Dobson 1 Zo Dobson Kelley 6th period AP Lang 10/4/12 Discovering the American Identity

The United States of America is a country well known by many around the world for its distinctive policies, cultural norms, ideas, and people. While specifying each of these labels is no easy feat, perhaps the most complex to establish is that of the people of the United States. Although one can easily define an American simply as someone who lives in the United States, this definition is not entirely accurate and does not cover the vast array of points associated with what exactly being an American means. Creating one true definition for Americans is next to impossible, as unpredictable historical and social events cause an ever-changing outlook on the country and the people who identify themselves with it. This is the start of what it means to be an American; a person who identifies themselves with the aspects of American culture, even though they may not be considered an American citizen. Americans center themselves around personal freedoms, and work towards creating an environment of justice for all people. A large part of what defines America as a country are the freedoms affiliated with it, which help in characterizing exactly who Americans are as a whole. The United States and its people are commonly identified as being free; whether that means having the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, or just the right to be free thinkers in general. These freedoms and rights that all Americans practice and follow are even what assembled the country in the first place. The very document declaring the formation of the United States is centered around the

Dobson 2 ideas of equality and justice, stating all men are created equal and that all of mankind should be granted Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness (Declaration of Independence). These freedoms Americans are given are what help to set them apart from other nationalities. In fact, these ideals are what sparked feelings of revolution in the American colonists. Unfair taxation and restrictions on settlement are just a few of the factors that led to Americans wanting their own laws and freedoms in government (MITE). The rights they felt they were being deprived of prompted them to defy their British rulers and work towards the assembly of their own country (MITE). Their values and morals not only shaped who Americans are as a people, but also helped to shape the country in which they live. Although America is thought of as an oasis of justice that can help give freedom to those who enter, it is truly the ideals of the individuals in the country that helped not only shape the nation, but helped shape who they are as a whole. The drive of Americans to work towards justice for all people is an ideal that aids in the further creation of the American identity. The freedoms that Americans experience have not always been widely available to all people. Justice is not something that came easily to every American, and even today justice is still trying to be reached by many people. Throughout the history of America, there have been many bumps along the road towards equality for all people. One of these notable times was during the struggle of the Native Americans. From the discovery of the New World up until the early 1800s, the marginalization of this group caused them to be pushed out of their homelands, forced into slavery, and stripped of their culture (MITE). These people were treated very badly indeed by many United States citizens who thought of them only as murderers and thieves (Chief Red Cloud). King Phillips war massacred or enslaved most Native Americans during colonial times, and these effects can even

Dobson 3 be seen by the poor living conditions found at Indian Reservations today (Hart). However, over time with the development of America as a whole, and with Americans working towards the justice they feel they deserve, the issues Native Americans once faced have begun to disappear. Even in our modern world, Americans continue their ongoing search for complete justice for everyone through protests of things they deem unfair. The ideas of Americans to preserve what they feel is the right thing in their society is very unique to their identity and to what defines the American people. Some believe that the country itself has shaped the American ways and ideals, however it is truly the ideas of Americans that have worked, and will continue to work, to construct the country as it changes over time. Yet there is no question that the history and growth of the United States has played a significant part in defining what it means to be an American. Just because a person makes their place of residency the United States does not necessarily make them an American. They must uphold the standards of justice and equality, and work towards keeping our nation free. These freedoms and justices that Americans feel may not be specific to just those living within the country, but include those who identify themselves with these ideals, even if they live outside of the United States. Being an American is centered on the ideas of liberty and justice, noted in the pledge of allegiance, and many documents and speeches that define these ideals to a greater extent. Americans now and always will be set apart by their personal freedoms, and their working towards a greater good in their society.

Dobson 4

Works Cited
Chief Red Cloud. "Address to President Grant." June 1870. Speech. Hart, Diane. Pursuing American Ideals. Palto Alto, California: Teachers Curriculum Institute, 2008. Print. Monterey Institute for Technology and Education. AP US History. National Repository for Online Courses. Print.