How American Identity Is Created

How American Identity Is Created
How the American Identity is Created The American Identity. Such a broad term for such few words. Americans all have one thing in common.
Whether you were born into riches or raised in the slums we all have have faced our struggles and persevered through them. The American dream is
to make it big, become wealthy, live a spectacular life. Yet, some of the biggest success stories, came from the slums. People might of doubted them or
told them they can't do or be that (Whiteman, 101). They'll try to bring us down or make us feel like we're nothing (Cofer, 38). Yet, those that have the
biggest desire to reach their goals, and fought through the conflict that life threw at them, are the ones that inspire us and keep the American dream
sparked
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

Americans Identity
The question is, "Do Americans from different time periods see America's identity differently?" This is a very widespread question and can have
lots of answers. I believe that Americans from different time periods see how different we are now because how times have changed, back then
there was a lot of different things going on like World War one, World War two, and even way back to when the English first settled on the East
Coast during the beginning of America. Today we have a lot of technology and different advances in our ways of life people back then would have
never guessed we would have come this far. Back then there were no cellphones and people actually had to write letters and send them in the mail if
there even was a post...show more content...
When the 1950's rolled around the people wore leather jackets, blue jeans, and poodle skirts when everyone wanted to be the coolest of the cool and
have the nicest cars , but as the time went on the 1970's came about this was when everyone wanted peace on earth and went through the "hippie
stage" where people wanted everyone to just get along. When the 1990's came along everyone believed that there was no way that we would get
more advanced than that! A new thing came about called Discrimination, where people would be judged on the color of their skin, they wouldn't be
allowed to drink out the same water fountains or even attend the same schools sometimes, some people (mostly the blacks) wanted to just be free and
be treated as an actual individual not just a piece of property that someone can control. Also, throughout this time period jobs had come along, creating
a rural society most people thought as themselves to be hardworking and wanted to find

The American Of American Identity Essay
As America approached the 20th century, it had achieved great prestige in the world for having a prosperous economy built on a free market system.
The facets of an American identity mostly revolved around corporate power and stability. The corporations grew at a national scale effortlessly, and
within years, international; the United States was following similar footsteps of the British East India Company to emulate it's exploits in the western
hemisphere. Contracted railroads, lands, and farms were the crux of American imperialism in the continents. The strengthening grip of the corporations
on the government gave America a series of questions that it dealt with in the early 1900s. The two front–runners to answer the puzzling questions
were the
26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, and the 28th president Woodrow Wilson. They both wanted the betterment of America, both domestically and at
the world stage. However, unlike Woodrow
Wilson, the assertive nature of Theodore Roosevelt made him an exemplar of American ideals and democracy for American and rest of the world.
Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt were vastly different by nature, one a macho, military–man, explorer, and the other, an academic by
profession. Given their polarizing life experiences, they were bound to have conflicting worldviews. In the context of 1900s, they were faced with
challenges that demanded answers in order to achieve the same end–goal. With a
growing global influence, the United States was

American Identity
My American Identity The five key values that were studied and learned about in class were civic engagement, freedom, equality, patriotism and
democracy. I do not believe that one of these values is more American than the other though three of these mean more to me personally than others.
Patriotism, freedom, and equality. Together they make the United States of America unique from any other country. Yes, some countries have
freedom, but no other country in the world is like ours because we hold these values nearest and dearest to us; at least most of us do. These five
values are the values that we strive for in perfecting to make us so great. Some are more rounded than others but they are all what makes the United
States so unique....show more content...
I very so agree with this because it is an example of what has happened in the past in America. People have fought for their freedom and died over it
at the same time because they chose not sit around like prisoners. People in the past have fought and died for the freedoms that I have today so
that I would not have to. With me being a black, female, it is almost exact opposite of what you needed to be to have freedoms in the past, it would
be unthinkable for me to be treated to same as a white man in the past but because blacks and women have fought for freedom, I do not have to do
it myself. The last value that I have chosen to do was equality. I chose this one because equality in America is big. America to me is like a big
mixing pot. We have the people who were born here in America, and the ones who live here from that are from other countries. In 2010, there was
a record breaking 40 million immigrants in the United States, legal and illegal. The total population in the United States was about 308.7 million
people in 2010. America is a place filled with different people who believe in different things, a land of absolute diversity. So who is to say that
only one group of people should be given certain privileges because of the color of their skin, who they pray to, or where they were born. Here in
America equality is probably one of the most important things we try to pursue as a nation. In the past people have fought to be treated equal and even
today in

