Essay Sample on Defining Americans and Assimilating Immigrants in the United States

Introduction

Defining Americans and Americanizing the foreign-born individuals will build America's strength and assures success in the future conflicts. On the other hand, it is important to promote the Americanization of foreign individuals so that they can help fight the battles in the country either in the times of war or peace. According to Roosevelt ("Hyphenated Americans"), Americanization will help them talk in a language similar to that of the native-born American citizens, possess American citizenship as well as ideals. It ensures that they stand firm with an oath of allegiance in word and actions which promotes peace and unity among American citizens and ensures that they maintain the American standard of living to prevent labor disturbances, especially in critical times. Americanizing immigrants would help save resources of America because of the increased population. According to Senator Harris in the speech ("Shut the door"), a significant number of conflicts and wars are initiated by the desire for increased land ownership for the overflow of a congested community. Notably, increased population will result in reduced natural resources, however, putting a halt to immigration and Americanization the current foreigners in the country will put a halt to the current conflicts and help in the development of the country especially economically.

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The former President Theodore Roosevelt urges the American citizens to put a special effort in Americanization whereby they help to fuse different immigrants into the American ways as long as they have the required amount of literacy, need a common civil standard incorporating America's beliefs, ideas and customs and the need for a higher standard of living. On the contrary, Senator Harris from Georgia raised an argument to stop all immigrants coming into the country. He argued that the country does not need to tangle with those who imperfectly understand the genius behind the formation of the American government. Both of these arguments are persuasive whereby President Roosevelt urged Americans to welcome and Americanize immigrants while Senator Smith argued that America has had enough and should close doors for immigration to save the country's natural resources. As illustrated in Woody Guthrie's song ("This land is your land"), she would support President Roosevelt' idea of welcoming immigrants to the United States while she would disagree with Senator Smith's argument since she believed that American is a land made for everyone.

The Cold War

The Cold War was a state of geopolitical tension and conflicts between the United States with its allies and the Soviet Union with its satellite states that occurred five years after World War 2. The Cold War was a struggle for supremacy that took place for several decades and led to the death of a significant number of individuals. After the Second World War, men and women were anticipating a long period of peace, their minds are free from the difficulties and stress associated with war. However, the anticipated peace was replaced with the cold war. The world split into two with different individuals forming a substantial number of armed camps. There were conflicts and wars across the world that set civilization into its own destruction which highly redefined what it meant to be an American. There was the emergence of Communists who were willing to use violence and dictatorship to realize and explore their own ambitions.

Instead of making advance developments into its civilization, the American society was more indulged in fear and unrest during the Cold War. They became reluctant to trusting other individuals and focused on identifying Communists who hid among other individuals within a good-cause label. According to LOOK Magazine (How to spot a Communist"), a significant number of American citizens became addicted to checking credentials and affiliations and being more careful with everyone they associated with. These kinds of behaviors and actions brought many changes to the ideals and beliefs of what it meant to be a real American. In response to the growing anti-Communism in American society led to the emergence of the Second Red Scare. In the carton "You read books, eh?" by Herbert Block, he attempted to show that despite the citizens' attempts to end Communism, there were hidden Communists who had to do whatever it took to achieve their ambitions and goals. It showed that Communism was not nearly to an end since the two parties had different ideas and beliefs. Wisconsin Senator Joseph R. McCarthy used the speech "Enemies from within," to launch a full-scale attack upon Truman administration said to harbor Communists within the State Department. McCarthy started a spark that led to a moral uprising and influences individuals today, to promote honesty and decency in the government.

Common Problems in the American Society

America is the strongest and the wealthiest country in the world in terms of technology and health. The United States was originally driven by its emphasis on freedom, equality of each individual and a government by and for the people. However, over the years it has been confronted by a variety of problems affecting the growth of the country and its citizens. First, there is the permeating and victimizing issue associated with human degradation. Secondly, the emergent and the end of the Cold War raised awareness that American citizens could die at any time. Thirdly, America falls in the ambiguous and tradition-bound rather than informed and clear form of governance while its democratic system is manipulated and apathetic. Forth, there is increased racism in the country whereby the minority communities such the blacks and Hispanics are discriminated, abused and mistreated which hinders their success and progress. Lastly, a significant number of individuals especially immigrants are poor and their children are bound to receive little or no education which increases the number of uneducated individuals in the United States.

