We found that the 1790 census challenged a lot of our American farmer's assumptions and observations about what an American is. Does that mean the American farmer was lying about his experience? When we looked at the 2000 census, then listened to Barack Obama speak about American identity, we might have seen some connections and some contradictions.
Here are some questions to think about. These questions are big...they might even prompt more questions that we'll need to consider. Review your texts and if you'd like, revisit Obama's speech included here on the blog. Then, please post your reflection as a comment on this post.
- Having seen and discussed four different texts on who is an American, what is your thinking now? How do we decide who is an American? Who gets to decide?
- What do the personal narratives tell us that the data doesn't? What does the data tell us that the personal narratives don't? And...what's the truth?
And...go!
After listening to the conversation that we had during class the idea of who is an American still stays the same in my mind that an American is any peroson who has the idea of making sure that all deserve the same right to live in a free nation. As far as who can deside who is an American and who can't is all up to the individual who is asking the question to themselves. The data gives us cold hard facts in the way of numbers as the personal narratives only tell us from that person's perspective. But the data doesn't tell what those people whose number is represented in the census really belive how the country is run.
ReplyDeleteWe are all Americans. we have blended together over the years. nationality and heritage have become something that we are disconnected from because we are third or fourth generation kids who didn't really grow up thinking like hey i'm Irish or i'm Italian and have those different customs. we do say like i am Irish but it doesn't mean the same thing as if my great grandfather where to say it.
ReplyDeleteMy view on who is an American has remained the same since our class discussion. I know that an American is someone who has come to this country to find a better life, to seek education, food and a job. Now, nobody decides who gets to be an American, if a person wants to become one, they can. They have a reason for coming to America (being first generation, I understand the hardships of being and immigrant and how difficult it is to become some how "Americanize" themselves so they can blend into the American society). The personal narratives tell us only one person's view of America, but Obama's view is shared in common with the majority of people. The data is just facts stating information, it show how much of a certain group of people live in the United States. The truth is that everything has their own opinion as to whom they consider an American.
ReplyDeleteToday in class, we looked over the census data and we went the Crevecouer letter and also watched the Barack Obama speech. Not one person can tell who is an American, only yourself can too you if you are an American. An American is someone who lives in our nation and lives their life with freedom. My thinking is similar to what it was before, but I understand this topic more. The data gives us facts, but can't really decide the perspective from each individual.
ReplyDeleteI think anyone that lives here legally is an American. People that come here are Americans they are looking vfor a better job and life and they think that they can get it here. Most of them are not looking for a better life for them but they are looking for a better life for there kids. Everyone here had an ancestor that was once an immagrant unless they are fully Native American so then we can't really judge people for coming here. They are just looking for a better life than what they had in there home country. In Obama's speech he says that when someone is violated and not given the same rights as a someone else then he feels like he has been violated because everyone was once the same and just because of you nationality, you get different rights. He thinks that as Americans than we should all get the same rights as everyone else. These are wasy that we are all Americans if we live in America.
ReplyDeleteTo me personally, anyone who is a legal citizen of the United States of America is an American; anyone who has come from another country and LEGALLY entered our country. On the other hand, anyone who is ILEGALLY here, is not an American Citizen, in fact, they are criminals of the Federal Law. I believe that the laws and Constitution gets to decide upon who is American, and who is not (Like I just said..). The people get to decide, through their say in voting and such (as the laws and Constitution say so.).
ReplyDeleteThrough the personal narratives of many lives of immigrants, we can see that they all wanted to come to America for more freedom and better wealth and prosperity. In the medieval ages and on to about the mid 1600s, the people of England were getting fed up with the king that powered over them. Monarchism was not a pretty site. The King made the many people of England worship Catholicism (Christianity). But, a group of Puritans (being a different religion) stood up to the King, and decided that they wanted their religious freedom. So, in the mid 1600s, these Puritans (so-called Pilgrims) traveled over the atlantic and landed onto the land that we call today "Massachusetts." Here, they set up their own colonies (with the King still leaning over them with his various taxes and such.) So, being sick of all of the taxes and soldiers from the King, the Puritans (now called Americans, or, Colonists) wrote a rebellious letter called the "Declaration of Independence." This one letter traveled all the way over the sea, and landed in the King's hands. This led to a war that would bring the United States of America on to the map.
