Definition Essay On Patriotism

Over the years the American Dream has been defined in many different ways. Some say to be an American is to be free, a citizen, and happy but really it's more. Throughout the units I learned to be an American is to have patriotism, to be a U.S. born citizen, and a dreamer. In these units it shows and defines many ways on how an American is supposed to live and their American dream.

In unit 1.2 it explains that patriotism is to have love or devotion to one’s country. For instance:“Duty, honor, country(paragraph 15). ” This shows that these three characteristics is what makes an American and how they have respect to their country and government. Being a patriot is all about showing love and devotion

for one another and your respect towards a person. In the units it talks about many stories and what an American citizen’s life needs to look like and how they go through obstacles everyday but get through them.

In the story America and I, Yezierska obstacles that she went through is dealing with her wages and not having enough money for her to live. “The money I earned was hardly enough to pay for bread and rent(paragraph 44).” But after she learned the American language and what it felt like to be an American and have hard times she recovered from it. Another assumption that defines an American is to be a U.S. born citizen. An American is all about being free, having a good work ethic, and living life. According to the story America and I it talks about how a girl comes to America for new living but it’s different from her home. She goes through struggles everyday while living there and getting used to the American language. Throughout the story she has many different jobs such as a servant in an Americanized family and working in a sweatshop. Back where she is from it’s different because she has to work at a much faster and vibrant pace. Since she is not a U.S. born citizen she adapts to America by learning the new language and living by rules that has to be followed. For example “But I felt myself better off than working in the “American” family where I had three good meals a day and a bed to

myself’’(paragraph)44.” Additionally to be an American is to be a dreamer. Everyday people come to America to follow their dreams and become something they couldn’t before. “From the other end of the earth where I came, America was land as living hope,woven of dreams aflame with longing and desire (paragraph 2)” in the story America an I. This shows that America is fulfilling because you can come here and pursue your dreams and desires. In conclusion, to be an American is to have patriotism, to be a U.S. born citizen, and a dreamer. Over the years How to be an America? Has always been questioned. But now reading the story America and I, my perspective has changed entirely on what it is to be an American and how iconic it is. Living in America is more than just meeting new people and working all the time. It’s about having and exploring the world and loving one another.