...an American? When immigrants come to America, it is for certain reasons that their newly found land is now their home. Many immigrants choose America as their destination because of their overcrowded cities, in search of religion, a chance to manage their own land to have a better lifestyle, and to have a chance to make a better living. Also, to have less government interference and a greater voice of government are all reasons to get the attention of immigrants to travel to America. An essay well written by the author by the name of Michael-Guillaume Jean de Crevecoeur, was a French immigrant who sought on the ideas on what is an American. He arrived in New York in 1759 spending ten years as a surveyor and a trader. In 1782, he publishes a collection of twelve essays called Letters of an American Farmer under the name of J. Hector St. John, before he published What is an American? These immigrants at the time were looking for a new place to settle to have an equal opportunity for land and freedom, but the meaning of a true American is the question on everyone’s minds. Me belief on what is an American is the current or natural born citizen living in America that can be a part of a culture, and live life to the fullest. Americans can be natural born citizens, and/or immigrants that come from all over the world. America was a prime destination for immigrants due to the fact that you had freedom, and opportunity. You could own land, make a living, and you have a stronger...
Words: 607 - Pages: 3
...Tani’qua Jones Dr. Boyd American Lit. After reading and analyzing de Crevecoeur’s essay, “What is an American,” one could argue that the entire purpose of the essay was to describe an egalitarianism society, a society which has never existed in his eyes. De Crevecoeur was raised in a family of Counts and Countesses, experiencing the fortune of being born into a wealthy and prosperous family, while witnesses the misfortune of those who weren’t. Through the details and images described, from his experiences, in Letters of an American Farmer we obtain the true sense of being English or French; something de Crevecoeur wasn’t all too proud to be called. John de Crevecoeur was more honored to be called an American, working as a farmer, a life vastly different from the comfort and riches of being a Count. In “What is an American,” De Crevecoeur compares Europe and America to define the nature of being an American. And he illustrates throughout the essay, why the great American frontier is preferred by the vast majority. Although de Crevecoeur was born in France, he sees himself as an Englishman who has come to settle in America. Through his eyes we explore the differences he encounters in America that he would never discover in England. Most of these changes are based on his experience of being an American farmer, working on the beautiful open frontier. Here de Crevecoeur sees the industry of his native country displayed in a new manner, “there are no great manufacturers employing...
Words: 1547 - Pages: 7
...He starts from the 1800s, and explains how communities came about. The first frontier is pretty simple and easy to grasp. In Texas during the 1800s developers had the idea to buy land, and to build up houses. These houses then led to build up hotels, and stores which attracted people. The developer had the idea that the more far apart towns were they can throw in a railroad to bring in extra money. The more people they bribed to live in the newly developed town meant the more money in their pockets. As the towns were built, and filled with people the developers would pack up and leave to go develop another town with more land. They left taking the risk that as they move on more money would pile in. Here, is how the first frontier came along. The developers started the idea that more and more is always...
Words: 642 - Pages: 3
...Nobody likes a robber.Especially when they live right next door. You see, the Americans had just gotten the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 which gave them lots of land. Then later Mexico gained its independence in 1821. After that in 1836 Texas decided to be independent too.(Background Essay) The Texans decided to sign a treaty with the U. S. and then the Americans got greedy again. They wanted the land from the Nueces River down to the Rio Grande. They wanted it so bad that they decided to go to war over it with Mexico. The United States might have been justified in going to war. No, the U. S. was not justified in going to war with Mexico because America was being disrespectful, America was stealing land, and America wanted a war. The first...
Words: 501 - Pages: 3
...Essay 1 What Goad means by White Niggers have feeling too is that every ethnic group and rich whites feel it’s okay to pick on poor white rural white people. What he does is compare the word “Redneck” with the word “Nigger” in how they are both used in today’s society through news stories. The double standard comes into play because one word is ok to use to describe poor white trash “Redneck” while the other word used to describe poor black trash “Nigger” is unacceptable. He uses the dictionary as an example of the double standard for both words. The word “Nigger” has a one word definition as “negro” with an apologetic disclaimer basically saying that it “is only acceptably used in Black English and very taboo to use because of its link with slavery” (Goad, 21). While the term “Redneck” is defined “as a poor, white, rural southerner often, specif., often one is regarded as ignorant, bigoted, violent, etc…” (Goad, 21) Essay 2 Goad traces back class conflict to Preroman times when people were hunter gathers who either traveled alone or in small groups. When the alone people ran into these small groups they were prey just as the smaller groups were prey for larger ones. By necessity these groups became loosely netted communities of clans who stuck together or were taken over by invaders. These groups were usually absorbed into the centralized agriculture slave states by force. The occurred when the men who wanted to remain outside the city slave states who hunted alone...