American Identity Definition
How should one define the American Identity? The American Identity should be defined as multicultural individuals who commit to similar common
values, ideas, beliefs, and personal freedom rather than being defined by race, ethnic identity, and religion. Our common values, ideas, and beliefs
depend on the core structure of the American government: the Constitution, which provides freedom, equality, and independence. Since America is
very diverse due to the constant flow of immigrants from all over the world, there is no such thing as being a pure American. Everyone's background
lies somewhere else. Therefore, our identity would be defined by our common ideology and common values instead of our ethnicity and religion. Our
common values and ideologies...show more content...
Americans see and read about celebrities all the time, either through online advertisements or through massive popularization on social media
such as Instagram and Twitter. Through the internet, we can always keep up to date with what our favorite celebrities are doing or wearing.
Celebrities post their outfits of the day on their profiles for their followers to see. If a pop icon begins to advertise a type of shirt or jeans, that
item of clothing instantly becomes a trend and due to their popularity everyone wants to dress and look like them. Therefore, people begin to see
that everyone around them, in the streets or at school dress alike. For instance, a type of shoes such as stilettos is popular in one generation and
not popular the following generation due to the evolving style of popular icons through social media. Popular icons can also change the
perspective of body images in the American identity. If most of the celebrities have a certain body image that is widely popular, such as having
larger appearing eyes, that body trait will begin to become more popular in the society. More people will pay to look like those celebrities by plastic
surgery and different cosmetic procedures. Therefore, if a mass popularity begins to look or appear the same, that trend will become a part of the
American identity. For example, in the

Asian American Identity Essay
My name is Richard Hu: I am 30 years old and I am Asian American. This means that I am both Asian, and American. According to Park (2005), the
latest census proclaimed that Asian Americans cover more than 4.1% of the population. In its totality that is 11.3 million people. Much like Park
(2005) states, "we are not a new phenomenon: Asians have been apart of the U.S landscape from as early as the 17th century ... the irony is that we
remain "strangers from a distant shore""(p. My parents were born in Korea but relocated in order to give our family more opportunity to excel. I, like
many others in my heritage consider myself to be a 1st generation immigrant. However, growing up in the suburbs of Hillsborough California I began to
lose my sense of self. It wasn't until I was much older that I began to identify with my Asian Culture. I whole heartedly feel that Park (2005) said it
best when she argued that "Our perceived "foreign–ness" accentuates our "two–worldness"... not Asian enough to repatriate, not "American" enough to
integrate" (p. 4). Although it still isn't an easy concept for people to grasp, over the years I have learned to be more understanding of my Asian American
upbringing (Question 1). A typical day for me is most likely the same for millions of other Americans. I wake up at the crack of dawn, grab breakfast
and head to work as an educator (Question 2). I graduated from Columbia University with a doctorate in education. In the early years of my career I
was a

Identity Of American Identity
The colors of red, white, and blue reflect the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness established over two centuries ago by the
nation's forebearers. Being American is about anticipating change and being provided with the environment to dream. Americans have dreamed of a
more equal union, where Women obtain the right to vote and African Americans are social equals. The country's images of Andrew Carnegie and John
D. Rockefeller inspire the American dream, where individuals are not satisfied with their socioeconomic standing and have the opportunity to progress.
Furthermore, only a minor portion of the United States population is of Native American descent. Therefore, the United States is a country of
immigrants,...show more content...
For instance, Mai Goda, from "Still Me Inside," punctuates her experience with assumptions when she makes the decision to dye her hair a bright
red. Ultimately, she describes instances where she felt intimidated and was classified as part of another group by her appearance. When she arrived
late for school, the vice principal mistook her for a punk delinquent. Also, at her flute recital, parents appeared surprised when the beautiful music was
coming from the girl with the stark hairstyle. Therefore, although people are judged initially by appearance, the identity of an individual or group is a
collection of both self–perception, interests, and social–depiction.
The United States was built upon a foundation of acceptance and diversity. Although the acceptance of differences has come with time and still
progresses, America is a nation known for its breadth of diversity. This diversity includes racial, ethnic, and political diversity. The Constitution
protects the freedom of speech and establishes equality for all groups of people, whether that be people of different races, political preferences, or
religions. For instance, when New York Times reporter Damien Cave traveled the length of route I–35 and asked people what being American means to
them, he got a variety of answers. For example, one girl felt the need to advocate for the importance of women in the field of science. Also, Sebastien
de la Cruz, who grew

