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The American Identity

            The American Identity It can strongly be argued, as it has for many years, whether or not an American identity ever occurred between 1776 and 1861. The answer to this question really depends on your definition of what an identity consists of. An identity is the sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing; oneness. The thirteen colonies tried hard to find a sense of themselves as a nation even before they had a nation. Nationality became an American invention (notes). To find an identity the thirteen colonies created a flag, symbols of nationality (bald eagle, pluribus Unum), and they established national heroes (George Washington). Next they began to shape a national character. They asked themselves what it is to be an American (notes). An American should have no ethnic roots, and they gave this country a moral definition in order to build an identity. They had three objectives as well. The people wanted freedom and justice for all, they made the understanding that we are one nation under God and they wanted to help distinguish America from Europe. Like nature America was young, vigorous and strong compared to civilization in Europe. These colonists were desperately trying to create their own identity, which would separate them from England and any other country. They were dedicated to live their lives of Christian brotherhood while being guided by the divine providence. They were dedicated to the expansion of human rights. From these thoughts and their common quest for freedom the thirteen colonies formed their identity. As years went on and the nation united politically, their views and ideas changed. The north and south separated and one national identity did not exist. Using slavery, sectionalism and it is quite clear that the nation's first common goals of unity and peace were lost. There were strong signs that the nation could very well divide. They did not have a strong central government because many people believed in states' rights.


Essays Related to The American Identity

1. American Identity in the Romantic Era

The Romantic era contributed greatly to the development of a new American identity. ... The first component that helped bring about this new identity was American expansionism. ... Also, a newfound American preoccupation with nature allowed progress within the country and eventually led to the development of a unique American identity. ... The idea of mystery and the frontier heavily influenced and developed the American identity. Overall, the Romantic period in America greatly contributed the development of a new American identity. ...

  • Word Count: 577
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Expository Essay - Cultural Identity

Cultural identity has a significant function in every individual's lives. It is an effective factor in shaping one's identity and molds us. ... Culture identity is defined as one's own personal sense of culture. ... I will also include my own experiences of cultural identity. ... In America, many people are leading successful lives as a result of maintaining their cultural beliefs and identities. ...

  • Word Count: 1341
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Identity of america

Acceptance of other people and respect for their heritage is changing both an American's individual identity and America's cultural identity. ... The melting pot is where different identities are lost by assimilation into the mainstream mold of an American. ... Their heritage is gone and a great deal of their identity is lost to a generic form of American culture. ... However, immigrants loose their cultural identity and become like everyone else who lives in America. When people lose their identity, they lose their sense of individuality. ...

  • Word Count: 1011
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. The Criminality of Identity Theft

The solution to identity theft is simple. ... What is identity theft? ... Some may even say identity theft isn't a crime. ... The same person unfortunately victimized all of the respondents all four of the respondents are African American three is male and one is female. ... Subtopics 2 - Identity theft Preventing Millions of people are affected by identity theft every year therefore banks and creditors consistently advertise identity theft protection for a certain amount of money. ...

  • Word Count: 2177
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

5. American Identity

In the first part of his essay, de Crevecoeur describes American identity: "Here he beholds fair cities, substantial villages, extensive fields, and immense country filled with decent houses, good roads, orchards, meadows, and bridges, where an hundred years ago all was wild, woody and uncultivated! ... Baldwin's view of American identity is different to that of de Crevecoeur. ... Baldwin says America finds intellectual effort, like writing, objectionable because America is afraid that it may destroy the myth of America, the myth that America is considered to be the melting pot of the...

  • Word Count: 727
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

6. Identity

Identity is both subjective and objective. ... Modern Americans fail to establish their own concept of identity as they succeed in letting the materialistic greed of wanting personal possessions stand in their way of their reflection on the essence of their human self. ... To have an identity is to fully know and understand who we are. ... An essential part of one's identity is knowing where he or she comes from. ... By having Americans stuck in desperation and despair, Americans are unable to continue farther on their road toward their own identity. ...

  • Word Count: 2026
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Erikson and Identity Crisis

Additional cross-cultural research (Taylor and Oskay, 1995) investigated the relationship between personal autonomy, identity status and self-esteem in Turkish and American adolescents. Turkish adolescents differed from Americans in reporting more parental authoritarianism. American adolescents reported higher identity achievement and moratorium than Turkish adolescents. Unexpectedly, American adolescents also reported higher foreclosure scores. ... Further results identified that parental authoritarianism and conflict with parents over personal autonomy were positively related to identity dif...

  • Word Count: 784
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Graduate

8. Eras Which Formed the American Identity

The Gilded-Age, Reconstruction Era and the Age of Imperialism were periods of time that affected the first half of the American 20th century, changing the face of American identity. The American Identity shows a sense of duty by wanting to show everyone else the way to live. ... The American identity is a sense of pride; the pride that you were born in the best and most successful country in the world. ... Americans identity was shifting during this time by mostly wanting to progress. ... American identity had a strong sense of pride in trying to keep everyone the same during this time which...

  • Word Count: 790
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Identities

A person's identity is composed of many intricate and multifaceted identities. ... This is evident in the eyes of the racist white Americans. ... This double-sided view does not only relate to the African Americans. ... This is not the system that is used in America. America is a free country that allows people to move from one social class to the next. ...

  • Word Count: 1329
  • Approx Pages: 5

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