Definition Essay On American History

What is an American? This question has been heavily debated throughout history. It seems that everyone has a different opinion on what it means to American. The definition of American on Merriam Webster is a native or inhabitant of North America or South America. However, most people have a deeper definition that says Americans have to be a certain way and follow a certain pattern. Throughout history America has always been a place for people who didn’t feel like they didn’t belong elsewhere. America is full of many different types of people so trying to create a common definition to define them all is pointless. The diversity of the people in America make it difficult to classify them under one definition instead we should accept that everyone
is diverse, that these diversities have helped make America the place it is today, and that Americans no matter how much they are put through will just work harder to prove that these horrible things are wrong. America is a melting pot it is full of all kinds of people with completely different cultures. America has always accepted immigrants and people who felt outcasted from their own country. For example, Alexander Hamilton-one of America’s founding fathers-was an immigrant he came to America all alone with nothing at age fifteen and became a very influential person in our history (PBS 1). If people like Alexander Hamilton didn’t come to the America it would be like it is today. Immigrants have always been looked down upon in American history. For example, when all of the Irish and Chinese immigrants moved to the U.S. they were hated and made fun of but without them we wouldn’t have all of the transcontinental railroad we have today. According to the article Chinese and Irish Immigrants Railroad labor, “ … the Chinese were seen as a threat to American life,” (Omeka 1). Americans treated the Chinese and Irish immigrants badly even though they were building something that has had huge positive impacts on the country.
Immigrants have helped the country in many ways and America has thanked them by passing things like the Chinese Exclusion Act which banned people from China immigrating to America.
The Chinese Exclusion Act states, “Chinese immigrants undermine the livelihood of American workers by driving down wages and taking away jobs,” (NDHS 1). Just because Chinese immigrants look different than the so called Americans they are treated as less and the people who were discriminating against these immigrants are immigrants themselves. Everyone that lives in America are immigrants just because they have were there first or because they are white they think they can look down on others who are different. Many people theorize that the Native Americans came to the U.S. from the Bering Strait and the original colonists were from England (OWS 1). Even though the people that live in America are immigrants the people who are newer immigrants or look different are discriminated against .In conclusion, immigrants have furthered many projects in America and they get discriminated and hated on for it even though they are just like the other people in
America..
Even after all of the horrible things Americans have put immigrants through they are still some of the most patriotic people.
Immigrants have not only shaped our country they have also created our country. People like Alexander Hamilton, one of America's founding fathers, helped shape our government and make America the free land it is today (PBS 1). Some of the most influential people in America’s history have been immigrants, people have started with nothing and worked their way up to their positions. This is a good example of what many people see as the “American Dream”. Having nothing and coming to America to start a new life and work to a new and better
life.
In conclusion, America is a country that is full of misfits and people who are looking for a better life. Since everyone in America is an immigrant and different it is really difficult to try and create a single definition that tries to encompass all of the different types of people. Even though everyone in America is different there is still discrimination against many different groups of people who look a certain way or people who came from a certain place. These immigrants have helped the U.S. immensely in the formation of mass transportation and even in the formation of the government. The people who are hated and discriminated against are the people who have made America the place it is today. These people are truly the types of people who should be representing America. They are hard-working and no matter others say or try to to do them they are strong and work their hardest to prove those people wrong.These qualities are the qualities I think Americans should exhibit these qualities. I think that instead of striving to find a single definition of what an America should be we should strive to exhibit good qualities that will truly make America an accepting and great place.