Characteristics Of American Identity
What Makes the American Identity? 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. To begin, the family unit played a huge role in the formation of the American identity. After all, "We the
People" are what made up and are ever shaping the American identity. One of the simplest ways this happens is through a family. A family is a
cornerstone on which everyone builds their identity. Culture is passed down through parents as they teach their children the trade of their family.
Trade in its simplest form refers to a job, while on a more dynamic level it is morals. Carrying on a family trade job displays a strong tie to family
identity. While morals play a bigger role in what seems to be the background. Morals passed down from parents to children create a common
foundation on which they will build their family. This in its self was a major catalyst in the formation of the American identity. To continue, Identity
may also be shaped by the music families listen to. Music is a vivid display of culture and the things its people enjoy. The Center of the American
Folklife center researchers and tries to preserve multiple genres of music. For example, "Bluegrass, Alabama gospel, and Wisconsin polka are three
other music genres

Shaping American Identity Essay
Ayah Gleisner
Stearns
US History, 3
10–15–17
American identity has been continuously changing over the past century. This is due to many factors such as expansion, migration, and immigration.
The migration of people has helped create an American identity. During three periods of history, significant changes happened that helped frame who
Americans are. The colonization of the Americas has shaped the American identity in many ways. When the first white English speaking colonists
came over to settle in Jamestown, their main goal was profit. This tradition of profit has carried on for centuries after. After Jamestown, Protestant
colonists came over, their main goals were to find religious freedom and to spread the word of their god. Now, 53% of Americans are Protestant and
missionary work is still in effect today all over the Americas. Chattel slavery shaped the class system for the next generations and contributed to the idea
that America benefits off of other people's hard work. Not only did colonization shape the American identity, but migration within theUnited States did
as well. Religion is a major part of the...show more content...
The recent immigration stations such as Ellis Island and Angel Island have formed the view that America is a multilingual country with English being
the base language. However, these immigration states have also reiterated that America is still not accepting of non–whites. As well as the recent
immigration stations, the great migration also greatly affected the American identity by helping the belief that America is not accepting of non–whites.
They did this by creating racist laws in the south which pushed African Americans north. Lastly, the issue of threatening to repeal DACA and deport
thousands of people who had no choice whether or not to come over illegally or not has the fact that America is still not accepting of non–white
immigrants set in

American Dream Identity
The American identity has evolved throughout centuries of oppression and obligation. Race and cultural differences rip through the seams of the
meaning of American identity, while it has inevitably been forged from its true origins. An evolution of jazz, art and influencers portray the true
meaning of what it is to be an American. Idealisms and morals have drastically changed over the past few centuries, and they continue to evolve every
single day. Every person has an individual and unique meaning of what it is to be an American, even though many of us do not share the same traits
and beliefs. In America today, the 'American Dream' has changed drastically. We strive for individualism as well as wealth and prosperity throughout
our entire community, although we do still have salient matters to work on. It was not always like this, though, because as a nation we grew together
through slavery, racism, and immense violence/protest. Slavery has been dated back to as early as 1619, when the first African Americans were
brought to Jamestown, Virginia to assist in the growth of tobacco and crops. The American identity was struck from its original meanings when this
began, as it started to become evident that "there is not a country in world history in which racism has been more important, for so long a time, as the
United States," (Zinn, 35). We were no longer a country of one, while we were harshly separated after "the color line" (Zinn, 35) became

Essay On The American Identity
The American 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. In my opinion, the American Identity is shown through the ideas of its people, and their willingness
to take risks. The creation of The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were two ideas shown through the people. Americans were
willing to take risks no matter the circumstances. Intelligence is a good way to define the American identity. A Constitution like ours has never been
created before, but they drew on the ideas of other philosophers and political scientists. It was written to make fundamental laws and to regulate the
basic rights of its citizens. With the creation of the government/constitution, they also created a couple of different plans. They created The Virginia
Plan and The New Jersey Plan. The Virginia plan is a bicameral (2 house) congress, but votes are based off population and wealth. On the other side,
The New Jersey Plan is a small state, unicameral (1 house) congress, but every state has one vote. Since both plans were different in certain ways a
compromise was formed. The

