For a long time, the concept of the American Dream forced people from other countries to move to the U.S. However, in pursuit of a dream of succeeding, many lose sight of the meaning behind American citizenship. The nature of American national identity implies a mix of different cultures where everyone will fit. On the other hand, American citizenship provides citizens with various benefits and opportunities and requires their commitment to specific ideas.
American citizenship is often associated with the value of freedom and a wide range of lifestyle options. Thus, the general perception of American citizenship focuses on autonomy in life choices, freedom of speech, and the right to bear arms. However, permanent residents in the U.S. have the same rights to freedom. Therefore, allegiance to the country’s interests is the main difference between alien persons and American citizens.
For me, being an American implies knowing your rights and being sure of their protection. Furthermore, American citizenship has many responsibilities and opportunities, such as election participation and jury duty. For example, only people with seven years of experience as a citizens have the right to act as Representatives (U.S. Constitution 2023). Moreover, citizens must know the laws, obey them, and pay taxes to cover governmental expenditures.
In conclusion, this essay explains how American citizenship requires a commitment to specific ideas. American citizenship is often mistakenly perceived by the public as a privilege that gives people more opportunities to achieve success and live a happy life. In reality, American citizenship gives people the right to participate in the country’s political, economic, and social life. Therefore, American citizenship protects the rights of people involved in the country’s life.
Reference
National Archive. 2023. “The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription.” Web.