American Identity

Advanced Placement U.S. History was a class in which I discovered many different, significant concepts, relevant to not only this nation’s history but also to the way in which society today operates. One of the most profound and thought-provoking concepts we constantly undertook was the concept of the American Identity. What is a genuine American Identity? Or can one concrete definition even be prescribed?
We analyzed the stories authored by Horatio Alger, which share the common theme of “rags to riches”; the preconceived notion of the early 20th century that any hard working and dedicated man can easily climb the social ladder here in America. However, as we read along we would stop and have conversations debating Alger’s theory of how one can become prosperous in America. We discussed two sub points, access to opportunity versus self help. To what extent was the success of the wealthy Americans at the time, such as Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller, success earned by hard work or success which was given to them through certain opportunities. Furthermore, Alger’s theory was one shared by not only many Americans, but also, shared by a large majority of the world. America was seen (and arguably still is seen) as a beacon of hope and opportunity to all those in impoverished nations. One can see this as a fact because during the time when this theory became widely accepted (late 1800s- early 1900s), the number of people immigrating to America proliferated greatly. In fact, the late 1800s was the time in which more people from around the globe started to immigrate to America in mass, in contrast to only the Northwestern Europeans as before. This is the time when America received a tremendous influx of Chinese, as well as individuals from Mexico and Southern America.
The question of an American Identity became an issue largely tackled by the authors of the early 20th century, namely the Women’s Rights Movements and Harlem Renaissance authors. To a degree, America’s questions of who it was are owed to the influx of immigrants from around the world. For the first time, the term “American” was being given to men and women of color; “yellow” “brown” and “black”. Unfortunately, this sparked a number of violent physical and emotional clashes between the characteristically-typical Anglo Saxon community and the newly formed “colored” Americans.
This concept of the American Identity intellectually excites me because of all the social struggles and lives devoted, and that continue to be devoted, to answering this one question. The many social movements: for rights of equality, to vote, to live freely, to end wars, and so on, that have taken place in America have by great measure been centered on the question of who Americans are. Are we a nation where yes, all men and women are created equal, a nation where war is but our last resort not our first decision to combat a problem, a nation where any hard working person can someday receive great success?