Explain What It Means To Be American

Over the years there have been many events that have taken place. These events not only affected the people and the world of the present at that time, but also the future and even the way things are today. Knowing this we must ask ourselves what defines us as Americans? There are series of events that all together add up to define us as Americans such as, the Constitution, Westward Expansion, and the Civil War and Reconstruction. What do you think defines us as Americans?

Could someone go to be not so good at something to working hard and be the best at it? Many people today debate and discuss what it means to be American. I think to be American it means to have an American dream and an economic opportunity to have a better life.

In the beginning, freedom was not a given. Many people could not share their opinions, have their own beliefs, or follow their dreams. Freedom had to be earned. The people who fought for our freedom knew that they weren’t fighting for nothing. Being an American means that you are entitled to your opinion. Being an American means you can participate in whatever religion you believe in. Being an American means you can follow your dreams. Today, you can be anything you want to be.

Being American means many things to many different people.Being in America,I think that our main focus is on freedom.While this is a good point,there are many other things that could be focused on.Perhaps one focus could be like what life is like in countries and how privileged we really are to have these freedoms.Many Americans also overlook the fighting and protest that it took to get to where we are as a society now.People now that have been born with these rights think nothing of them as they are a given to us since birth.Also,any rights that people do lack that might even be the smallest inconvenience people react in extreme ways.This just goes to show how unappreciative of our given rights we are.

"What does it mean to be an American" means more to me than just a catchy phrase on a bumper sticker.From my point of view the right to Freedom and Liberty is the defining quality of American.This gives individual Americans to voice their diverse opinions in our nation.

What Being an American Means to Me Being an American is associated with many things but I believe it all falls under freedom, opportunity, and acceptance. When you are an american you automatically you get that freedom every American has. The Bill of rights protects Americans freedom. “ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ;or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press ; or of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

As an American I am free. I know that I can say what I feel and do what I say. Getting to walk out the door every morning knowing that I’m safe is a privilege. Having clean clothes, new shoes, and food every day is something I’m thankful to have. Feeling safe under the protection of our forced is something that not every country gets to say. As American we are privileged, but we fought for it all 240 years ago when America won its independence and we have been fighting for it ever since. Since the creation of America 240 years ago, many envy the freedom and how strong American is. After every threat and every attack, America has stayed strong and bounced back from destruction. What does it mean to be an American? Being an American means that

For the past year I have been in America to explore what it meant to be an American.

The Citizenship Project required us to create something that displayed what it meant to be an American Citizen. I used an empty cereal box and made an American themed cereal, which showed some ways to fulfill one’s duty being an American citizen. I acquired inspiration from the document that showed 150 things someone can undertake to build social capital. The document contains a list of things that Americans should do, but often impede themselves, in their communities. I believe that it is important to do some, if not, approximately all of the things listed. This list includes things like; voting, joining clubs, jury duty, attending town meetings, etc. These ideas are included in my cereal box as well as other things such as privileges that

American. Freedom, patriot, bravery, God. Land of the free, home of the brave. In one way or another, all these aspects fall into the category of being American. We can safely sleep at night knowing the bravery of men and women are fighting for our nation.To protect and to serve. We have the ability of choice, of preference. We are not controlled by a dictator, telling us what to do, what to think, who to pray too. To be American is staying loyal to this country and giving back one way or another. It lets us chase our dreams, it's only the matter of fact if we really want to chase those dreams. That is what makes America so wonderful, land of opportunity. Doesn't mean it will be easy, but the chance is given. Being American means being able

To be an American. Many Americans take this phrase too lightly others, too strict. Many people say being an American is a privilege, other might not even think twice about being so lucky. Being an American does not mean that you go to baseball games every Saturday and eat hot dogs, but to live your life out to the fullest. It means that I can say “The Pledge Of Allegiance” everyday, and that I have the right to freedom of speech. Being an American means to help another, whether they be Irish or Chinese or Afghan or Muslim. Being an American means helping your enemy, even if you do not wish to, but you shall help with dignity and pride. Being American means that you

Many people define an American differently, some people say an American is a big white person who eats nothing but fast food, sits on the couch, and does nothing but watch television everyday. Others define an American as a successful businessman or just simply a visual of a redneck comes to mind when thinking of an American in general. But what exactly makes a person an American? Is it their appearance, the way they just simply are, or is there more to it then what we think? A true American is a big hearted patriot that truly love their country who persevere for greatness and also only care about themselves. Equality was never a huge factor for them because they know what they have already.

To be an American citizen to me means that you have the right to do more than other people in the world and you have more freedom than even more people because they don’t get the freedoms that we have. And since I have been getting more freedoms because I’m an American citizen, I can choose what I want to do, such as what job I want, or who I want to marry when I become of age. Also since I’m an American citizen, I can choose my religion and not be discriminated against because I chose that religion. To sum up so far it means that if you’re an American citizen, you can be free to do whatever you want as long as it’s legal. Also to be an American citizen to me, it means that if America gets in trouble, everyone in the states should help to defend the US from whoever is causing trouble for the America.

During the study at Brooklyn College it became apparent that the ambiguity of what a “real” American is and who qualifies as one reinforces racial inequality while also challenging it (Bush, 2011). As students were interviewed the meaning of being American shifted between something tangible (citizenship), something unambiguous (given at birth), something ambiguous (a belief system), and something continuously shifting. Many students believed being an American meant being born in the United States to nonimmigrant parents. For example, one student interviewed stated “I consider myself to be American. I was born in America; my parents were born in America. I think my grandparents were born in America,” while another student claimed “Being an American

Many events have occurred in American history that have shaped and defined some of the most influential people in our country. Individuals such as Martin Luther King Jr, Thomas Jefferson, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Hughes, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Malcolm X have been through many hardships in their lives on their way to achieving the American dream. They have endured tough experiences and know what it means to be an American. All of these individuals have the characteristics of determination, courage, and the motivation to fight against social injustice that make up a true, hard-working American.