Capitalism, self determination, autonomy, and the opportunity to climb the social ladder.
I’m not so sure owning your own business is the American dream. I think being free, having opportunities, being judged on your merit and not on your family name, I think the American Dream is just about being successful and safe.
My husband had always felt what he accomplished in America he probably never could have in his country, and he was working for corporations at the time. He had a corporate job, made good money, lived in a nice house, had an expensive hobby. I think that was just as much the American Dream as owning a business.
A lot of immigrants own businesses, because they can’t easily get jobs.