Charles Rangel, United States Representative of New York once said “America was born as a nation of immigrants who have always contributed to its greatness.” When the United States were still just colonies, the people there were not Americans. They were persecuted Protestants, oppressed Irishmen, and tormented Germans to came to America to escape conflict. Over time, these people became Americans through their actions and growing unity. Crèvecoeur was a Frenchman who immigrated to America and wrote “What Is an American?” in 1782 on the characteristics he felt defined an American in that time period. Crèvecoeur's definition of an America is no longer relevant in modern day times due to the lack of religious freedom and the fact that America
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To gauge how much opportunity people have to move up the class ladder, researchers can trace how close the earnings of fathers and sons are. Economist Isabel Sawhill says that “In fact, America is now classified as ‘a low-mobility country in which about half of parental earnings advantages are passed onto sons’” (qtd. In Smith 1517). This quote illustrates that America no longer has opportunities for its citizens to ascend through social classes. Without these opportunities, it is difficult to move anywhere, so therefore the once alterable class system has now become a rigid structure. A chart on this same phenomenon reveals the numbers behind this situation: it says that during the ages of 19-29, those individuals who are ‘normal’- living independently, with a college degree have 76% to continue along an advantaged life, and 24% chance to shift off track, while those already disadvantaged at the same age have only a 38% chance of getting ‘on track’, and a 62% chance of continuing on the disadvantaged path. (Sawhill Searle Winship 1523). This is solid evidence agreeing with the previous statement, as one can see that it is easier to stay off track as time goes on, and easier to stay on track when already on
To gauge how much opportunity people have to move up the class ladder, researchers can trace how close the earnings of fathers and sons are. Economist Isabel Sawhill says that “In fact, America is now classified as ‘a low-mobility country in which about half of parental earnings advantages are passed onto sons’” (qtd. In Smith 1517). This quote illustrates that America no longer has opportunities for its citizens to ascend through social classes. Without these opportunities, it is difficult to move anywhere, so therefore the once alterable class system has now become a rigid structure. A chart on this same phenomenon reveals the numbers behind this situation: it says that during the ages of 19-29, those individuals who are ‘normal’- living independently, with a college degree have 76% to continue along an advantaged life, and 24% chance to shift off track, while those already disadvantaged at the same age have only a 38% chance of getting ‘on track’, and a 62% chance of continuing on the disadvantaged path. (Sawhill Searle Winship 1523). This is solid evidence agreeing with the previous statement, as one can see that it is easier to stay off track as time goes on, and easier to stay on track when already on