America For Americans: What America Means To Me

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“America, you great unfinished symphony, you sent for me. You let me make a difference. A place where even orphan immigrants can leave their fingerprints and rise.” you must have recognized this line from the well-known musical Hamilton. Alexander Hamilton, the bastard, orphan writes his way out to explore America from the Caribbean by being a self-starter and work harder. He perfectly exemplified the fundamental qualities of a self-made man, discover his path and social equality. Hamilton was also one of the American Founding Fathers, he studied and he fought and he killed, for the notion of a nation that he gets to build, then he drafted the “New US Constitution”, which had a significant influence on the development of American foundational thoughts.

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Similarly, these fundamental themes appear in some major literary works. America was founded upon independence, but as time flew by, the American people began to yearn for more, and so the individualism: of being independent and self-reliant, exploration: the act of searching for the discovery of information or resources, and social equality: which all people within a specific society or isolated group have the same status in certain respects ensued.

In Emerson Ralph Waldo's 'From Nature(1836)', Benjamin Franklin's 'Franklin Biography', and Frederick Douglass's 'What to a Slave is the Fourth of July?' writers emphasize that a central part of the American spirit is exploration, individualism, and social equality.

America represents a fundamental shift toward individualism from Franklin's early American concept of a self-made man. Franklin was always seen as a reluctant revolutionary for American, he is always motivated to become a better version of himself.

We can easily find his determined introspection through his biography, saying that: “I entered upon the execution of this plan for self-examination, and continuedd it with occasional intermissions for some time. I was surprised to find myself so much fuller of faults than I had imagined, but I had the satisfaction of seeing them diminish.” Benjamin Franklin was self-reflecting every day and realizing his shortcomings, but the increase in realization reduces his defects. Franklin valued self-improvement and was determined to find ways that he could develop himself, his constant self-perfection helps him become a better man in every way, meantime improves his persistence and other virtues. And according to Franklin’s words following, self-examination is a long term process, and it is absolutely fine if you did not reach your perfect goal, but you obtained lots of valuable experiences throughout it and he exclaimed: “But, on the whole, tho' I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavor, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it.” Franklin hasn’t achieved his wanted perfection but he is satisfied and happy that he became a better man throughout his trial. Franklin’s saying even though you cannot reach the perfect level that you ambitiously want to achieve, you still gained satisfaction and still become the man better than you were before, so it is worth it. And you can imagine the consequence if you persistent to practice those virtues for a considerable amount of time, even though you weren’t that perfect but you sure have reached some kind of level becoming a better man, and that’s what Franklin was talking about later in his biography: “and to the joint influence of the whole mass of the virtues, even in the imperfect state he was able to acquire them, all that evenness of temper, and that cheerfulness in conversation, which makes his company still sought for, and agreeable even to his younger acquaintance.” Under the combined influence of all virtues, even in imperfect conditions, one can still acquire these virtues, and his calm temper and pleasant conversation would enthrall everyone. Franklin’s saying even though you cannot reach the perfect level, not only can you gain gratification but also you can develop all other virtues which make you a calm and pleasant person to be around for everyone, and you should always be motivated to improve yourself in every way. In all, Franklin emphasizes self-improvement and is determined to find a way to develop himself. His constant self-improvement helps him become a better person in all aspects. You should always have the motivation to improve yourself in all aspects.

The concept of exploring our own extraordinary path for ourselves formed the foundation of our essential American belief in exploration. The core idea of transcendentalism is to advocate that human beings can transcend sensation and reason and directly recognize truth, emphasizing the importance of intuition. And Emerson, the thinker, and poet was the chief leader of this doctrine. “The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face; we, through their eyes. Why should not we also enjoy an original relation to the universe? ...The sun shines today also.” Emerson’s saying we’re seeing God and Nature through our ancestors' eyes. But shouldn’t we go explore and experience God and Nature ourselves. Emerson means that we should experience things by ourselves, not by our “ancestors”, we should have our unique path to relate to the universe. We should learn beyond what is told and put into actions and depend on ourselves, be a nonconformist. Emerson also suggests a unique understanding of explore yourself and transcend your sensation by alluding: “I become a transparent eye-ball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God.” Emerson becomes a transparent eyeball, he can observe everything and feels like he is the center of the universe and become part of God. Emerson alluded to his eye-ball as God. God sees observes but takes no actions like our eyes. And he’s asking us to observe nature through our eyes and to have an independent breakthrough in every way. Emerson asked us not only to observe with our sensation, but he also asked us to reflect on our lives with few other qualities Like he said: “but all natural objects make a kindred impression when the mind is open to their influences. … The flowers, the animals, the mountains, reflected the wisdom of his best hour, as much as they had delighted the simplicity of his childhood.” All-natural objects leave a similar impression when the mind opens its heart to them... Flowers, animals, and mountains reflect the wisdom of his best days, just as they rejoice in the simplicity of his childhood.” Emerson is suggesting that humans should recognize nature and be surrounded by their sensations and intuition. The rejoice of childhood is enthusiasm, and that is what men should have towards life-- the simplicity of childhood. And children love exploring which is a metaphor for America exploring ties that into the foundations of America. Emerson’s general view is that we should experience things ourselves and we should have our unique way to connect with the universe. We should learn to transcend other people's teachings, put them into action, rely on ourselves. It is suggested that human beings should know their nature and environment through their feelings and intuition. The joy of childhood is a passion, which is what people should have in life.

