The documentary provides an environmental perspective on America's history, starting from Columbus' exploration of the untouched wilderness in the 15th century, through the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, and leading to the troubling situation today, where most of the Earth's resources have been depleted. It particularly highlights the North American landscape and the issues of wilderness destruction, deforestation, land degradation, and pollution-problems that are often presented to the public to uphold the illusion of the American dream.