American Identity Definition

To me the question of American identity is partly a question of character. I think in order to survive in a democratic society, we must be able to pass these ideals on to our younger generation so they learn to value the commitment of all citizens to civic responsibility. Also, to instill in them character traits such as honesty and personal responsibility that are necessary to support a democratic political culture. In John Winthrop’s "City upon a Hill" he talks about how we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill, meaning that all eyes are upon America, and in order to avoid destruction we must come together as one despite our differences and provide for our future generations.

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 that symbolizes freedom throughout the world. America is composed not only of these peoples, but the cultures and the ways of life of these people.

American identity is the way a person experiences the American culture. However, that is not always the case. American identity is often confused with how someone physically appears or where they came from. Examples of this confusion can be seen in Dwight Okita’s poem, “In Response to the Executive Order 9066” and Sandra Cisnero’s short story, “Mericans.”

In the excerpt from “The Crisis of American Nationality” Susan-Mary Grant describes the northern viewpoint and its strong disapproval of southern ideology and how it “took on the attributes of a sectional” identity.

Since America has been created, tons of people have been travelling here and starting new lives striving for the success they deserve. Different aspects can add up to the identity of America. America has been widely shaped by citizen’s uniqueness, their ethnicity, and chances they have to become successful. Though there is a lot that molds American Identity, America has been shaped due to different lifestyles, which is illustrated through people’s individuality, religions and race, and opportunities. Everyone has a different lifestyle, which in the big picture creates American Identity.

American identities Is a huge impact on our life. It’s who we are! Well if you are not sure or just have no clue how an american identity is made well I will tell you my point of view of how they are made. Being an american has nothing to do with the color of your skin or what race you are. Some people confuse that though. There are conflicts in america almost everyday on race and immigration. I have strong beliefs that If you go with the traditions of america and you work hard at being an american that makes you one. We discriminate

There’s nothing more to explain that a person is American if that person is born in America. People born in America are citizens of the United States, including me. My family’s Korean, but that doesn’t mean I’m Korean too. I was born in America, so I am an American. But since they are Korean, I am slightly Korean, causing me to look like an Asian. The first weeks of elementary school made my American identity burn to smithereens.

America is characterized as the place of freedom with its iconic red, white, and blue flag which also symbolizes braveness. What makes this land so iconic and great isn 't its status but it 's exceptionally distinctive people. Americans aren 't a specific type of people, but a mixture of people from all over the world that live in harmony. That is the reason why Americans are so unique and so hard to be defined. Being developed by great American novels such as the The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and The Catcher in the Rye, there is now a universal definition for all Americans. An American is someone who persistently seeks completion of an objective.

Webster’s definition of the term “American” is “a person born, raised, or living in the U.S.” But there is so much more to being an American than just living in the U.S. Being an American has nothing to do with the color of your skin or what food you eat or how big your house is. Being an American means having pride in your country and having the freedom to live the life you want to.

An American is an immigrant living in the United States of America; someone who calls this country “home,” based on his/her political, economic, social, and cultural ideas and affiliations. This is the definition of what some people believe is an American. On the contrary, others believe this is not the case; an American is someone who is born on American soil. I believe that former definition is the correct definition because the American foundation was built on the backs of immigrants from all ethnicities and races. Being an American is a state of mind rather than it being perceived as a physical state.

How is a American Identity created? Over the last few months I have read several different articles and texts surrounding this topic. An American Identity isn’t something you just get when you come here. It’s something you earn. It’s what you make of yourself. America’s habits and customs help mold it into what you end up with. Someone’s national identity and someone’s personal identity are made by the country they live in. But they do come into conflict. Because some things that happen in your county, you just might not agree with. In ‘music for my mother.’ it talks about how they are new immigrants to the united states. How racism and adjusting to the American life affected them. “It would hurt my feelings to see the way some people looked

American Identity is how one sees themselves as an American citizen. More importantly, I believe that “American identity” is based off of one's ideas and not your ethnicity. I don't think that anyone should be judged purely based on where they are from. However, I do realize that where one grew up can influence how they think, but I still feel that you should make assumptions based upon how they look.

The United States and Europe are two different worlds, each with distinctive cultures that make them unique. Both proud to be who they are and where they come from. Extremely proud that they cannot join in unity and become friends. Henry James novel “The American” portrays a feud between the Bellegardes and the novel’s protagonist Christopher Newman. The American (Newman) is willing to be part of their culture, but the Bellegardes are against him and do not accept him to be part of their own. Christopher Newman, the outsider, who struggles to get along with the Bellegardes finally has revenge but gives up and therefore he fails.

America is one of very few countries in the world where it is near impossible to define the nationality by one race, ancestry or religion. America is a melting pot of different cultures and religions and it is difficult to find anyone who does not come from immigrant bloodlines from Europe and Africa. In fact, some say that anyone not of Native American decent is actually not technically American! However, we do not use race or ancestry to determine what it means to be American. This is not what defines us, but rather our unique political, economic and social values. To drive home the fact that Americans are from all manner of backgrounds we need only look to the Great Seal of the United States which reads ”E pluribus unum”. This translates to English as From many, one. So, being American is not being of one particular race or religion. It may not even mean being born in the United States, taking the citizenship test and becoming a citizen can also make someone an American if they are able to fully embrace what America stands for.

Developed through early Americans events such as the establishment of the Plymouth colony and how hypocritical the puritans can be, the settlers and colonists can be characterized as hardworking, diligent, unfaithful, and unfair. As depicted in William Bradford's historical description Of Plymouth Plantation, the Pilgrims demonstrated a hardworking and loyal spirit as they struggled to survive their first year, they had a hard time providing a roof over their heads, finding resources, surviving diseases, and the unforgiving weather. Puritans show their true colors, hypocritical and shameful through their acts throughout the story of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter. Conclusively, these characteristics are reflected in American identity in both a positive and negative way, the Pilgrims taught us what it meant to work for a dollar, we carried on the “fakeness” from the Puritans.