What It Means To Be An American Essay

541 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The importance of freedom

There are infinite meanings behind the word "American." Some include unity, liberty, and fulfillment. However, many people are unaware of how much power the word obtains. There is a more definite interpretation when one takes all aspects of honor and pride into consideration. What does it mean to be an American? First, it means that one is free. One is not refrained, confined, or obstructed. Secondly, it means that the duty of this united country is to uphold peace in the world. Finally, it means that no one person has to endure the burden of poverty. The word "American" is not just a title. It is a feeling, duty, and responsibility. "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..." This one sentence grants a vast amount of privileges. Being an American means that one is blessed with natural, born rights. These prerogatives are protected and permanent. "Freedom of speech, religion, press, the right to bear arms..." The Bill of Rights also grants a variety of freedoms. Without them, one would be restricted on what is said, believed, worshiped, and other infringements on personal lives. However, every price has to be paid; someone has to contribute to these freedoms. To be an American means that one has the pride, honor, and gratification to live in a country where a man’s life is …show more content…

In a world without policemen, hierarchies would try to dominate and control lives in an unfair and inhumane way. Since World War II, the world has been living and functioning under a controlled peace by America's military. While fighting communism and totalitarian views, it is this country's duty to uphold peace in the world. Being an American means that one has the realization that people trust and look to this country for a common freedom. To be an American means that one is willing to give "Liberty and Justice for all" even if it results in

Show More
Related

  • Definition Essay: What Is America?

    540 Words  | 2 Pages

    America, often called land of the free, opportunity, but what truly is America has someone actually contemplated it? Well there are certain things that might define America, for example America for some people could be the land of opportunity, There are many reasons why different types of people all across the world might pursue the land of opportunity, America. That one person leaving their home land might be a parent, a parent looking to pursue a better life for their children. A better life than the one they lived. To allow their children to actually follow their dreams and hopes, to be someone in life. Where in America there is truly no limits to what one might become in life, or what one will do with the limitless opportunities.

    Read More

  • Howard Zinn's A Review of A People’s History of The United States

    1207 Words  | 3 Pages

    our citizens are granted the freedoms of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That’s

    Read More

  • What Does Americanism Mean To Me Essay

    307 Words  | 1 Pages

    America has always been looked at as “The New World” where people from all over come to fulfil their dreams. Their dreams may not have been exceptional, but only to have enough to survive, have a house where their children could be raised and feel free and protected. Now, according to Webster’s online dictionary Americanism is defined as a custom, trait, belief, etc., peculiar to the United States of America or its citizens, but to me it means so much more.

    Read More

  • Being An American

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    To be an American means more than just living in the country for a set amount of years. It means more than being granted citizenship, and more than just waving a Boy Scout American flag in your yard on Memorial Day. To be an American is to be free, and that is what we as Americans sometimes take for granted and forget. Being an American isn 't just living in the "greatest country in the world", there are plenty of other countries that say the same exact things. There are far less countries in this world, though, that are free, and have the American mindset. Not many countries employ so many freedoms and have the 'American dream '. The American mindset is not just something that

    Read More

  • American Identity Essay

    948 Words  | 2 Pages

    The United States as a country has always been an entity unique amongst the world’s myriad of nations: a conglomeration of cultures, ethnic groups and religious backgrounds from around the planet, all fused together to yield something entirely new. Since its very inception, those who dwell within its borders have attempted to ascertain the makeup of the American identity, in order to pin down how exactly one can come to be considered as an American themselves. This is inherently quite a subjective issue, but the conversation primarily boils down to three core factors that make the American people who they are: a dedication to preserving the natural rights of every human being, a belief in the importance of the individual in deciding their own

    Read More

  • What it Means to be an American

    1164 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the most important and well-known facts about America is freedom. We are granted the freedom or choice in our lives and how we live. We are given freedom of speech and press that lets us give our opinions and aspects of the community we live in. also we have the freedom of voting for our leaders and representatives. The American people are also given freedom of clothes, music, and number of kids. This right of freedom in our lives is one of many rights given to us.

