There is no clear definition of “becoming American”. Everyone has a different view of what American truly means. The term differs depending on what era in history it is. During the American Revolution, the United States was not a nation, therefore no one was truly American. While the Cherokee Nation fought for sovereignty, the definition of “becoming American” expanded. Both the American Revolution and the Red Clay simulations conveyed how race contributed to “becoming American”.
At the beginning of the American Revolution no one was American, yet some people believed their race was superior to others. White men assumed they were entitled and had more power than anyone else. For example; slaves were never considered American. They were pieces of property that were easily bought and sold. Slaves had no rights and were not allowed to participate in any form of government, even though “they had experienced travel and often knew more languages and dialects than their masters”
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The American Revolution simulation focused on slavery and freedom, whereas the Red Clay simulation emphasized the Cherokee Nation’s fight for sovereignty. Both simulations were dominated by the white elite who controlled minorities. In history and in the simulations, a simple vote or treaty could easily determine if someone could “become American”. Some people believed that “becoming American” meant that citizens needed to participate in the government. Because slaves were not allowed to be involved in the government, they were not American. In the Red Clay simulation, the Cherokee Nation was acknowledged by the government. President Jackson and Governor Lumpkin both attempted to create treaties with them; however, they were still seen as inferior beings. Jackson did not care about the Cherokee Nation, “His immediate problem was relocating the eastern tribes as quickly and as economically as possible” (Remini
During the Revolution, there were social changes that affected several different races, classes and genders. The four groups that the Revolution had an effect on the social changes were: white men, White women, Black Americans, and Native Americas. With the Revolution effecting the white men by “wearing homespun clothing in support of boycotts of British goods (Boyer, “Defining Nationhood”, p. 128). When the Virginia planters organized militia companies in 1775, they wore plain hunting shirts so that they didn’t embarrass the poorest farmer for his clothes so that they could enlist” (Boyer, “Defining Nationhood”, p. 128). While men were out in the war the “women stayed home and managed families, households, farms and businesses on their own” (Boyer, “Defining Nationhood”, P. 129). For the Black Americans, it started to show others that slavery was not a good thing. “The war, nevertheless, presented new opportunities to African-Americans” (Boyer, “Defining Nationhood”, P. 130). “The slaves were even trying to escape as all the confusion that was going on and pose as a freeman” (Boyer, “Defining Nationhood”, p. 130). Even though the Revolution showed new opportunities to the African-Americans it “didn’t end slavery nor brought equality to free blacks, but it did begin a process by which slavery could be extinguished” (Boyer “Defining Nationhood”, p.
Johnson wrote about the Native Americans: when the war started they fought on the British side against Americans but Britain ultimately abandoned them. Zinn wrote about the fact that the Revolution had nothing to do with the slaves, and that the elites tried to convince white males to be a part of it. When this was not enough, they tried to convince poor people by offering them incentives of social status and money. For Zinn, American elites were pushing Britain away for their own benefit which excludes the Native Americans. The Americans believed the land was theirs, not the Native Americans. Moreover, the revolution eventually led to the end of the slave trade; it was the first of many steps. It also gave Black individuals the opportunity to have a voice and stand up for themselves. The constitution at the time did not recognize women, Native Americans, slaves or poorer
As the Revolution came to a close many of the people for the new Republic had thought there would be many changes that would have a great effect for their rights, this was very wrong however for the minorities. The American Revolution was not very revolutionary when it came to the changes for minorities because it took a very long time for their rights to be created more fair. In Document 5 we can see that it took 16 states 80 years to free their last slave after the American Revolution, some states took even more than that. To add on to that in Document 7, Abigail Adams asked John Adams to remember
In the beginning of September 2005, disappointment and excitement revealed on my face when I boarded the plane to move to the United States of America. The feeling of leaving my families, friends, school, clothes, and culture in Cameroon presented a hardship for me on this journey. Of course, I anticipated this new life because it indicated a fresh start. I envisioned it resembling life in movies, where everything appeared to be simple and life was simply excellent. All things considered, I was heading off to the United States, known for the American dream. To me it meant that everyone is given equal opportunity to prosper, achieve a family, and attain a successful job as long as they are hardworking and determined. I felt exceptionally honored and blessed to have this open door since I realized that it was not provided to everybody. Coming to America denoted my transitioning on the grounds that I deserted my previous lifestyle in Cameroon, began a new chapter in my life once again, and finally became a much grateful individual.
Immigrants were first welcomed in the late 1700s. European explorers like Walter Raleigh, Lord Baltimore, Roger William, William Penn, Francis Drake, John Smith, and others explored to the New World for religious purposes and industrial growth. The first European settlers that settled in the late 1700s were the Pilgrims. After the Pilgrims first settled in Virginia, the expansion of immigrants started. Then in 1860 to 1915, America was growing with its industries, technology, and education. America’s growing empire attracted many people from Europe. The factors that attracted many people to the American cities where job opportunities with higher income, better education, and factory production growth. As the population grew in the American
The American Revolution was a “light at the end of the tunnel” for slaves, or at least some. African Americans played a huge part in the war for both sides. Lord Dunmore, a governor of Virginia, promised freedom to any slave that enlisted into the British army. Colonists’ previously denied enlistment to African American’s because of the response of the South, but hesitantly changed their minds in fear of slaves rebelling against them. The north had become to despise slavery and wanted it gone. On the contrary, the booming cash crops of the south were making huge profits for landowners, making slavery widely popular. After the war, slaves began to petition the government for their freedom using the ideas of the Declaration of Independence,” including the idea of natural rights and the notion that government rested on the consent of the governed.” (Keene 122). The north began to fr...