So, what I really am trying to say here is that through our own personal experiences (through many generations) we have all had our own thoughts of the American Dream, as immigrants from various countries; bringing upon the many influxes of people from all over the world to all follow the American Dream, and to be free and become prosperous.
I think that anyone who comes here becomes an American, whether legal or no. Yes, immigrants will come into the country without any papers or evidence that they once lived here, but all the same, they look for the very thing that everyone in America wants: a new beginning. We make laws that sometimes strangle the freedoms of a certain group, while they also benefit those who have lived in the United States all their lives. I don't think it's up to us to decide who is an American and who is not. I believe that people who come here looking for freedom should be allowed their freedom when they thought they had none. People look for new beginnings here, and no matter what class we are, we all hope for better lives; a life that will make everything seem worth it in the end.
ReplyDeleteObama said that when people's rights are violated, so are his. We are a United Nation of different nationalities, genders, and ethinicities. He also said that even if you're are a skinny kid with a weird name, there is a place for you here. Everyone deserves equal treatment, and I believe that America really should be a place were people can go to start over. The census also gives us numbers of populations from 1790 and 1890, but nothing more, so it's up to us to decide what was missed in Crececouers article and what wasn't. He never mentioned black slaves, or Asian people coming to America, so he was really only focusing on his own life accounts and not those of other people.
To me the American dream has remained the same since Crevecouer’s time. In the excerpt he tells of all the different nationalities that come to occupy America. Still today America is made of all those different nationalities. America itself does not have a specific nationality, the nationality is living the American dream. The rights of freedom and equality that Americans have give way to being able to accomplish anything. Still remaining in my mind is that the true American dream is being given equal opportunities to succeed, just as Crevecouer was in 1790, the freed slaves were in 1890 and still today in 2010.
ReplyDeleteI think that anyone living in America is an American. It shouldnt matter where we came from, if we came here legally or not. If you live here in america and believe in the ideals of the country then i believe you are an american. In the end when you think about it, when our country was first started it didnt matter where you came from because at that time all the people living in america had to have immigrated from somewhere. No one gets to decide who an american is, the decision belongs to that person, every person should get to decide for themselves what country or nation they think the belong to.
ReplyDeleteThe personal narratives of crevecouer just tell us what he knew at the time to be true, i suppose that because he came from Europe that he believed the majority if people coming to live in america were european too. but as time went on when looking at the census it showed that crevecouer was wrong and that people from all nations and backgrounds were coming to america it wasnt really any specific type that was doing it at the time that he had suggested. The data from the census tells us alot more than what the narratives told us i think, the data lays out the facts or the estimated facts about what kinds of people were living in america at those times. The truth is within the census.
After reading all of our texts, and American to me is someone who lives in America, looking for a better, and more successful life. American is not determined by your skin color or job or view, it's up to themselves to determine if they are.You should not let anyone else tell you what you are, because only you know. The data gives us the facts but the personal narrative tells us the experience from different peoples views from living in America, or what it's like living here.
ReplyDeleteAfter the discussion, I believe that no matter what or where the person comes from, the minute they set foot on American soil they become an American. I think that the decision lies within the person themself. It's not up to anyone else to decide whether you are American or not. If a person is truly an American, they will know it themselves. Americans can't simply be the people who were born here because somewhere along the line, everyone's anncestors came from another part of the world.
ReplyDeleteThe personal narrative tells us a person's perspective on how the U.S has changed and what an American is. Where as the data only shows us cold hard facts and statistics about who the U.S considers to be an American. I, myself am not even quite sure of what the truth is. The truth can be percieved differently by certain people, and it may take a while until I can wrap my head around what the truth is.