Frederick Douglass’s work enhanced the development of the American value of social equality. Now we are in a society where everyone is equal, but not in the old days. Benjamin Franklin is one of those who made a huge effort for nowaday's social equality. He profoundly discussed this issue in his National Day speech “What to a slave is 4th of July?”, which aroused social controversy and incisive discussion on that. “They believed in order; but not in the order of tyranny. With them, nothing was “settled” that was not right. With them, justice, liberty, and humanity were “final;” not slavery and oppression.” Slavery is a satire paradox. For peace and other qualities that fathers have always wanted, few fathers are slave owners. With this sarcastic speech, he tried to strengthen his argument on what is justice, freedom, and human nature. Also, Douglass claimed that since slavery can put men under their control, and one day this power will grow bigger and even threatened the non-slave people and he reprimanded us: “The power is co-extensive with the Star-Spangled Banner and American Christianity. Where these go, may also go the merciless slave-hunter.” The power Douglass is saying is the malicious power to control people. And since it could control slaves and the lower class, it might come to the powerful ones one day. The power is powerful enough to control men no matter what class you in. If we don’t stop this, the power’s going to take over everyone. When the underdog came to power, they will oppress the same way the old oppressors oppressed them. Even though Douglass claimed this kind of power will eventually take over all people, he also lights up our hope that there’s something that might change the situation and that is: “Knowledge was then confined and enjoyed by the privileged few, and the multitude walked on in mental darkness. But a change has now come over the affairs of mankind” At that time, knowledge was limited and enjoyed by a few privileged classes, and the public continued to move forward in the spiritual darkness. But now things have changed for humans. Now that people know, There are going to be a lot of changes that will support social equality. He looks forward to the future, believing in business and technological progress will disseminate information, enlightenment, and moral progress around the world. And Douglass’s main idea is that Douglass thinks independence itself is full of contradictions, power like slavery is enough to control men of color. If we don't stop this, power will take over everyone. But Douglass also brought us hope by suggesting the dissemination of knowledge brings about social equality.

While Ben Franklin’s Autobiography established the idea that individualism should be the notion of America, Emerson shows that people should explore and reflect and Douglass suggested social equality by giving the speech “What to the slave is 4th of July?” The United States represents a fundamental notion of Franklin's early American concept of starting from scratch to individualism. It lays the foundation for our explore and practice belief in the United States and emphasized the belief in ourselves. It lays the foundation for our exploration belief in the United States and emphasized the belief in ourselves. Because the foundations of American ideals not only affected people at that time but also today's society, these foundations have become the foundation of our founding as we grow up and learn about moral truths. Our secular viewpoints are based on the ideological foundations of America that have been polished over the centuries and refined by our forefathers, which have enabled us to have such a harmonious society as now.

Works cited

Chernow, R. (2004). Alexander Hamilton. Penguin Books.
Emerson, R. W. (1836). Nature. In Essays: First and Second Series. Library of America.
Franklin, B. (1791). The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Dover Publications.
Douglass, F. (1852). What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? In The Portable Frederick Douglass. Penguin Books.
Brands, H. W. (2000). The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin. Anchor Books.
Buell, L. (2003). Emerson. Harvard University Press.
Ellsberg, R. (1997). Benjamin Franklin: The Religious Life of a Founding Father. University of Delaware Press.
Foner, E. (2010). The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. W. W. Norton & Company.
Kaplan, L. (2017). Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. Simon & Schuster.
McFeely, W. S. (1991). Frederick Douglass. W. W. Norton & Company.