Words: 2135 - Pages: 9
...America: On the Path to Utopia or Cyberpunk? As I sat and listened to multiple political science essays in the last few weeks of my Honors Colloquium class, some essential concepts really stuck out to me and resonated in my mind. The idea of a utopian society that was brought forth in class got me thinking of how our world would be like today if we adopted some utopian methods of living. In America we are very blessed to live in the land of opportunity yet we are always focused on what is the next and best opportunity for us to seize. The American people have grown accustomed to a fast paced living, never stopping to look around at the beauty of nature that surrounds them or share a smile with a stranger. We are always on to the next best thing and we forget to appreciate the aspects of human life that really matter. If we as a people decided to change our patterns of everyday living we could make America more than the land of the free and opportunity. If we connected with a utopian lifestyle, we might find ourselves actually enjoying life or maybe we will discover utopia isn’t the right choice for the direction of our country’s future. Either way in this paper, I am going to introduce the key elements of a utopian society and also another society that I think represents where America is heading today and into the future. A utopia is a community or society possessing highly desirable or perfect qualities. Utopia can be seen as an imaginary society of sorts because it does...
Words: 1003 - Pages: 5
...knowing that they can accomplish their goal. One of the great things about America is the freedom to choose your own path and live your life to your standards. To be free of the restriction and oppression of the former land. Many immigrants from this land were people with dreams and hopes of a future to be free of what they had left behind. in the poem “The New Colossus” when the author says “give me your tired your poor your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”she saw the statue of liberty she saw freedom and opportunity to start living the life she wants. An example of of this would Goerge from Of Mice and Men. The author quotes that george's dream is to “Have a little house and a couple of acres and a cow and some pigs.” He believes in his dream...
Words: 1249 - Pages: 5
...We be a nation of immigrants. in-migration has evermore been a fundamental part of the Statesn account statement because immigrants substantiate been coming in to America ever since it was discovered. This counter became unfeignedly big generator in the twentieth ascorbic acid when a huge influx of immigrants came from Ireland , Italy , Germany , and many other European countries at the same time. Fleeing cut down failure, land and job shortages, go up taxes, and famine, they came to the join States because they believed it was the land of economical opportunity. Others came seeking somebodyal liberty or relief from semipolitical and religious persecution. My own family migrated from Germany approximately flipper generations ago on 1844. Recently I plant a letter scripted by my great-great grandfather closely 4 generations ago, dated revered 20th, 1882, during the first big swing of immigration. His letter was addressed to family in Ohio and detailed his voyage to America and explained what he experienced. Ordercustompaper.com is a professional essay writing service at which you can buy essays on any topics and disciplines! All custom essays are written by professional writers! His letter was alter with details about his jobs and culture practices in Minnesota where he settled. Times were hard and he had to pop off during the daytime at a brand name mill and self-employed person as a work whenever he could. Life was unreactive for every immigrant looking for success, exhausting...
Words: 332 - Pages: 2
...Argumentative essay She’s one hundred fifty one feet tall, in her right arm she hold the ever- lit torch while on her left arm she hold a tablet. She wore a crown on her head as the broken chain beneath her feet. The Statue of Liberty represent the essence of America. American is mostly known as to be a beacon of freedom and liberty. The Statue of Liberty portray the freedom in America, the friendship America have with other nations, and the opportunity America give to immigrant who came to American during the 1800s to earn a better life. To begin with, the Statue of Liberty was designed and made by a French sculptor with the intent it would be a gift to commemorate America 100th anniversary of independence. He wanted to honor...
Words: 638 - Pages: 3
...Westward expansion and the settlers' experience on the frontier played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s character, along with bringing up traits like individualism, democracy, and a distinctive American identity. The frontier was overall, at the time in the 1800’s, mainly a rough, very demanding environment where only the Native Americans knew how to navigate the land. Since the west was just acquired land, it basically had no laws and this resulted in disputes to be settled with violence. These challenges, in-turn, forced pioneers and settlers to be self-reliant, and to only rely on themselves and their own skills in this harsh environment. Frederick Jackson Turner essay, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History”, 1893, perfectly demonstrates how the frontier helped shape the...
Words: 499 - Pages: 2
...Final Test Essay Questions 1. RACE= To distinguish a group of people by physical characteristics or looks. ETHNICITY=Belonging to a certain social group of people with certain common traditions and celebrations PREJUDICE= Peoples judgment or opinions of a certain race or group of people DISCRIMINATION= Negative actions against groups of people or individuals SOCIAL INEQUALITY= Unfair treatment of certain social groups by limiting things they may obtain TOTAL DISCRIMINATION= bringing past and current discrimination together as on to discriminate against certain groups of people or individuals 2. Functionalist approach= To describe certain situations that are happening in society today, in order for everyday function. So essentially, discrimination, prejudice and everything included is a function of society. 3. Conflict perspective= In the conflict perspective, we say that every where we turn in society, there is conflict. Education, employment, military, ethnicities and race. There will always be conflict where there is ignorance. 3A. Race and ethnicity have affected the status and opportunities of people for many years; take for example, the Native American tribes of history. From the time the Europeans arrived in America. Lands were taken, they were over powered and lied to about their lands and rights, the US government weakened tribes by establishing certain acts that moved them far from their native lands and tried to...
