Individualism And Individualism

We’ve all know what it feels like: walking down the halls in middle school or high school while you feel like you’re being watched…analyzed…critiqued. It would almost seem like every person you passed would be silently judging you for what you’re wearing, how you applied your makeup, how you did in the last soccer game, or what they heard you did with Jonny. The passerby’s in the hallway would place you on the high-school-hierarchy-of-coolness scale based on superficial characteristics even before getting to know you. Adolescence is a time of learning and forming an identity but it’s also a time where you are constantly being watched and evaluated by your peers, sometimes even put down by physical or verbal means. Bullying has always been

Individualism-> when you value the freedom and worth of the individual, sometimes over the security and harmony of the group or a belief in the importance of the individual and the virtue of self-reliance and personal independence

As America settled in with its new found freedom during the American Revolution and Early Republic, the people of the United States developed through many changes economically, politically, and socially but also many ideas progressed as time continued on. The people used what they had already established to continue their lifestyle in the states. Then again changes affected this time including their government transiting from constitutional monarchy to federal republic, slavery overtime becoming abolished, and advancing life without Britain. American advanced their own government to help keep things in order and well represented. They transitioned from a constitutional monarchy to a federal republic.

In this era, the term “individualism” was first used. Unlike in the colonial period, many Americans now believed individuals should pursue their own self-interest, no matter what the cost to the public good, and that they should and could depend only on themselves. Americans more and more saw the realm of the private self as one in which other individuals and government should not

During the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Americans had created a unique system of government with revolutionary ideals that were never seen anywhere in the world before. Americans had adopted a representative government along with democratic principles which allowed each person to have a say in the decisions about their country. With this new atmosphere of ideas and political rights, a growing sense of a unique American identity was on the rise. However, this uprising was plagued with petty disagreements between major political leaders and discouraged by a large population still clinging to their Loyalists roots, thus America was not able to effectively unite as a Nation.

When we think about American culture today, we usually think about the 4th of July, barbecuing, Donald Trump and football.We have centered our culture around ourselves and have not given much thought about the good of our country like our founders did when they wanted to avoid a tyrannical leader. In United States history, we have changed our culture due to given circumstances and becoming the “World’s Leading Power”, that we did not have to face the struggles that the colonists had to go through. Those struggles in the 1700’s had shaped American cultures and what they valued.

Billions of people all over the nation and world have heard of the ideal American vision to be defined as a perfect set of rules and regulations that provide the ideal conditions for living life. Though many people to this day may still argue their understanding of these idealistic views, there is an ideniable truth that it was two most influential figures in history from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Benjamin Franklin and John Winthrop, who helped shape this vision through their strong and very different opinionated perspectives. God’ role and form of government, social classes gradation, nature and moral laws, individualism or collectivism and virtues of success are all important aspects that have helped shape the American vision, in which also the opinions of Franklin and Winthrop stand divided between the leaders. Franklin emphasized the importance of the science and reason, which explains the structure of the world its affect of life on every nation. Winthrop presented his “a City on a hill” model, where everything depends on God’s will.” (The Puritan Vision Altered, John Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity”, 1630, pp. 6-7). Unlike Franklin’s democracy and liberty, he believed in state of brotherhood. However, Winthrop shares Franklins’ nature norms in relationship between people, but Winthrop also builds his vision

The ideas of individuality that emerged as a result of the Enlightenment and Great Awakening pushed American colonists to question and distance themselves from the monarchical English rule of society and the

Throughout the course of history, the identity of humans has greatly evolved. Facial structure, hair color, height, and clothing style are just some of the factors that have changed in a specific race or ethnicity. As time progressed, new generations of humans expressed various customs and beliefs unique to the previous generation, leading to the evolution in their identity. This is the same with Americans and how they ended up forming such a distinct identity, even if they were of European descent. Especially during the second half of the 18th century, the definition of being “American” has changed and evolved due to disagreements and resentment towards the British government, of which the Revolutionary War, the formation of various organizations,

Social ideas and philosophies in early American history have affected the way society has developed. For example, the use of common sense in Thomas Pain’s article advocate`s unity among all Americans. Some of these philosophies and ideas are still valued today, but others have lost value with the development of society. The two articles “The Declaration of Independence” by Thomas Jefferson and “Models of Christianity” written by John Winthrop will describe how some social interactions have changed such as religion, and others have stayed the same such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

In the midst of revolution, influential authors Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson each speak volumes about the clear vision that is to become independent America. It is the work of these individuals that one may accredit the characterization of America as it stands in the present day. In a country built on “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” certain values have been deemed favorable by the founding fathers. American political culture has thus been molded into one representative of liberty, equality, democracy, individualism, and nationalism; each of which Paine, Franklin, and Jefferson advocate for in some capacity through their writings.

After the previous generation revolted and established a nation, their sons and daughters became responsible for constructing a national identity. As seen in the nineteenth century, America, an emerging nation that arose collectively for a revolution would be fragmented by altered philosophies within its incipient national identity. Several significant facets revolved around the acumens of social anxiety as America’s national identity emerged as a historical response by prominent congregates discontented with conventional societal thought. This was owing to an irregularity amid the attitudes towards delineated social group and a person’s experience within that social order, resulting in societal anomie. This volatility, social turmoil, and personal estrangement, are interior operational complications within a society that stem from the resentment of an existing group towards other groupings, particularly those considered to be exerting control over them. Throughout the nineteenth century fundamental philosophies emerged that became personified within the facets of America’s national identity, an analyses of these philosophies demonstrates that Transcendental thought is responsible for generating an American ideology of individualism, civil disobedience, and an emphasis on Man 's individual affiliation with God.

Over the past 150 years American Individualism has been changed. People have started to feel this sense of fear against one another, and even the government. The government are the individuals that are suppose to protect our values, and make us feel safe. Privacy is no longer a guarantee, and it can be taken away at any time. Throughout the pieces Society and Solitude, What to the Slave is The Fourth of July, and The Snowden Files. Many different examples of loss of privacy and the loss of the basic components of our society have taken place. In these pieces three different individuals Emerson, Douglass, and Snowden show how the effect of society, and the influence of the government has impacted American Individualism.

Many people across the world have their own definition and beliefs of the word individualism. There is nothing selfish to be able to express ones personality and internal emotions. Being an individual alone could value a person’s overall true character. The claim presented would be opposed by many because people like to feel independent and self-reliant. Individualism in today’s society lets people express themselves, and helps create something small into something big. For a long time now individualism has existed since the founding of our country. History was created by those who showed independence and proved that an individual can do it all.

1) An individualist is considered to be someone with personality and character, someone who is not easily intimidated by social pressure or customs, someone with a personal opinion and a singular view of the world. Because modern society finds it important that people think independently, decide autonomously and take personal initiatives, the concept of individualism has acquired a positive connotation. However, individualism is also linked with the tendency to withdraw from social life and turn in towards oneself.