What Does It Mean To Be An American? Explore the Depth of American Identity in Your Essay

If you happen to stop any American on the street, they have an idea of what it means to be an American. The explanations may differ depending on the generations and their experience as American citizens, but they are aware of their identity.

So, what is the best meaning of being an American? Remember, you must incorporate the "American dream" concept when defining.

Are you required to write what it means to be an American essay? We've got you covered. In our article, we will demystify who is an American and the "American dream" phrase and explore how it has evolved. These concepts will help you write the easy at ease. But, if you need our experts to write a personal essay for you, seek college essay writing services.

The Meaning of Being an American: Who Fits the Definition?

An American is a person who shares the values and ideals of this country. One can become an American citizen through naturalization or birth. An American can belong to any nationality, race, ethnicity, or religion, bringing equality to the US.

In short, America is a home of many nationalities and multi-ethnics. According to recent studies by the Migration Policy Institute, 44% of US immigrants are a Hispanic or Latino ethnic group. Other ethnicities in the US are Asian Americans, Black Americans, Native Americans, African Americans, and White Americans.

So, if I may ask, what has unified all these people from different ethnic backgrounds, nationalities, and social statuses? The obvious answer is the American dream, which has existed for over 100 years. Do you have an idea of what the dream entails? Let's look at the general view of the dream as illustrated below.

What is the General View of the American Dream?

Americans feel privileged in a way that all countries do. These American rights have been influenced by the famous phrase "American dream."

Therefore, let's give a general view of the American dream. These are people's views on what the American dream means. People's beliefs about this dream have changed; we will discuss them later.

• Freedom of speech – while respecting others to avoid hate speech. This right to speak helps Americans innovate, address issues, and advocate.
• Equality- where people live in diverse cultures regarding religion, ancestry, race, creed, class, and descent, with equal rights
• The dream presents America as a land of opportunities – a good education and a better career.
• Americans believe in the responsibility to make society a better place. This calls for informed voting, protecting the Constitution, respecting the rights of others, and expressing opinions. It's also a sense of responsibility to help people in society through community service, civic duty, etc.
• Americans can succeed if they work hard despite their class or race. This drive offers everyone equal chances of success by putting in the work.

Many immigrants have been flowing into the US yearly, hoping to achieve the American dream. In 2023 alone, the US immigrant population reached 47.8 million. That means there is a version of being an American that they aspire and it has all emerged from the American dream.

What was the Original Meaning of the American Dream?

The American dream originated from the Declaration of Independence document created by the US founding fathers. This document emphasized equality, the right to life, and liberty for all individuals.

Therefore, they believed in equality irrespective of gender, race, or status. Everyone has a right to attain their full happiness. That was the original meaning of the American dream, which has evolved over the years.

In 1774, another version of the American dream emerged. Americans started yearning for the lands further away, thinking they were better than what they had. So, people desired to own better lands, creating a desire for wealth. At this moment, the dream changed from rights to ownership of wealth.

In the 19th century, America opened its doors to immigrants, and many educated Germans moved to the country. They were drawn in by the belief that anyone could achieve their dreams irrespective of their class. This notion popularized the principle of equality, where everyone has the same opportunities to succeed.

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The renowned author James Truslow popularized the American dream in his book, "Epic of America." The writer emphasizes that the dream isn't about acquiring wealth like cars and land. However, he equates dreams to social order, where people can attain their dreams and happiness regardless of social status.

But that's not the case, as this dream has faced many challenges, which we will expound on later. Americans view the dream as:

• Priority in achieving wealth like owning a house, cars
• Access to good education
• A stable source of income, either a business or a job
• Utilizing time well as a commodity
• Making initiative rather than seeking help
• Embracing a casual approach includes wearing casual clothes, having social interactions, etc.
• Being honest, especially when disclosing negative information

Does the Hype of Being an American Exist? What's Killing the American Dream?

Yes, the traditional American identity is under threat. Issues raised in the national anthem, like appreciating American culture, enjoying a free country, and patriotism, are losing touch. As new generations emerge, they are more zealous in bettering their way of life in pursuit of happiness.

As discussed above, the number of immigrants relocating to America has increased. The version of the American dream has primarily influenced these numbers. Who wouldn't want quality education systems, great careers, and economic stability? It's everyone's dream to make it in life and live large.

