The American Experience (Part 2)

Hello All!

So previously, I mentioned how my beliefs on the American Experience had changed from hard-work to determination. Recently we were assigned a research paper to write on the American Experience and include various pieces of evidence as support from different time periods as well as use a variety of sources. So here is my research paper -- hope you guys like it!!

Determination Research Paper

Determination; to be determined. What does that actually mean? Does that mean that someone strives to achieve a goal despite the odds they face? Or does that mean that someone tries and tries until they succeed. Either way you look at it, determination is a key characteristic that many Americans embody, and are able to achieve virtually anything because of this.

Through specific examples, some Americans may believe that a lack of motivation or pure laziness is proved to be the American Experience; while on the contrary, thorough research proves determination to be a key factor in the success of America.

From Bruno Mars’ song, “The Lazy Song” to books such as The Lazy Intellectual: Maximum Knowledge, Minimal Effort by Richard J. Wallace and James V. Wallace, Americans are known for their lazy habits of seeking the “easy way out” of things.

Although some research may display that Americans are lazy and unmotivated, the vast majority are not. Not every American you meet can be defined as a “couch potato,” when in fact; many Americans are extremely hard-working and dedicated to their jobs. Most Americans are determined to create their ideal life and will stop at nothing to get what they want most.

During the 17^th century, the Puritans were determined to escape religious persecution as well as change the government in which they were ruled under. As one of the first migrants to the Americas, the Puritans came without any knowledge of the foreign territory and the possible endangerments that stood ahead of them. They came to the Americas with one sole purpose in mind: to restart their lives. The Puritans were determined to “purify the state church of England of certain ceremonies and usages derived from the Roman Catholic Church” (Compton’s). The Puritans were so determined to purify the state church of England, even if that meant creating a new life, in a new land (the Americas). Their passion and desire to purify the church, as well as the government, showed their dedication and devotion to their religion as well as their determination. As a result, the Puritans were able to build a successful colony, Massachusetts Bay colony, based off the foundations of education, family, and most importantly, their ideal and “purified” religion. None of these successes could have occurred without the Puritans devotion to their culture and their relentless effort to create an ideal society.

Similarly to the Puritans, the colonists of Boston, Massachusetts had had their last straw with the repressive and controlling English Parliament. Determined to defy British rule, the colonists decided to disguise themselves as Native Americans and dump 2,000 chests of British tea into the Boston Harbor (Boston Tea Party). This was in response to the recently passed Tea Act, which taxed the colonists unfairly without representation in the British parliament. This act of rebellion was later known as the Boston Tea Party. The Boston Tea Party demonstrated American resistance towards the British through nonviolent, civil disobedience. This rebellion proved that the colonists would no longer stand for British tyranny and rule in America. Also, the Boston Tea Party showed that the American people would not be submissive to British rule anymore and were determined to rid of their authority in America by all means necessary.

Shortly after declaring independence from Great Britain, Americans were in a hurry to create a new government system that would later be turned into the document known as the Constitution. However, when trying to ratify the Constitution the Federalists, the group in favor of ratifying the Constitution and a strong central government, clashed several times with the Antifederalists, the group in favor of ratifying the Constitution only if there was a list of amendments included (“Antifederalists”). “Antifederalists feared that a Federalist system would inevitably lead to the same sort of corrupt system that the colonists had seen with the British” (“Antifederalists”). Therefore the Antifederalists were determined to prolong the ratification of the Constitution due to their strong belief that the Constitution needed a Bill of Rights in order to avoid returning to a British monarchy. Their headstrong attitudes and beliefs towards the ratification of the Constitution caused a compromise between the Federalists and Antifederalists which ultimately resulted in the creation of the Bill of Rights. If the Antifederalists had not been as determined as they were to get a Bill of Rights, our government system, as well as the laws we are required to abide by may not exist.

Finally, African Americans endured decades and decades of strife, unequal treatment, and several other human injustices. The March on Washington would be considered the largest political rally for human rights as it included more than 200,000 people, all gathered at the Washington Monument. “It was called the March on Washington for jobs and freedom, but it would be remembered as the turning point in the fight for civil rights” (King Leads the March on Washington). After years and years of trying to gain equal rights, both African Americans and whites joined together to protest peacefully the injustices of racial inequality. African American were determined to gain their full rights, if they were going to be considered citizens of the US. Despite the constant violence and racial slurs they had been exposed to, African Americans were persistent and persevered through the hate in order to receive what they deserved: equality. The March on Washington demonstrated that nonviolent protest and patience was the key to earning rights in America for African American citizens. It showed the determination and dedication of the American people to end racial injustices in American society. Additionally, the March on Washington displayed an organized and efficient method for African Americans and civil rights activists to convey their method to both the supporters and opposition forces of the civil rights movement. Through this they were able to show their persistence and determination to earn equal rights amongst all Americans was the key to their success.

Ultimately, Americans determination and perseverance is the key to their success. Time and time again Americans have been able to accomplish whatever they desire just by putting their minds to it. Whether Americans are running to escape religious persecution or fighting for racial equality, there sense of determination has always played a huge role in their ability to prosper and eventually accomplish their end goal.

 

Works Cited

“Antifederalists.” ABC-CLIO American History. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. <http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com>.

Boston Tea Party. Library of Congress. ABC-CLIO American History. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. <http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/>.

Compton’s. “Puritans.” eLibrary. Vers. 6.0. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 27 Jan. 2009. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. <http://www.elibrary.com>.

King Leads the March on Washington. History.com. A+E, Web. 19 Mar. 2012. <http://www.history.com>.