American Definition Essay

ENC 1101
The Definition of an American

An American is defined by The Oxford Dictionary as “a native or citizen of the United States.” An American can be many things; with the extensive amount of opportunities that are available to not only the native citizens, but also the immigrants and their families. In his farewell address, Ronald Reagan spoke of John Winthrop when he said America was like “a shining city on a hill” and its inhabitants like “the early Pilgrims” that first stepped foot on this rich American soil many years ago. Americans operate on commerce as they did in colonial times, growing ever stronger with each day. Americans are free to do as
they please as long as it doesn’t break the rather loose guidelines set (Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence). The guidelines are loose compared to the laws of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabian government punishes anyone who brings about any religion other than Islam, the penalty for such acts is imprisonment and in some cases one could have their fingers removed by the police for their religious belief. The Average American doesn’t see that he is actually entitled to more freedoms than any other nation just by being an American citizen. Honestly, the people who don’t really see that America is much better than other places will one day be in a predicament where they wish they would’ve recognized the freedoms that they had while in America. Americans are free. Americans are brave. Americans are determined. Americans set themselves apart from other nations by striving to be the best they can be. The Star Spangled Banner says that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Americans are determined to be better than the rest as implied by de Crevecoeur in his Letters from an American Farmer. “He is an American, who, leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds. He has become an American by being received in the broad lap of our great Alma Mater. Here individuals of all races are melted into a new race of man, whose labors and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world. Americans are the western pilgrims” (From “Letter III” 1782). Americans are a mixed breed of people from all over not just Europe but from Asia and Africa and all parts in between. They might be from a different race, a different religion, or a different country, but they come together in a time of crisis to be the best nation because it is filled with the best people, ones who actually care. Americans can self-govern themselves. They were able to do so even before the Mayflower’s arrival; The Mayflower Compact was an agreement between the colonists that they would use their own liberty when they reached the “new world” because nobody had the power to govern them (William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation). Self-government is essential when branching off from a mother or any kind of seniority figure. Although Americans are strong, they don’t always make the ethical decision.
Thomas Paine demonstrated this in his pamphlet, Common Sense, when he said that all Americans should rebel against England because of what they have done to the colonists and their families but though he made a great argument there were still Loyalists after the fact. They loyalists weren’t Americans; they were just British folks camping out in America while the people around them were being attacked, raped, and butchered by the people the loyalists were steadfastly supporting. The Americans of the past are far different than the Americans of modern society. The Americans from the colonial times were at first light-hearted explorers who eventually turned into heavy-fisted rebels who wanted nothing more than to break from the scum that held them down in the years past. This ideology is what led up to the acts inflicted at the statue of George III almost immediately after Independence was declared. The Statue of him was torn down by rebellious colonists and carted off to be melted down into bullets that would later be used to inflict wounds on his own troops. Throughout history the Americans changed more and more. From being cabin building colonists to industrial park executives they have experienced a maturing process from the experiences they’ve had along the way. This maturing process is a big deal; it brings a person who is on fire, ready to fight at any time and mellows them down into a laid-back professional that attacks in a non-violent
manner. One aspect to expect out of an American is a sense of humor that only they can understand. When joking around with someone from another nation or even a different one needs to watch their words, but I guess that America didn’t get that memo. The average American has a sense of humor that can confuse even the most intelligent person. “As to your extraordinary code of laws, I cannot but laugh. We have been told that our struggle has loosened the bonds of government everywhere; that children and apprentices were disobedient; that schools and colleges were grown turbulent; that Indians slighted their guardians, and Negroes grew insolent to their masters. But your letter was the first intimation that another tribe, more numerous and powerful than all the rest, had grown discontented. This is rather too coarse a Compliment but you are so saucy, I won’t blot it out. Depend upon it, we know better than to repeal our masculine systems. Although they are in full force, you know they are little more than theory. We dare not exert our power in its full latitude. We are obliged to go fair and softly, and, in practice, you know we are the subjects. We have only the name of masters, and rather than give up this, which would completely subject us to the despotism of the petticoat, I hope General Washington and all our brave heroes would fight; I am sure every good politician would plot, as long as he would against despotism, empire, monarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, or ochlocracy.” The previous was a letter written by John Adams to Abigail as a response to her questioning why women weren’t represented in the congress. At which John replied with this letter and joking in a manner that suggested that they women have all the power and the men are sent off to do their dirty work. The definition of an American is a list too long to be handled in such a short amount of time. From the time of their first existence to the futuristic feel of modern society, Americans have changed and their definition has been altered some over the years but in the overall aspect of things, an American is someone who inhabits the United States and adopts their customs.

Works Cited
-Reagan, Ronald. “Farewell Address” January 11, 1989
-Key, Francis Scott. “The Star Spangled Banner” 1814
-Bradford, William. “Of Plymouth Plantation” 1650
-de Crevecoeur, John. “Letters from an American Farmer” 1782
-Paine, Thomas. “Common Sense” January 10, 1776
-Adams, John. “Letter From John Adams to Abigail Adams” April 14, 1776
-Jefferson, Thomas. “Original Draft of the Declaration of Independence” June 28, 1776