Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It
Throughout the two hundred and thirty-four years that America has been an independent country, she has welcomed people from all races, religions, and social classes. America is nicknamed, because of her diversity, the “Melting Pot.” This country does not have a particular race of people. The citizens of the United States ancestors originated from every country in the world.
When America, the new world, was first discovered, three main countries controlled the main portions of her. These settlers, from the different countries, came for many reasons. The English, who controlled the thirteen original colonies, mostly came for religious freedom. The French came to trade, to find fur, and to discover a quicker and easier route to the Far East. Last, but not least, the Spanish came for fame and fortune.
Two hundred and eighty-four years after Columbus discovered the Americas, the thirteen colonies declared their independence from England. Over the next century many changes took place. The land mass of America exponentially grew on account of settlement and purchases. These new lands brought a variety of people to the United States. An example of this is the shipping of Chinese workers to America for the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Another example is the California gold rush that brought people worldwide to America in hopes of becoming wealthy. The cultures and backgrounds mixed as first generation immigrants had children, which became second and then third generation citizens. They in turn married citizens or even new immigrants resulting in no one race, religion, or common ancestry. Because of this, the citizens of the United States developed an immeasurable amount of nationalism and pride in their country.
Americans do not have major social classes as other countries do. In some countries the social class that one is born in is the one that he will die in....