Some Americans still believe that they are the “real” Americans. After the settlers completely conquered the America, they enslaved Native Americans, blacks, and Asians: Blacks were the biggest victims of American slavery. According to the textbook, “Created Equal,” the settlers, white people, started to “trade slaves” in 1680’s. This event illustrates that whites ruined blacks’ human rights and treated them as their properties. Black men “did not have the right to vote, and their children could not go to public schools” (Jacqueline el at. 2013, p. 228). Most black men “worked as farm hands or manual laborers” and most black women “worked as domestic servants or laundresses”. Because of this historical background, blacks are recognized as workers: whites are recognized as owners. Of course, these days, there are many black people whose work positions are higher than whites. However, in America, there is still a prejudice or stereotype of the people who have different skin tones since this historical event affect their beliefs. Also, whites were “seeing blacks as separate” because of their skin tones. This is paradoxical since white people do not think they are actually foreigners: they are not the indigenous people in America. Since black people were
As I boarded the plane to move to the United States, the beginning of September 2005, I couldn’t help but think about all that I left behind; My family, my friends, my school, my clothes, and all of the awesome cultural food. Then again, I looked forward to this new life, a new beginning. I imagined it being like life in the movies, where everything seemed easy and life was just beautiful. After all, I was going to the States; the place where most people only dreamt of. I felt very blessed to have this opportunity because I knew that it wasn’t given to everyone. Coming to America marked my coming of age because I left behind my old life, I started life afresh, and I became a much grateful person.
When African-Americans first came to America throughout the 18th and 19th century, they were slaves to white people. They had no rights and were not even considered a person,
It’s no secret that everyone in the world is born into a system of rules, norms, and everything in between. There is a constant cycle of life and death, with the expectations of the bodies we are born in building and acting around others and the expectations to help promote a society farther. The problem that we as humans are constantly coming to, though, is who exactly is in power and what makes up that power. Is there a duty that one owes to their nation in the way that they act or is it their own life to lead? Are humans living for themselves or for the promotion of something more? There has been a progression of time, changing to adapt the needs of the majority being executed whether or not it is beneficial to the minority. What it means
“You are in America, speak English.” As a young child hearing these words, it did not only confuse me but it also made me question my belonging in a foreign country. As a child I struggled with my self-image; Not being Hispanic enough because of my physical appearance and not being welcomed enough in the community I have tried so hard to integrate myself with. Being an immigrant with immigrant parents forces you to view life differently. It drives you to work harder or to change the status quo for the preconceived notion someone else created on a mass of people. Coming to America filled me with anxiety, excitement, and even an unexpected wave of fear.
The concept of identity is central to the conception of self. National identity is something that became increasingly important as the world became more integrated, as the various cultures of the world began to interact. The culture of the individual is thereby a concept that is constructed both internally and externally through interactions with one’s country and also the world around it. Herein, the concept of the American identity will be explored related to the period of 1870 to 1930. As will be demonstrated, over the course of this period, American identity became a concept that was particularly difficult to achieve for African Americans given the lingering racial tension and racism lingering from the Civil War.
Among every other country in the world, the United States of America is where people feel the most comfortable place to come and live a better life. Immigrants are people who leave their counties to reside in other counties that are rich and safe to better themselves. Every year people immigrate to the USA for many reasons. Many people are having difficulty living in their native country such as over population, jobless which make the economy so hard. People from outside of the United States think there is peace, love, equality, free education, jobs, good food to stay healthy, but most importantly freedom of speech to express yourself in America. Today, I will only focus on some reasons why people in my country immigrates to America. This is
Ever since I came to the United States, I have been influenced by the culture in many ways. I come from an island where there is no freedom of speech and where people do not follow their dream because they have few possibilities to achieve them. Also, people speak a whole different language. Arriving in the United States was scary; this country was different than anything I had ever seen before. I had to make new friends, I had to become used to speaking English, and It was hard to get used to the different atmosphere overall. Making new friends was hard at first, there were so many different people from different cultures and countries that I had no idea who to even talk to, but I was blessed to find my first friend in
I thought today’s course highlighted various aspects of my personality and my beliefs that I need to improve. Being a first generation American, there are is a great amount of pressure to succeed. This makes me lean more towards a type A personality in a work and academic setting. I realize that I fit many of the negative belief systems that we reviewed, such as having to be a perfectionist and having my earnings and stance define me. I found it insightful as it reflects a clash of cultures. Even though I come from a Latino culture where family comes first, assimilation to the American independent culture impacts me and my family’s expectations a great amount, but I believe that being selfish is wrong as family comes first. I think a great