I think that anyone who comes to America, lives by the American Constitution, and chooses to live the American way of life can be considered an American. You do not have to be a naturalized citizen to be considered an American. My grandparents are not Americans by birth, but they have chosen to live the life of an American by raising their family here, becoming citizens, and positively contributing to the American society.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the census from 1790 and 1890, the varied population demographics changed immensely. Originally, most of the people were from England, but after ten years passed more people from all around the world came to America to fulfill what they believe is their American Dream. The personal narratives, versus the data, tells us that some people consider themselves Americans even though they are not actual citizens of the United States. Even if the person is an immigrant, they are still part of the American society. They have the same rights as we do, even if they come from a different background and a different nationality. The data, in comparison to Crevecour's narrative, tells us the cold hard facts of life in America back then.
An american is any person that is in the country as a citizen. People that come here by swimming across rivers and jumping fences are not rightfully american. Altough nowthese people arebeing treated like americans they are not citizens. An american citizen is someone who was either bor in the U.S orhas gone through the right amount of paperwork so that they can live here and and function as a memver of society. I heard in the news a couple of months ago that someone said "its not illegal to be illegal in massachusetts" and i thought have they ever heard themselves talk before. That person was saying that illegal citizens should get all the same rights as the people that worked to become citizens and qualify for the benefits of this country. As for the people that get to decide this, they are the national government. They get to decide whther or not people are allowed into this country legally.
ReplyDeleteWhat Christina just said stuck out to me, "I dont think its up to us to decide who is an American and who is not." I also agree with Ryan, and if you want to be an American you can be. Its all in your hands. I honestly think that to be an American, there are no limits. Our population now, as compared to both 1790 and 1890 is so diverse. the census made it seem as though everyone was an America back in 1790/1870. Over the years slavery was abolished and slaves became in the group "coloured," which in my eyes allowed the coloured to be Americans, and also show that many races were now tolerated.
ReplyDeleteThe personal naratives showed us a point of view from a man who believe that like what brian said, "we have all blended together" through the years. this shows that even back in the 1790s America has been a safehouse for many different races, all looking to exist in the same place. And in America its all possible because they just want to get by in life and live the American dream!
An american is anyone who decides to live in this country. it shouldn't be determined by race, or background, or where they came from. Being an american is part of being part of a country. We shouldn't be able to decide who is an American. to me that doesn't even sound right. a person should get to decide whether or not they want to be an american and part of our country.
ReplyDeletethe personal narratives tells something from the opinion of someone. the data tells us realistic and logical facts of what it was really like back in that time. the truth is, that the world is constantly being blended together with people of all different kinds.
I think an American is someone living in our country that appreciates America and the opportunities we have. After reading the censuses and Crevecours letter, I think that Americans are made up of a lot of nationalities. And there are very few native born Americans, so most of us come from different places. But Brian is right, today we have lost our heritages. Today, we are all just Americans, we are not Irish-americans or italian-americans, we're just Americans. And in class my group talked about how nationalities have been generalized. Crevecour did the same and only talked about the Europeans coming to America, he left out slaves and asians. But everyone here is American.
ReplyDeleteI believe that an American is someone who is living in America legally. This means that they have either grown up in America or have earned the right to be a legal citizen. When someone goes through the process of becoming an American this shows that they truly value the opportunities here. Meanwhile, when someone is raised in America they should respect all that we have here.
ReplyDeleteIn some aspects no one gets to decide who is an American since people have the right to become one. On the other hand, the government has the power to create the tests to become a legal citizen.
The data shows the variety in America and how over the years our country has become more diverse. It does not show people's opinions about the country though. Although, the personal naratives don't show us the diversity they show how our country sticks together. Obamas speech was an example of this showing how he cared about every single person in America no matter who they were. The truth is the data and personal beliefs add together to show what living in America is like.
I think that American’s are anybody who is raised in America. If you move here when you are twenty, you don’t yet have the American experience. Then again, after living here for another ten years, you could pretty safely call yourself an American because you would have adapted to the American ways of life. So, maybe a real American is someone who is either raised here or has lived here for a while. And in that case, you would choose whether you are an American based on how quickly you adapt. More technically, an American is somebody who has American citizenship. Somebody either born in the U.S. or living here with a visa. In this case, the government decides who is an American.