Tom Hayden's (Port Huron statement) in shows some of the issues affecting all citizens in the U.S. while Newton's and Seale's (Black Panther Ten-Point Program) and Caesar Chavez's (Letter from Delano) emphasizes on the problems faced by immigrants or non-origin citizens in the country. Hayden suggests that making values and social goals would help establish alternatives that would help mend the American society. As illustrated in Newton & Seale, the minority communities should form party and programs such as the Blank Panther Party to fight against discrimination and racism as well as for their rights and freedom. Lastly, Chavez suggests that laborers and workers should form activist groups to fight for civil rights especially among Hispanics who work in plantations in the South. From my understanding, arguments presented by Hayden, Newton 7 Seale and Chavez are not persuasive, rather they present some of the common problems in the United States and suggests how they can be solved to ensure the growth and development of American society.

Equal Rights and Amendment and Title IX of the Education Amendments

The Equal Rights Amendment was initially drafted by Crystal Eastman and was first proposed to Congress in 1921, however, it was not reviewed until 1972. Despite the initial widespread and bipartisan support, conservative opposition to the amendment grew significantly. Though the Congress extended its deadline for ratification until 30th June 1982, the amendment failed to be ratified by three-fourths of the states. The proposed amendment to the constitution of the United States suggested equal rights for men and women in the country. The Equal Rights Amendment significantly failed to make changes to the roles and rights of women in modern America unlike the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972 was signed into law by President Nixon on June 23, 1972, and has become of the most beneficial and effective pieces of modern educational legislation in the US. According to the Department of Justice, Title IX applies to a variety of federally funded education or school activities or programs. It does not only apply to the traditional education programs but also, to any education training or education program that operates as a recipient of federal financial assistance. Title IX of Amendment programs brought meaningful changes to the roles and rights of women in modern America society. In essence, it states that no person the in the US should be excluded denied benefits or discriminated under any education program or activity under the support of federal assistance based on their gender. On the other hand, after reading President George W. Bush remarks at the signing of the Americans with Disabilities (1990), I believe that America took a long period of time to acknowledge and protect the rights of the disabled because of the different individuals and their ideologies in the county. Some people believe that people with disabilities are unimportant to a society, therefore, it is not ideal to protect them or their families.

Maya Angelou's Inauguration Poem

Hyphenated American refers to Americans born outside the country. The poem "On the pulse of morning," was delivered by Maya Angelou during President William Jefferson Clinton's first inauguration in 1993. In her poem, she reflects some of the challenges faced by non-origin and hyphenated Americans in the United States. In the first line "A rock, A river, A river," reflects on America as a country which tends to offer a better life but fails to fulfill people's desires and dreams. As hyphenated Americans move to the country, they feel hopeful and confident in the opportunities available, however, they face unexpected challenges in their daily lives which hinder their progress. America enables different individuals including the hyphenated Americans to explore their abilities but it does not offer enough support to make them come true. Despite the many challenges encountered by hyphenated Americans and other minority communities, Maya believes that with courage, confidence, and determination, there is hope for a new beginning to all American citizens.

President Barrack Obama was a symbol of hope for many minority communities especially the blacks in the United States. In 2008, Obama gave a speech ("President-elect Barack Obama's Victory Speech") in Chicago to show his intentions during his governance. According to former President Barrack Obama, Americanism refers to the unity among the young and the old, the rich and the poor, both Democrats and Republicans, black, whites, Asian, Hispanics, Natives, straight, gay, disabled and not disabled citizens in the United States. Americans who are not just a collection of individuals built on diversity, but those who can fall and rise together. Being the first president of color, Obamas was determined to bring distinctive changes to the issues and crises surrounding the definition of an American citizen, however, his efforts and handwork remained futile. On the other hand, America has not progressed in its inclusiveness in the post-9/11 world. Over the years, there has been an increased fear in the United States among migrants especially when are excluded, bullied, harassed, and discriminated.

Work cited

Excerpt of Theodore Roosevelt's "Hyphenated Americans" Speech (October 12, 1915).

Excerpt of Senator Ellison Smith's "Shut the door" Speech (1924).

Guthrie, Woody. This land is your land. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2015.

"How to spot a communist," LOOK Magazine (March 1947).

Herbert Block "You read books, eh?" (April 24, 1949).

Senator Joseph R. McCarthy "Enemies from Within," (Feb. 9, 1950).

Hayden Tom "Port Huron Statement," University of Michigan (1962).

Newton...