Freedom America example essay topic

Through out this nation's history the "American Dream" has varied greatly. During the time when Columbus arrived in America the thought or dream was that "life was richer, freer and better than they had ever known" (Columbus discovers... pg. 1). However, in reality The earthly paradise that Columbus had described turned out to contain snakes and malaria and fierce Indians (Columbus discovers... pg. 1), this is what they found when they landed. An English pioneer named Thomas More introduced this idea of Utopia, meaning "no place at all" or made up world. Utopia (his book) was full of guidelines and structure which helped "shape the American character" (Columbus discovers... pg. 1). Later in the 17th century a new American dream surfaced, this of religious and moral deliverance.

Likewise to the previous dream the reality at this time was savages still roamed the new land. The English believed that there was enough room for the two of them. Nevertheless, as the English population grew, so did their need for land. The English flocked to the new land to seek moral, economic and social salvation (Winthrop D. Jordan pg. 1). This was later referred to as the "great migration", (1620-1650). In Europe the puritans were persecuted for practicing a non-European religion.

On the other hand, when they relocated in America they were able to believe in what ever they wanted, hence "free". Behind the idyllic descriptions of the Indians lay their own memories of hardship and turmoil at home and their longing for something better (Columbus discovers pg. 1). Although, the new comers did find what the reality really was soon enough. They quickly realized that to survive they must work the land and make a living. Consequently, the puritans found that living free of persecution and harassment came at a cost. Still, more and more English arrived on the east shores seeking salvation in this New World.

Word was not reaching Europe about the sacrifice that came with achieving freedom, yet who knows if that would have turned them away. Also, some desired the New World because they were forced to fight agents their own volition in the English civil wars. Soon after, in the 18th to 19th century America has shifted gears and was now interested in settling in the west. This was known as the frontier period of this nation. At this time, the American Dream has also shifted.

The new stress was on nature and the wilderness. The idea of God being in nature drove people to become one with nature in an attempt to be closer with God. The romantics' fascination with the nature world as a symbol paralleled society's view of the potential to be found in the wilderness (William Goetz mann pg. 1). The pioneers who headed west were greeted with a vast area of land at their disposal. But what they didn't take in to consideration was the same Indians that they pushed out of the East Coast would be settled in the Midwest. With confrontation came feud, and with feud came fighting.

Although America prefers to brush aside the fact that they massacred a majority of the Indians it does not delude the terrible truth that they did. An English Philosopher named John Locke coined "state of nature" which people believed in as them having natural rights. The frontier gave followers the choice to understand the freedom and equal opportunity that they are given as Americans. By living hand and hand with nature one can start over or be "born again", throwing away titles and differences.

Here one is judged on their character and willingness. Still through the 19th century the frontier was going strong. Mostly due to the reality that one can succeed if they put the time and effort into it. Unlike the east, a man can work all day and be rewarded and lionized for his accomplishment.

Now, the emphasis is on technology rather than religion and escaping persecution. The American dream has altered in the 20th century to having a secure job, being and feeling safe, having ones children end up better than the previous generation, and having an education that will bring success. These would be the new guidelines to add Tomas More's book. America is not a great and powerful nation because the most brilliant and talented people came here. America is great and powerful because it was the ordinary people like you and me have had more opportunity and more freedom than any other people on the planet. With that opportunity and freedom, ordinary people like us have been able to do extraordinary things (Phil Gramm pg. 1).

When asked, an elder will ramble on about freedom and equality, but do they really think about it when they are not talking about it? This is a horrible truth to today. It has seemed that over the years the American dream has taken the back burner in many peoples lives. It takes a horrific event like the September 11th attack to make the citizens think about how far Americans have come.

When thinking about the American dream thoughts of or army, navy and marines in far away lands come up. How much they give for the people of the United States to be free is amazing. In The American Reporter web page there was an article written about the U. S Special Forces in Afghanistan. At the airfield, Rangers leafed behind an 8" by 10" sign reading "FREEDOM ENDURES" (Joe Shea pg. 1) This truly shows the common trend between all of the American dreams, and that is freedom. Without freedom America would not be America, which is what sets it apart from any other nation in the world. No matter it be the 15 hundreds or the 20th century, the statement "freedom endures" will always fit the role of the American Dream..