What is an American?

By definition an American is anyone who lives in or of origin to the Americas, both South and North. However many people believe that being American is living or being born in the United States. To me this answer is too simplistic. Is this all that makes someone American? On the one hand yes but is there something deeper that connects people and makes them American? One that disregards the fact that Americans live in the Americas? What are the qualities we, Americans, share?

Earth has existed for about 4.6 billion years and America is just a little baby in comparison by it being only 200 years old. In the beginning America was in habited by Native Americans/Africans; then came the English settlers and over time other cultures and races immigrated to form a better lives. When a government was established it was one that provided liberty and the pursuit of happiness; this government has lasted for a long time and still sticks to those same principles. As a result of this way of life/government, America has reeled in so many different types of people, and is known as the “melting pot” of the world. Many immigrants come to America because they may have been persecuted or poor and are looking for freedom, jobs, and a life in which they can succeed.

Over the years Americans, specifically from the United States, are people who are all descendants from those who, at some point, emigrated from their homes to form a better life. They were all in the search of the American dream (the idea that one could go from rags to riches with hard work), ways to make profit from land, or an escape from injustice. So when asked what an American is, in the words of Drake, who I think said it best would describe Americans as people who “started at the bottom” and are now here, at the top, because of their hard work.