There are several challenges that Americans are facing that could kill off the American dream.

• Unemployment is a big challenge. With a stable income, one can meet personal and family needs.
• Crime and gun violence are social vices that affect the unemployed, and this causes chaos in society.
• Racism is also increasing, and this goes against the rights of equality for everyone, irrespective of their ethnicity. If you want to capture more details on racism, read the America for Americans: The History of Xenophobia in the United States by Erika.

How Should You Write, What Does it Mean to be an American Essay?

How would you approach this American identity essay? Would you write a narrative or a historical essay?

From our expert's point of view, this essay can fall into three categories: personal, historical, and comparative.

• Personal essay – explore your story on what it means to be American from your personal experience
• Historical – how American identity has evolved with time and the challenges encountered
• Comparative essay – compare American identity with other countries.

How to Write a Narrative Essay on What it Means to Be an American

From your experience, please help us understand the meaning of this essay topic. Did you experience the key principles of the American dream? You can tell us how equality, freedom of speech, and liberty have influenced your life as an American. It may be a good or a bad experience.

For instance, did you get the best education in school? Were the learning opportunities and resources equal for everyone? Did you achieve what you had aspired to? If not, what could have been done better?

Thus, the essay should have an introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs. Start your article with a captivating hook. Later, inform your audience what they should expect in the essay.

Now, go ahead and draft your narrative essay. If you are stuck, seek our narrative essay writing help.

A Historical Essay on What it Means to be An American

This essay expounds on all the historical changes of being an American. Highlight what has happened over the years in different generations since the first amendment of the United States Constitution. For example, we have seen that the founding fathers valued equality for all people than wealth. But in today's America, people value property more than inalienable rights.

Other issues you can discuss in this essay are:

• Equality in different ethnic backgrounds
• America beyond geographical boundaries
• What patriotism means
• What it takes to be a true American

A Comparative Essay on What it Means to be an American

In this kind of paper, you should give a story of American life and compare it with another country. So, you should do thorough research to present a country with the same or different beliefs as America. The essay should consist of the body, introduction, and conclusion sections. Ensure you discuss the similarities or differences of the same idea in the same paragraph.

Narrative and historical formats are the most suitable in all three essay formats. Identify the writing style that fits and start writing your essay assignment.

Tips for Writing this Essay

After gathering all the topic content, it's a moment to write your essay. Essay writing is an easy procedure if you have been used to writing. But don't mind if you can't recall all the writing steps. Below are steps to consider when writing an informative essay on what it means to be an American.

• First, you gather all the background information about this topic. American identity has a rich history and patterns you must capture to write this essay. You can also consider reading samples similar to this essay, such as why medical marijuana should be legal and whether college athletes should be paid.
• Second, draft your essay outline to guide you in the writing process. If you are unsure how to write an outline, read this guide. Check how to draft the thesis statement and the points to discuss in the body and conclusion.
• Draft your essay using the writing ideas you have gathered. After finishing, proofread the essay to check for errors and edit accordingly.
• Use relevant examples, case studies, and statistics to back up your claims in the paper. Remember to cite the examples correctly by checking how to format an essay.

Finally, you should review your essay before submission. Do a final check on the flow, grammar, originality, and formatting issues. If you find plagiarism or formatting errors, ensure you correct them. We have a guide that can walk you through how to avoid plagiarism.

To Wrap Up

Being an American means knowing your rights, being ambitious, and being ready to work to achieve your dreams. The country's laws also provide a conducive environment for everyone to pursue happiness. America is a melting pot for many cultures, offering opportunities for a better life.

So, as a true American, take national pride and live the American dream. Learn from the American history highlighted above to influence the world. Embrace diversity, religion, liberty, and other guiding principles.

You are now informed of what it means to be an American. I believe you can now write this paper as a narrative or historical work. If you need our writing support in brainstorming or writing an essay, check out our services.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the features of being an American person?

• Equality
• Hard work
• Informality
• Honesty
• Independent
• Punctuality

2. How can one become an American?

• If you are born in America
• Through naturalization

3. What are the symbols of being American?

• The United States flag
• The pledge of allegiance
• Bald of eagle
• Liberty bell
• National anthem
• Statue of liberty