Definition Essay: What Makes A Person An American?

What makes a person an American? For many people America is a symbol of freedom. This freedom that Americans contain really is at the core of what makes them American. “And the American people are the greatest people in the world. What makes America the greatest nation in the world is the heart of the American people: hardworking, innovative, risk-taking, God- loving, family-oriented American people.” As Romney said people are allowed to have their own religion, take risks, and they are really hard working, all of this comes from their freedom. Many people look up to Americans because of the qualities that they possess, and the opportunities that they are able to have. Americans are seen as being hard working, responsible, and happy. We as …show more content…
The legal definition of being an American is someone that was born in America or who has gained citizenship. Even if someone’s parents are not American their kids can be if they are born in America. Being born in America automatically makes someone an American. If someone is not born in America, however, they can still become and American. To do this they must take a citizenship test. This test covers the history of America and really challenges immigrants to learn about the country before they can actually become a part of it. For this reason the people who subject themselves to this test must study for a long time. They have to know a lot about the history of America, and what people went through while it was developing as a country. Many people would say that just being born in American does not make you an American. Some people think that being an American is more about how you feel than what you know about America. Being an American is a feeling of patriotism that cannot always be gained by simply being born or taking a citizenship test. This holds true for many people because being an American means so much more than some legal