The Value Of American Identity

A question most fascinating to me is where in history does the first hint of American ideals and identities originate from? If we were to look at where the fiery passions of an American identity first arise we have to look to where the colonists first fought for their right to be a recognized citizen of America. American colonists formed their identity through the ideas of liberty, resistance to unfair British jurisdiction, and cultural diversity. Their identities formed between the Seven Years War and the American Revolutionary War as these two events deeply brought out what the colonist’s ideals were and what they fought for so passionately. Between these years 1763 and 1775 we see the first American ideals being born in the colonies. An example of such ideals is the want and need for Liberty. A reason for wanting liberty was that British control suppressed the lives of the people living in America and over time grew harder for colonists to live with. Americans are revered to have a passionate patriotic view of their country and this is true as it is seen throughout history but in my research I will try to explain where these ideals first arose.

The American identity is the cultivation of many different factors. To understand how we got to where we are today we must look back into history and examine the lifestyles of our ancestors. The values they held and the way their families functioned shaped the American identity as we know it today.

The American identity is different for everyone depending on where you came from and who you are today. Lots of immigrants moved to America seeking a better lifestyle and during that process they developed their own identity. There are many different cultures that moved to America some had hard times and some had great experiences. My ancestors migrated from Poland, they had many successes and many conflicts while moving to America that created their own identity.

Americans have not only defined themselves by their religious, ethnic and racial identity, but also by their individual freedom and common values. America has become a nation where its people can fight for what they believe in. Our founding fathers have formed America to be “the land of the free and the home of the brave”. Being apart of the American culture and living on the land founded by our leaders specifies the meaning of the American Identity.

Additionally, America is also known for being a free place. It is known that everyone must be treated equally and have their own rights. For example, part of the American identity is being known for practicing democracy. People being free, having their rights protected, and having equal treatment is what makes up the American identity. Those three factors are still going on meaning that the American identity is still alive and nothing has changed it at all. Another reason why the American identity is still alive because part of someone’s identity is again being know for something or influencing something. Another example, is that many people have immigrated to the United States for the American dream. That is a huge contributor to the American identity because it has influenced many people to come. The American dream is still alive so the American identity is still

There has been an ongoing debate on whether or not America has an identity or not, or if it even had one to begin with. America, though ever changing, certainly has an identity. Throughout time America has become a melting pot for different cultures, and while some may argue that this leaves us without an identity, in reality it adds to it. Few can say they have as diverse a country as America does, and this is a huge part of the American culture or identity. America has always had a distinct identity, and it has seldom changed throughout the years.

I chose to write about the key components of the American identity in the 1600 to 1750. The colonies had freedom, liberty, religion, and diversity. Freedom from the strict rule of Great Britain; having the ocean in between them made it hard for Great Britain to keep close control of the colonies. This allowed the colonies the liberty to rule themselves and practice their religions. People who lived in the colonies were not all English; they were French, Jewish, German, Swedish, Dutch, and Scots-Irish. Others were a mixture of many different ethnic groups. This group of people could not be found anywhere else in the world at this time. This helped create a separate identity from Britain.

American identity has been created by many events throughout the course of history. This country was founded on the clashing and mixing of many different cultures and lifestyles. One of the most important periods of time for this country was during the period of conflict between Americans and Native Americans over land rights. Americans had an idea of manifest destiny and that this land was theirs for the taking. The Americans were going to walk through anyone who opposed them in this quest for land. The treatment of the Indians during this time period was harsh, cruel, and violent to say the least. It is in this treatment that Americans came to view the Indians as a ?racialized other? and

Have you ever wondered if some one from a different time period has different views on American Identity than you do today? In a time of the great depression my great grandpa Edward Werd was born. He has many different views on life than I do today. He was in the United States Coast Guard and he was also a United States Merchant Marine. This also made him have to experience a couple of wars like WWII which gave him different outlooks on life than I do. My great grandpa was in a Chinese prison in which he had encountered many different view than I have today. Which show me that people from different time periods have very different views on identity and life in

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.

There is no set American identity, and anyone should know that. Everyone has their lifetime, not to find, but to create who they are. We create our own identities as we go, whether we take the road of lies, or truth. I´ve had my fair share of jerks, and jocks, and plain stupid people in my life, but those people have helped me create and mold who I am today, even though I may not like the way I am.

American identity and values are shaped by history, in fact the Civil War illustrates exactly what McNeil is saying. The American Revolution left us with a terrible contradiction---the Constitution spoke of freedom, democracy, but slaves were still not free. The south ran on a plantation system, so they believed that if there was no more slavery there economy would collapse. They presumed true that the north would let them secede. However, the north saw it as an act of war. Leaders on both sides made hard choices, and ordinary Americans shed blood to determine the outcome. Because of them, we take for granted now this unified nation, dedicated to the principle that all citizens are born free and equal. These things are burned into our sense

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.