Letters from an American Farmer Essays

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We Are America
America — a land known for its ideals of freedom and new opportunities, a nation built under the idea that every man and women is created equal. However, the definition of what makes a person an American is entirely different from what it is that makes up America, itself. J.Hector St. John Crevecoeur, author of Letters from an American Farmer (1782), exposes what he believes makes an American. However, when compared to the standards of what makes an American in today’s world, it seems that becoming an American then was much simpler then, than it is today. The definition of an American is always evolving due to the influences of our changing nation. During a simpler time, Crevecoeur defined an American as someone of European …show more content…
Also because of advancements in technology and the creation of airplanes, Europeans are no longer the only group of people who come to this country in hopes of a better life. “I'd have to say an American is anyone born in the United States, Mexico, North, Central or South America” (Defining American). America is a melting pot. There are many immigrants coming to America from Asia, Mexico, and Europe. America is filled with different cultures and traditions from all these different countries, but it is not as easy to enter the country as it was before. There was a time during the early 20th century when the government passed the Quota System, a document which limited the number of people entering the country. Even today there are still immigration laws that prevent everyone from entering. Americans in the 18th century are very different from Americans today though they still have similar beliefs. Americans have always been on the side of freedom, providing people with the chance to start a new life with new found hope, and has since been known as “the land of opportunities.” Even today there are many immigrants coming onto American soil in hopes of finding a promising job. “I define American not as a citizenship or form of paper, but a way of life and a mindset to embrace all the abundant opportunities America has to offer to all who believe in achieving their dreams by working harder and becoming better” (Defining American Is Defining Yourself). This
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