Introduction
The American comprehension of liberty has become the guiding light for the majority of countries. Thousands of people from all over the world come to the United States every year, hoping to pursue a better future for themselves and their families. However, Americans have come a long way to find themselves in the place they are now. Major milestones following American history are inscribed in the number of documents, to which people refer in pursue of freedom and happiness. Some of the most significant of them is the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States (Roark et al.).
The first document, catalyzing creating the American nation in 1776, is a splendid example of celebrating freedom. While it was not common for people in the 18th century to talk about equality, the Declaration of Independence introduced this notion to the broad public (Roark et al.). However, while millions of people across the globe look up to the American Promise, Americans themselves cannot cope with this belief.
Main body
The American Promise is attractive not only to the residents of small countries but to those of big nations as well. Citizens of China and Russia are sometimes obsessed with America’s interpretation of liberty. The major reason behind this lies in the fact that these counties have risen as a result of continuous formation and dynasty ruling. America, in its turn, has initially derived from several ethnicities and beliefs. Thus, the diversity celebration was the only way to unite such a big and varied nation.
Historically, since the exploration of American lands, the territory of the United States was divided between various European colonists. Hence, Native Americans did not have a chance to experience the feeling of individual freedom due to slavery and constant humiliation. With the emergence of the United States of America, both the Declaration of Independence and the first-ever American constitution estimated the formation of a free state on the lands of hundreds of colonies (Roark et al.). To men and women of that time, such a step meant the possibility to fulfill their deepest desires after years of discrimination.
To keep the American Promise, Americans have been fighting for human freedom for centuries. The US is one of the few countries where people can live their fullest regardless of skin color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender. As the main gist behind the American Promise was to celebrate diversity while remaining a united nation, it might be said that this objective has failed over the years. Although any discrimination in terms of human diversity is now prohibited by law, the notion of unity is still alien to US residents. News is now replete with reports concerning mass shootings on the grounds of racial and sex discrimination.
Conclusion
The history and development of each nation depend highly on ideas and beliefs that unite the state. In the case of the United States, the American Promise has become the primary goal behind the nation’s existence. However, while this promise has become crucial for other countries to follow, Americans themselves fail to bring it to life. Such dissonance is caused by capitalistic social gaps, inappropriately high levels of individualism, and political ignorance. Thus, current Americans’ objective is to unite to empower the country without breaking their individualistic borders, as it was intended by the original American Promise.
Work Cited
Roark, James L., Johnson, Michael P., Cohen, Patricia Cline, Stage, Sarah, and Susan M. Hartmann. The American Promise: A Concise History, Volume 1: To 1877, (6th edition). Kindle ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2017.