What Is An American Essay - 1650 Words

Since this great country was first established many intuitive minds have tried to answer the question; What is an American. This country is full of individuals of many backgrounds, and diversities and each person has a different opinion on this question. In my opinion, an American is someone who values freedom and equality and pursues the American dream. Every American exercises these rights and these are great adjectives to describe our country. Each of the seven readings, and the one image I compiled help mold this broader definition into a more precise description of an American. Robert Creeley, an influential American writer and poet, lived the ideal American dream. He wrote about his struggles early in his life. He lost his†¦show more content†¦Americans set their standards to high compared to the rest of the world. They put themselves on a pedestal too high for any other country to reach (James). Thus, the rest of the world and the immigrants coming to America are infe rior and are not capable of living the American dream. Florence Mayers wrote a sestina in 1940 named All-American Sestina. He challenged American pride and honor at a very crucial time in American history, and accused Americans of placing more value on material goods then freedoms and values (Mayers, ). At that time the American landscape and culture was molding into one that put more importance on material goods, and that idea started to resemble the American Dream. These days Americans judge their success on what kind of house they live in how many cars they own rather then how hard they work at their jobs and how they live their lives. This idea is represented through all of the material goods in the collage. For some the American dream is the value of hard work. To others its a huge emphasis on material possessions. So, the American dream is no longer the American dream. It is a dream that anyone and everyone can relate to. This dream is the idea of having what ever you want. Ma y it be material goods, ideas and values, or freedoms and rights. This idea also represents the uniqueness of America. It is a dream a lot of people around the world dont get to enjoy;Show MoreRelatedWhat Is An American?1384 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is an American? America, one of the largest and most famous countries in the world. Mainly the most known for allowing freedom. The United States of America is one of the only countries in the world that permits equal rights for men and women. It is the only country in the world made out of many different countries and religions. America contains more than 300 million people, and  ¾ of the population are immigrants. Immigrants are people who were born in different countries who migrate to Read MoreWhat Is An American?1040 Words   |  5 PagesThe Question of â€Å"What is an American?† can be answered in many ways depending on the person you’re talking to. Over time, technology and people have changed drastically. From the big sail boats the pilgrims used to cross the seas to the huge freight ships that travel ridiculous amounts of miles used today. But through all of the advancements that we’ve seen over the years, one thing has stayed in place and that is perseverance. The re are always those people who get the job done when it needs to beRead MoreWhat Is an American2973 Words   |  12 PagesAmerican writings have portrayed numerous ideologies of what it means to be an American and these ideals have transcended throughout time and can clearly be depicted by the major influential literary aspirants from each century. The one thing that remains the same is that it has always been a struggle to forge a truly American identity given the fact that our nation is one of immigrants. These early works reached the level of literature, as in the robust and perhaps truthful account of his adventuresRead MoreWhat Is The American Dream?942 Words   |  4 PagesIf asked the question, â€Å" What is the American Dream?†, many people would have a variety of answers. It may depend on many factors including, how one has been raised, their age, socioeconomic factors, and ethnicity. There have been so many changes in our country over the years from the 1900†™s until now including wars, racial beliefs and family structures which led to an array of definitions of the American Dream. An American Dream can be different for each person. It can be about many factors as weRead More What an American Is Essays976 Words   |  4 PagesWhat an American Is Webster?s Dictionary defines American as or its inhabitants. But is that all America and an American truly is? Is a person American simply because of geography? According to Identities, ?America is a confluence of cultures.? Americans are people whose lives depict men and women who are trying to be as successful and robust as possible, this quest is symbolic to citizens of many other countries. This is why America illustrates the Statue of Liberty, a structure thatRead MoreWhat Is The American Dream?1407 Words   |  6 Pages What is the American Dream? If you ask anyone they will provide you with all types of answers, from making a successful life for one to wishing and hoping that America changes and grows as a whole. Personally I believe that the American Dream is the idea that was put in my head as a small child by parents and the other adults around. For me, this was the motion that in the beginning it’s as simple as going to school and make A’s so that I can be accepted into a good college, and then you must workRead MoreWhat Makes An American?791 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is an American? One may say an American is just someone who gets to live free in America, but it is so much more than that. at American is not just a single person but instead it’s everyone as a whole. It’s not who we are as a person but who we are supposed to want to be. An American is everything beautiful. When I think of America I can’t help but think of the song by Katharine Bates, â€Å"America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown the good with brotherhood From sea to shining seaRead MoreWhat It Means to Be American954 Words   |  4 PagesAmericans strongly affirm the principles of religious freedom, religious tolerance, and separation of church and state. Nearly 9-in-10 (88 percent) Americans agree that America was founded on the idea of religious freedom for everyone, including religious groups that are unpopular. Ninety-five percent of Americans agree that all religious books should be treated with respect even if we don’t share the religious beliefs of those who use them. Nearly two-thirds (66 percent) of Americans agree thatRead MoreWhat Is an American Essay933 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is an American Introduction Although the present day American is a totally a different person, at the close of the Revolutionary War the same individual was a European immigrant impacted by the nature of the American continent. In St. Jean de Crevecoeur’s perspective, an American is a race that results from a mixture of Swedes, Dutch, French, Irish, Scotch, and Englishmen (48). This race consists of unique type of people who are not governed by laws as strict as they experienced in EuropeRead MoreWhat Is The American Dream?895 Words   |  4 PagesSince the very first steps taken on American soil, people have dreamt of pursuing the American dream. What is the American dream? Many people believe that the American dream can’t be defined in one simple sentence. To some people the American dream means getting a new car and to others a new home, but for many Americans it has a deeper meaning. As we have seen, equality has been a struggle from the beginning; but it has led to the liberty within the co untry. The accomplishments that have been made