Words: 348 - Pages: 2
...race, slavery is a discriminating concept in which people are held against their own will. Before new age society found a more humorous and sexual definition for the concept, slavery was and still is, in some parts of the world, humiliating. In particular, there is one which has been historically long lasting; the Transatlantic African slave trade. This long and grueling migration paved the way for new races and culture. African Americans thrive all over the world but unfortunately descendants from this race did not come to the Americas on their own free will. A world altering voyage and conquest took shape when Christopher Columbus traveled and discovered the Americas in 1492 (1). Historically true, the America’s took shape but not without risk, sacrifice, or discrimination of a divine civilization. Columbus was on venture seeking route to Asia, in turn; found an untouched land devoured by Native Americans (2). Being distracted new ideas and opportunities, he reset is path. The mark of the Columbian Exchange happened; bringing the eventual commerce of food, disease, culture, power and new races (3). All of the changes were not as promising or good. The transatlantic slave trade brought new life but also brought darker times. Columbus didn’t develop this concept, he actually adapted to it. Although, slavery in the America’s was a forced and free transition, the continent of Africa provided the part of the migrating idea: African slavery and slave trading existed long before European...
Words: 1239 - Pages: 5
...disagree? The late 1400’s brought about the period of colonial expansion, initiated under the crown of Castile and the Spanish Conquistadors. This expansion continued over the next 4 centuries, seeing the Spanish Empire expand over most of Central and South America. The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire and the Incas spanned over decades and was not a peaceful conquest without bloodshed. The Conquista unleashed violence, death and destruction on a scale unknown until then. Charny acknowledged that it was possible for genocide to occur during the process of colonisation, as seen in the colonising of North America and similarly in Australia. This essay will discuss the various elements of genocide as defined by the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, as well as other sources. Through this discussion, the essay will relate it to circumstances and events related to the Spanish Conquest of Latin America, discussing the possibility of a connection between the conquest and genocide. There are a number of elements that must be satisfied in order to find a case for genocide. When defining an act of genocide, the UN definition is the internationally recognised and the framework by which this essay will follow when referring to an act of genocide. As found in the UN definition of genocide; the act committed must have the intent to destroy the target, in whole or in part, a national, ethical, racial or religious group. Break down the elements of the definition...
Words: 1984 - Pages: 8
...Words:1254 Robert Fuentes Americanization For many years, the United Sates has been attracting immigrants from a variety of different races, countries and religions to come and live in a land full of freedom and opportunity. These immigrants are slowly but surely turning America into a culture melting pot, giving it the most diversity people have seen in a lifetime. Although it is a common misconception, these people are not just looking to live in America for working privileges. Their real desire is to become something that depicts pride and honor, an American. Being an American in a country as diverse as ours means more than just living on American soil, it has endless benefits that allows one to feel free. Unfortunately, the rapid flow of immigrants into America has led to many issues. One of the main ones is the concept of assimilation, which has been disputed for years due to the capacity of the incoming immigrants. Jay Nordlinger, in his essay “Bassackwards: Construction Spanish and Other Signs of the Times” notes that not “everyone who comes to America is dying to melt into the pot”. Yet he stresses, as does Linda Chavez in her essay “Supporting Family Values”, the need for immigrants to assimilate to American culture. These two concepts have been floating around America since the first illegal immigrants started to show up and they’ve been controversial ever since. Everyone is looking for a happy medium for the issue but can’t seem to find it. Recent immigrants...
Words: 1262 - Pages: 6
...America had definitely played its role in its imperialism. First of all imperialism is the control from one country doing to another. America has controlled a lot of countries in its time. In this essay I will talk about the causes and effects that America’s imperialism played a role in. We have really controlled a lot of countries in our time but this essay will focus more on the 19th and 20th century. We play a pretty big influence in the world today as in status wise. A lot of countries respect us because of our integrity and greatness that we have achieved. Overall I will talk about how imperialism existed in the time of American in 19th and 20th century as well as explain the causes by this time and effects that resulted on our lives today. Imperialism is the policy or action by which one country controls another country or territory. Most such control is achieved by military means to gain economic and political advantages. Such a policy is also called expansionism. An expansionist state that obtains overseas territories follows a policy usually called colonialism. An imperialist government may wish to gain new markets for its exports, plus sources of inexpensive labor and raw materials. A far-flung empire may satisfy a nation's desire for military advantage or recognition as a world power. Imperialism has definitely played its role in our lifetime as well as in the 19th century. First of all we attacked Iraq regarding a power issue. We believed they had some powerful...
Words: 778 - Pages: 4