    Read More

  • Countless Opportunities In America

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    America is built on the preconceived premise that all people have the right to work towards happiness. Americans over the years have tried to define what being an American truly means. An American can be defined as one with endless opportunities, pride in their country, and the chance for a future for oneself and their families.

    Read More

  • The Great Concept Of American Freedom

    1409 Words  | 3 Pages

    Perhaps the most exclusive aspect of American freedom is stated directly in the Declaration of Independence. It states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" (Jefferson). This well-known statement truly incorporates all facets of what it means to be free in America. The citizens of this country have the right to live. They have the right to be free of restriction and control, to do what they please. And they have the right to be happy in whatever way that might be. These rights are...

    Read More

  • What It Means To Be An American Essay

    447 Words  | 1 Pages

    What does it mean to be an American? There are many varied opinions on what this means to people, whether they are American or not. Some believe we eat too much junk food and think of ourselves as high and mighty. The stereotypes of us are ridiculous, though they can be true for some. In my opinion being American is having individual liberty, justice and patriotism towards our nation.

    Read More

  • Being An American Value Essay

    2291 Words  | 5 Pages

    Now being an American is one of the things that was important at the time, but also the American value as well that we follow to this day. The American value was one of the reasons for why people came to America, even if it’s not that strong today. American value, as many know, is freedom, equality, family, religion, education, and independence justice. These are the main values that goes for America, but there are many more. Some will even say that this is one of many for being an American is to go by these values.

    Read More

  • Importance Of Being An American Essay

    531 Words  | 2 Pages

    The right to liberty is too often taken for granted yet It's so essential because it entails that all people are endowed to certain inalienable rights that the government cannot impose on. America didn't invent it, yet she did set a strong example of it for the rest of the world. From the pilgrims landing in Plymouth to escape religious persecution to the Supreme Court approving the legalization of gay marriage, America has continued to serve her people the liberty they deserve. Being an American means so long as you're a law abiding citizen, you will be served by an ever-adapting constitution.

    Read More

  • What Makes You An American Essay

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    America is essentially a dream, a dream as yet unfulfilled. It is a dream of a land where men of all races, of all nationalities and of all creeds can live together as brothers. -Martin Luther King Jr. The United States is considered a melting pot which means every race is welcomed, like Martin Luther King Jr. this is a land filled with dreams where every race can live in peace and as one big happy family. Sure you are considered American if you were born in this country, but there has to be a more detailed explanation to what truly makes you an American.

    Read More

  • Fourth Of July Pros And Cons

    581 Words  | 2 Pages

    What is an American? Maybe someone born in the United States, no, it can’t be, that is way too simple. An American is a person in which they have their own rights and freedom. Within the United States there are two theories, the salad bowl and the melting pot. The salad bowl you can mix it up with anything but at the end you can separate everything again. The Melting pot on the other hand can not be separated at the end because it is all put together in one single soup. The melting pot is what America truly is. How about freedom, the 4th of July? Albeit, the fact that all these reasons show what an American truly is, the cons are always there along with the pros. th

    Read More

  • The Real Bengal: A Historical Discussion of Identity

    1307 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...American” is difficult to define, because it varies greatly from person to person. A recent immigrant will never be American to people who are from America, but will instantly become American to their friends from their homeland. Categorizing a group of people into a specific identity is always difficult, but even more so when the group is comprised of nearly a quarter of a million people. No mater how broad the category is, you will invariably exclude someone. My personal definition of being American is citizenship, although this excludes illegal immigrants and people in the process of attaining citizenship. I chose this definition because people immigrate to America to exploit the benefits of being a citizen in America, not simply living on the land. Once they have become citizens, they have reached their end goal and can officially be integrated into society.

    Read More

  • Denotative Definition Essay

    562 Words  | 2 Pages

    I also explained the history of the word and that it is a very old word. Lastly, the word American has different definition for different people. It also has different levels of severity. American can just be another word describing a citizen of the U.S. or could be a word that defines and motivates all of us to become the perfect,

    Read More

More about What It Means To Be An American Essay

Open Document