American Identity In The Great Gatsby
I hope you are doing well. In previous quarters, while learning about American identity, we labeled America as the "frontier". This frontier posed as a
challenge to the Puritans who had just arrived to America, with wild animals and disease threatening their existence. To the Rationalist, the frontier
symbolized the birth of a new nation, and to the Romantic, a land that God wants us to conquer. However, at the turn of the twentieth century, the
frontier, rather than posing as a challenge, posed as an obstacle for the Modernist. They believed that "Americans identity" was tainted, and along with
it, the American dream. By reading The Great Gatsby and then Jazz, we examined the modern lives of the rich and the poor. Fitzgerald and Morrison
both show the death of the American dream in their novels, hinting at the death of American identity and the melting pot. Morrison's...show more
content...
Our group managed to keep the conversation alive throughout the entire period while actively responding to student's comments. By actively
responding to students, we engaged in real conversation with the students rather than just bombarding them with questions. This lead to a connection
which attracted many of our classmates and increased overall participation. However, our discussion would not have been the same without the game
March Madness. The game acted as the backbone for our entire discussion, allowing us and the students to constantly refer back to it during the period.
One thing I would change is the way we call on students. In a perfect world, every students would have their hand up, waiting to contribute to the
discussion. However, it being ninth period, we had to cold–call on many students, startling them. To somewhat counter this, we gave the students who
did not raise their hands more simple questions that would still develop the conversation. Other than that, the discussion went smoothly and as

Identity Of American Identity
For hundreds of years, people have been immigrating to the United States in search of freedom, better living and the fulfillment of the American dream.
Being an American means to uphold values of independence, responsibility and freedom. Patriotism and unity are main agents for a nation's identity.
These values have been forged by our forefathers, and still remain vibrant in the American culture from east through west. As we will see, the existing
American identity has been influenced by many factors, such as the Frontier, the Melting Pot and the political thoughts on this nation. Since the time
of the American Revolution, a frequently asked question is "What is this man, this American?". Let's back to the early 1600s, the original colonials
who settled the new continent and the immigrants who came in trickles and torrents, bringing their culture with them. Religious freedom was the
reason for becoming American for early settlers. Puritans settled New England to establish God's 'city on a hill' and had faith in the idea that God
rewards hard work and piety. The spreading of Puritans 's religion in the New World is causing a lot of tension with the native cultures. William
Bradford described in his journey "Of Plymouth Plantation", it said "Men, Indians! Indians! And withal, their arrows came flying amongst them...Thus
it pleased God to vanquish their enemies and give them deliverance; and by His special providence so to dispose that not any of them were either hurt
or hit,

What Is The American Identity
American Identity 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. In the story "With a Little Help From My Friends" a little girl moved to America before the
Iranian Revolution. Most people did not know about Iran and asked her questions all the time about what it was like. Everybody was very kind to her
and her family and

The Pursuit Of The American Identity Essay
Although through the trial and hardships, from 1492 to 1877 the core of the American identity, the frontier had a constant presence through the years,
but through the founding of Jamestown and Plymouth, the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin's virtues, letters,
Abolitionist, such as William Garrison, Fredrick Douglas, and the civil war, the definition of American identity as the 'frontier', grew and developed
into something that defines what it means to be an American. The American identity started to develop in 1492 when Columbus set sail west under
Spanish authority to find a new, faster route to Asia, the indies, where the riches of gold, pearls, and spice awaited. He ended up founding a vast new
land full of opportunity. In April 26, 1607, three small ships carrying colonists from England settled out of Cape Henry, in a small town they soon
called Jamestown, as an opportunity for a new life. The first settlers who arrived on the east coast in the 17th century acted and thought like Europeans.
They adapted to the new physical, economic, and political environment in certain ways eventually, as they became their own. The land quickly turned
out to be unfriendly, brutal, and unforgiving, with harsh winters and intense heat that had taken a toll on the unprepared colonists and settlers by
surprise, causing the death of most of the original population. But through the determination of building a successful settlement in the new world