ReplyDeleteThe personal narratives tell us what one person felt and thought about America. Crevcoeur’s excerpt is from one person’s perspective, and is not very factious piece. Matter of fact, it is somewhat misleading and makes it seem that the immigrants are only from Europe. The data is more precise and lists raw facts that we know are the truth. The truth is that not all the immigrants were from Europe. Also, the Census includes slaves and colored people, which Crevcoeur leaves out. So, the data is definitely more useful than a personal narrative when looking for facts. On the other hand, if you are looking to get a feeling for somebody’s experience and thoughts, then a personal narrative is more fitting.
People, though Americans, have no real way to say who is an American and who isn't. Maybe it's by how long you've lived in America. maybe it's papers. Maybe it's blood. I'm an American. I was born here. I was raised here. I have barely even left here. But that doesn't mean that a person who was born in, say, Spain, who moved to America isn't an American. they probably have the paperwork to say they live here. but the paperwprk doesn't matter. Illegal imegrants. just by looking, can you really tell the difference? not really. I can't. not that'd I'd know even if I did meet one.
ReplyDeleteAn American is undefinable. you have to have lived in the country at some point but the amount of time doesn't matter. you have to understand a bit about the culture but conforming doesn't matter. the term American is vague. We are Americans. We are everyone and no one. we are here. the censuses can tell us our heritage and our jobs. it can tell us that there are peopel from different nationalities living amongst us but it means nothing. the point of view of one person doesn't define Americans. the census tell us facts that are proven through our pasts, our present, our blood. I coyuld have been born in Canada. if i'd moved here there are chances that i would say. i'm an American. i'm also a Canadian. definition is possible only to those who through away the rulebook and look at the country with an open mind. We are americans. we don't care where we came from. our religions, though important to us, have no definition as a group. race is blurred. religion is almost moot because you can be what you want. i could say i was from englad. who'd be able to tell if i wasn't. america has no blood of it's own. it's all borrowed blood. the native blood has long since weakened. nobody and everybody is an american.
I think that everybody who lives in the US is an american. Whether they are a citizen, just stopping in to see the american dream, or an illegal immigrant. We have all blended together over time, as Crevecour said "melting". All nationalities and religions have come together and we are all americans, working to reach our idea of the American dream.
ReplyDeleteThe narrative gives specific data and opinions on a specific person, while the data gives facts about the broad ideas, that can then be used to figure out other things, such as slavery being abolished, but black people still not being able to go to school.
After reading the different views on the American citizen i have a new perspective on what and who really is an american. Before i just thought an American was anyone who had citizenship, but seeing a bigger picture now i realize that not everyone believes that. Some people base who an American is based on appearence, others on what people believe in. But really on everyone can decide for themselves who they think are Americans.
ReplyDeletePersonal narratives tell us personal observations that the everyday person see's. Its a more personal look then just numbers in a column. The data gives us the facts without a bias. And while the people might not agree with the data it can't lie. The truth is most likely somewhere in the middle. Its a place between what straight data and personal experiences show that is truth.
The American, to me, is someone who loves the United States and stands for its principles. Regardless of their nationality or ancestry, an American should be considered an American by his love for this country. If you think about it, we're all descended from immigrants. Because the United States is considered a melting pot of immigrants, the American result is a combination of everyone else. Obama basically said this when he was talking about the different people and groups who make up the United States of America. He was right about how no matter how different we are from each other, we all deserve the same American rights because we love this country. Similar to Crevecouer, I guess that the person to decide whether or not someone is an American, besides the government, is the person themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe personal narratives tells us that the American comes from all over Europe. However, from the 1790's census, it tells us that most of the Americans at that time came largely from Great Britain. Also, the 1890's census shows that a considerable number of Americans came from Asia as well. An interesting thing about the Crevecouer text was that he didn't mention slavery. In the census of 1790, slaves were counted. However, in the census of 1890, the slaves were changed to using the terms "colored" or "negro". It seemed like the terms changed as more freedom was being given over time. Along with the label changes, the 1890 census was also more specific and had more states than the 1790 census. For example, "Persons born at sea" was listed. That was not in the 1890's census. Crevecouer's text may have been inaccurate mainly from assumptions. Everyone is prone to assumptions about things and I can imagine how Crevecouer could have thought that the American was from all over Europe. The actual origin of the American is, however, much diverse than just "all over Europe".
