Letters from an American Farmer free essay sample

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 SST. John Occurred, 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 todays world, it seems that becoming an American then was much simpler then, than It is today.The function of an American Is always evolving due to the Influences of our changing nation. During a simpler time, Occurred defined an American as someone of European descent with great ambition but as the times have changed, so has the definition of an American. J. Hector SST. John Occurred created his own definition of an American when he first came to America. We will write a custom essay sample on Letters from an American Farmer or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page After living here for some time he got a good sense of what it meant and/or took to be an American. Since most people entering the country during the 18th century came from Europe, Occurred thought this to be an Important attribute for being an American.He Is either an European, or the descendant of an European, hence that strange mixture of blood, which you will find in no other country (De Occurred 262). He saw that those Europeans were coming to America because of how they were treated in their home countries, especially a lack of respect for their natural born rights. Due to religious persecution, many Europeans came to America, where they believed that they could practice whatever religion they pleased. [T]o the right, lives a Catholic who prays to God as he has been taught and believes In transubstantiation_. _ his belief, his prayers, offend nobody (Occurred 265). Americans believed in freedom of religion and did not find the reason in persecuting someone that was doing them no harm. An American was someone who was willing to let go of his or her old ways and start anew by leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices, and manners, receive[inning] new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds (Occurred 262). They were open to American Ideals, such as freedom of religion and freedom of speech. America welcomed anyone who would ark hard to achieve their dreams and strive for their goals.Compared to the 18th century, people who enter the united States, today, are also looking to start anew; and are looking to work hard for their rights. America still believes in freedom and in being the land of opportunities even though time has changed some of Americas Orlando ideals. Nowadays, becoming an American Is not as simple as entering America and obtaining land. For example, there Is the process of applying for citizenship, something that has now become a big part of defining an American. Hundreds of thousands of people per year apply for citizenship, yet not many people are granted the opportunity to become one.Anonymous shared their story online and said, l never once thought immigration would affect me, until I realized that laws change and If you are Just a resident here You have no protection (Defining American). Immigrants feel citizens have more rights than people who are Just questions about the United States and what its founders had set as its ideals. Though, with patience, an immigrant can become an American within a few years. Of rouser, it isnt as quick of a process as it was then, but it still is something worth celebrating.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. Id 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 efferent 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. l 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 quote is similar to Crossovers thought that Americans [A]re all animated with the spir it of assn industry which is unfitted and unrestrained because each person works for himself (De Occurred 261). As Americans, we are all qualified to receive our rights, such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the freedom to succeed. However, it is believed that these rights apply to all human beings, thus resulting in the immigration of people from other nations, because they want their natural rights to be acknowledged. There are many different definitions of what makes a person an American. The definition is always changing; whether its expanding or Just being tinkered with. Occurred had an idea of what makes an American, and compared to what would make an American today, he was to that far off.During the 18th century, what was considered a somewhat simpler time, an American could have been anybody. All a person needed to become an American was to arrive on American soil, believe in natural rights, have the ambition to work for his or her dream; and most commonly, be able to obtain land. Nowadays, to become an American, one must go through a process that will entitle them a citizen. A person could come from anywhere in the world, and to gain the title citizen would be what grants them the established natural rights of a human without them Ewing ignored or dismissed.