What Is America, And What Makes An Amerikan

"What is America, and what makes an American"

Claus Schmidt

What is America?

Since it's discovery, America was compare to Europe an "experiment" of modern times. America is a immense country, that consisted of nature and aborigines 400 years ago evolved within this short time frame to the melting point of different cultures, traditions and behavior that come from all corners of the world to seek a better life, freedom from their government, religion. This is why it is called the land of opportunities. Today America is, after the "Cold War" which became the World's superpower. In order to seek the answer to the question „What is America?", we should flick back the pages of time.

America is largely based on Western culture with influence from the native peoples, the African slaves, and more or less from immigrants from Asia and other parts.

From my point of few are two fundamental requirements that are responsible for such a development the USA from a immigration country to its current position as superpower nation. First of all, I would like to point out the diverse varieties of climate environments, which the United States is in. This favors the crop production and other branches of the agriculture, which leads to a relative high abundance of these goods. That not only supplies US market, but these products are also exported to other parts of the world. Further on, the United States is surrounded by tow large oceans, situated between Asia and Europe which gives them economic and strategically advantages. Where as Europe for example, due to countless wars which made it untamable, gave the US after the "independent war", time to develop without any interference from the outside.

In earlier history of the United States, immigrants who came mostly from Europe, imported the ideas of democracy and equality which where embossed in the fundament of the government that was formed. As Calvinists, they preferred a hierarchical order, and in their pioneering crusades into the west, they proved bravery and responsibility, which was later a great contribution to the independence efforts. This behavior is fixed in the American constitution. And this historical event can still be found in the fact that an American has the tendency to challenge new things. That as a result, makes inventions and investments easier to be carries out.

America has also a diverse and interesting history and shows the dynamic of the American society. After the two big wars in Europe and Asia and the 400 years long history, one thing to point out are the 60ies and 70ies of the last century that had a crucial influence on the history of the United Stares. They where embossed of the first civil rights movements of the „colored population". A strong development that opposed the at that time Vietnam war, and the later following Women rights- and Homosexual movement. The Watergate affair, lead to the loss of trust in America, in which it's politics reflected a distorted image.

America is nowadays a superpower in the fields of Military, Economics, Sciences and not to forget Culture has made foreign relations an especially important topic. Admittedly, the tragedy in 2001 on the World Trade Center shows that even such a super power like America is vulnerable, which lead to a shock.

What makes an American?

Does he or she exist - the typical American? Probably not, the question about, distinguishes and American can be only be considered „generally speaking", since as in any other country a large numbers of personalities and different personalities exist. When I ask my American classmates in my university in Germany and France what means to be an American citizen, you will get an array of answers: rights and freedoms, the ability to vote, or the attachment and pride one feels for the United States. Maybe I could expose this, when I point out the differences to a attitude of a German.

The Americans are considered as uncomplicated, friendly and helpful. It is easy to get into contact, and addresses are easily exchanged. Remarkable is that many Americans have an optical prevailing mood, they find everything "great", "splendid", and "phantastic". In many times, the politeness is being used as a flowery phrase "How are you?" - "Thank you fine.". It would be a mistake to speculate an interest based on such figures of speech. It is best to evince the other side that everything is „great", eventhough when it isn't.

Compare to Europeans were have to know about the hole world,