The four texts have shown me that an American is a person that is legally a U.S citizen. These people can be raised in America or have claimed the right to be a citizen here. The dicitonary.com version of citizen goes like: "a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection ( distinguished from alien)." This shows that American's are protected by the country. Anybody can choose whether they want to become an American Citizen, they just have to earn it.
ReplyDeleteThe personal narrative shows us the real life experiences of living in America. What the personal narratives don't show us is the diversity based on statistics in America. The data shows the different types of people living in America, and how the statistics have changed. This lacks peoples personal experiences and opinions of living in America though. The truth is a combination of these two and together they sum up the experience of living in America.
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ReplyDeleteDe jure, anyone who was born on an American territory or in the continental U.S. is an American citizen. I stand by our government's policy on enforcing the immigration and citizenship laws. They're very liberal - given you abide by the simple laws themselves. Our country has done many great things for its citizens and we owe many favors to our government. Illegal immigrants coming into the country are not abiding by our laws; it's as simple as that. On a more moral issue, anyone who has the self-interest to advance themselves to greatness should be allowed into a country. Greatness doesn't need to be a scientist either, it can be a hard-worker. People who work construction are just as hard of workers of people who are considered to be bureaucrats. It is up to the "American" if they are fit enough to be a citizen of this great nation. No matter what any narratives say, the fact of the matter is that America is a melting pot. It's growing into the cultural center of the world. Numerous races are allowed to come and merge here and live a successful life.
ReplyDeleteThinking about the discussion today we had and the texts we have read I believe that many things can make you defined as an American. An American is a person who comes to the United States for the better. Every body in America just wants the American dream that’s what we are all her for. We all are a mixture of different people here for one purpose. To live a life of happiness. No one gets to decide who gets to be an American. The person who wants to live in America gets to decide.
ReplyDeleteData gives us what people only want to see not the other half of the story. When we have a narrative it gives us a different perspective on how people live in America and what they consider is American. Now when we look at data, data is just a way people categorize each other but the thing is we are all here for a purpose as I said before to be happy and live the American dream that’s the thing that data can’t express.
I think that an American is anybody who leaves their past life behind to come to America in the hope of improving their lives.
ReplyDeleteThe differences between the data and the personal accounts are that the data is an impersonal collection of numbers, while the personal accounts are first-hand interpretations of the American Dream.
I believe an American is someone who is looking for a better life and a better life for their kids. I also agree with Obamas speach about how everyone can be American and we all come to America for the same goals, because in America we are all free to be who ever we want to be and become whatever we want to be. In America we are all equal, no one is better or a minoirty. I feel like who gets to deside who is American is the person in America that believes in equality of others and being here for the same reason their ansestors came to this country, and anyone can decide if they are American or not. They could be pariotic and love this country, or just want this country to help them get back home.
ReplyDeleteThe personal naratives show us the view of someone who is an American. They give us a inside look of their life at that time and what it was really like to be an American. In the data it just shows us how many percent there was of a certian person or how many slaves were owned by farmers. The data also showed us how the country grew over time with the growth of population from immagrants from other countries, and the ending of slavery. Somethings that neither the texts show is how it was to be an American slave, and how slavery ended. Or people who migrated from another country to America in search of a better life.
(ps sorry this is a day late i had work right after school till really late last night and i fell asleep before i was able to do my blog post)
After the discussion in class, and reading the prompts my belief on what makes an American is still the same. I believe an American is somebody who is born in America, and grows up here, believing in the rights and wrongs of the country. Somebody who believes in Democracy, Freedom, and also believes in our Constitution. An American is the soldiers who fight for our country, or for the people who donate for our country (such as hurricane relief in New Orleans).
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to give an exact definition of an "American." I'm sure if you asked ten different people you would get just about ten different answers. To me, an American is someone who not only lives in America, but lives up to their fullest potential here. It is someone who uses the opportunities America gives them to the fullest. An American is someone who is proud of who they are. No single person can decide if you are an American, that answer is found within yourself. Data will always be just data. It might show hard proof but it will never show what is in between the lines.
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