American Identity Essay
The American Identity is created simply by what's going on in the world, and how it's affecting America. There could be many different versions of an
American Identity, and you yourself could have a different opinion than your next–door neighbor on how you identify as an American. There isn't just
one thing that automatically makes people recognize you as an American citizen. Many different factors and ideas go into it, making it difficult to
answer the question, "How is the American identity created?"
Immigrants have been coming to live in this country since before we were even colonized. They have made amazing contributions to society and
have invented many things that we still use in our everyday lives. People in America were either born here, or came from a different country, and
even the people that were born here most likely have ancestors who have immigrated here years ago. All of these people technically do identify as
Americans. However, due to conflict with other countries throughout the ages, many people choose not to see these people as Americans, but as
foreigners who should go back to their own country. In the story, "With A Little Help From My Friends," the author writes about how when she came
to this country from Iran, and how her neighbors treated her kindly and wanted to help her family as much as they could with settling into their new
home and country. She gives a full description on how she made new friends, and how welcoming they were. But things take

American Identity Essay
Historical events distinguish the change in the behavior and identity of a society. The United States is no exemption from this idea, as the events
throughout American history has shaped the behavior and values of the American identity. Since the formal independence from Britain in 1783, to the
compromise that ended Reconstruction in 1877, American identity has changed drastically through shifts in the American understanding of politics,
ideology, economics, culture, and society.
The American identity in 1783 was the hypocritical "unity" of the white men in America whom controlled politics, economy, and the social hierarchy.
After the formal independence from Britain in 1783, American colonists were focused on forming a nation completely different than the mother nation
from which they left. American ideology promoted freedom and equal representation of the people and for the future generations in The United States.
This focus on the values of the citizens inspired a government that supported the idea that the government's power and authority came from the
people. This became the start of a new political drive as more citizens could vote due to the increase of political representation for States within the
Articles of Confederation. However, Congress became weak as there was no power given to enforce treaties, collect taxes, set up a federal justice
system, or to create armies. The British government restricted the colonies to cut trading, settling down in new areas, and

Essay On American Identity
The American Identity
American– |adjective| of, relating to, or characteristic of the United States or its inhabitants. This is the literal meaning of American, but isn't there
more? Most just look on a shallow level of what the United States were actually founded on. People will say that this country is based only on having
rights which may be true, however we have many freedoms here that citizens of other countries cannot even begin to comprehend
This community is full of citizens who have strong views politically. I have noticed many people saying,
"Being American means you have gun rights! Means you have the ability to say whatever, whenever and nobody can say anything about it!" I find this
sad because so many of the people who...show more content...
I will admit I am guilty of this. Many people will not admit to this. Many will just assume things and cave into the stereotypes the rest of the world
believes. People will judge others because of who they are, what they love, or their beliefs. The first amendment does clearly state we have a
freedom of speech but why does this have to be used as a negative asset? We could use it as a tool instead of a weapon, used to criticize another
being. People have started to believe in stereotypes again with a trust so great, that I will never be able to understand it. Blinded by these ideas they
started to use them in a horrible way to separate themselves from another culture that is wonderful. All of this done in the face of fear, the fear of
another day to be dreaded like that of 11.9.01.
One of my favorite things to read are American stereotypes. Sometimes I will read the most hilarious things and other times I am absolutely
shocked by what I find. Americans are viewed as rude and overweight people, who do not know anything about the world around them. (I do not
like to be bound by stereotypes and try to "break the trend".) To be honest I do believe in some of these because some are true. However The U.S. is
viewed as a place of freedom where even in crises we can come together to mend the nation together again, as neighbors and friends even if we don't
agree on

American Identity In The 18th Century
Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries Americans developed a unique system of government with revolutionary ideals – never seen anywhere else
before. Americans adopted representative governments with democratic principles that allowed each person to have a voice in the decisions about their
country. This atmosphere of new ideas and new political rights fostered a growing sense of a unique American identity– not found anywhere else. By
the eve of the American Revolution, colonists had embraced a new identity – completely different from their English roots – that helped fuel their
resistance against Britain; however, plagued by petty disagreements and discouraged by the large Loyalist population, the Americans were never able to
effectively unite against the British.
During the early 18th century, the British government adopted a policy of "salutary neglect" toward the colonies, which gave Americans freedom to
develop their own political systems – as long as they followed the ideas of Mercantilism. When the first colonies were chartered in the 17th century, the
majority adopted some sort of political institution that gave voting rights to each and every man. In the North, most citizens were able to participate in
the local Town Meetings and voice their opinions. In addition, nearly every colony had a representative assembly with elected officials. These new
political institutions – that the Americans had built from the ground up, and learned to cherish – caused Americans to

How American Identity Is Created

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Featured

Featured (20)

How American Identity Is Created