citizen should have an equal opportunity to succeed and prosper through hard work, determination, and initiative1. The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson, illustrated the true nature of the realization of the American dream and the legacy of the Enlightenment, thought through the opportunities, dangers and obstacles of the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. The historic story began in 1889, when Paris inaugurated the Exposition Universelle, a glamorous fair with a tower standing more than a thousand feet high, the "Eiffel Tower." Larson explained how, during this era, American pride in its growing international standing led to a new level of patriotism. The Eiffel Tower humiliated the United States, implying that the nation was careless about its appearance (15). Of course, the initial assumption was that the World's Fair would be held in the capital, Washington (15). Larson showed the growing sense of pride not only in the nation as a whole, but also in the increasingly competitive character of cities. Chicago, New York, and St. Louis saw the Fair as an opportunity to improve their economic and social status within the country. Congress decided that the issue would be put to a vote. Larson argued that the Great Fire of 1871 created the "spirit of Chicago," a unique and powerful force of civic pride, which distinguished the city from others. The restored city had become the nation's leader in commerce, manufacturing, and architecture, but it still lacked the cultural and social refinement of New York (16). In February 1890, Chicago was elected the chosen location for the fair and had the opportunity to create a new identity.