What Does It Mean to Be an American?

Reflections on the 250th Anniversary of the USA

Happy Birthday, America

On July 4th, 1776, the final draft of the Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Continental Congress, then signed nearly a month later by the majority of its delegates.  In essence, the birth certificate of the United States was complete! 

The Revolutionary War wouldn’t end until almost a decade later, in 1783, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris – 2 years after the Siege of Yorktown ceased.  That would be the final military event of the war prior to the treaty.

America as we know it was founded upon a strong set of ideals and principles.  Those big ideas from some of that century’s most prominent voices have continued to be the cornerstones of American doctrine, and in many cases, they formed a cultural identity alongside a country.

Now, 250 years later, those voices echo in a country that’s seen immense changes in every front.  When a room changes, so do the echoes.  It ultimately begs the question:

What does it mean to be an American today?

Core Values

Individualism

Compared to other countries and cultures, Americans have a strong sense of individualism.  The concept encourages self-reliance, emphasizes autonomy, and focuses on the ability to determine your own path.  It’s the idea that you can become whatever or whomever you wish to be, and if you work hard enough, you can and will get there. 

Freedom

It’s the ability to make your own choices, unhindered by the shackles of a tyrannical government.  There are many different kinds of freedom, but one of the most prized American freedoms comes from the First Amendment to the US Constitution: the freedom of speech, religion, and the press.  The fact that this amendment was the first one to be ratified tells you a lot about what Americans value – as well as what rights were withheld under English colonialism. 

Equal Opportunity

This ties back into the value of self-determination; the concept is that in America, it doesn’t matter what background you come from.  Work hard enough, and you’ll have the opportunity to pursue your happiness.  This is a very common reason people want to immigrate to the US.  It’s a powerful promise of hope, and of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 

Self Governance/Democracy

After spending years suffering under English rule, it was imperative that the United States be able to govern itself.  The colonies had enough of being overtaxed without being adequately represented in government, so their solution was simple: create a system of government that actually represents the will of its people in a democratic republic. 

The right to vote would be a long, hard road for women and people of color for nearly 200 years after the birth of the US, and it’s still a flawed system.  But, the desire to vote, to have a voice that matters, still rests as a core value in every person who calls themselves an American.

It’s Complicated

In the year 2026, this landmark anniversary of the United States comes at a heavily charged moment.  Many people feel that this country no longer serves the values it was founded upon, that money has taken precedence in government over the will of the people.  We’ve held up a mirror to history and looked hard at our reflection, noting triumphs as much as sorrows and mistakes.  There are things that, as a people, we cannot take back, and we’re still very much working to rectify. 

It’s no secret that this year straddles many divides: the rich and the poor, the privileged and the oppressed, the right and the left… the list goes on longer than it should.  The real divide, however, is the line between who we thought we were, and who we have the potential to become. 

So, who are we?

Since Day One, America has existed upon hope.  Dreams, really.  So much so, that “The American Dream” is a phrase understood around the world.  America is full of dreamers, some jaded and some still yearning, but most of us live somewhere in between.

America represents the underdogs of the world.  What was once a small colony is now one of the world’s superpowers, and that’s a story of identity that fuels many of those dreams.  It’s what brought people from around the world to our shores.  That dream – that desire to bet on yourself is uniquely American and still resonates with immigrants and nonimmigrants alike.

True Origins

As a family owned and operated farm, we at The Magnolia Company would be remiss in not mentioning our identity as America, the Beautiful. 

This is something that the indigenous people of this land understood and still know well: this land is not just land of the free or home of the brave, even though we made it so.  This is the land that holds us, nurtures us, protects us and cares for us.  It is our privilege and our duty to be its stewards, to protect and nurture it back.

From sea to shining sea, over amber waves of grain, across purple mountain majesties, every worm beneath the soil and each of the towering redwoods deserves our reverence and respect.  If we are to be America, the Beautiful, every individual has a responsibility to utilize our freedoms of speech, our votes, our opportunities to become stewards of this land.

After all, this land is your land, and this land is my land.  It is the land of the indigenous peoples who cared for it before colonization, and it will be the land of all of our children’s children long after we’ve written our stories. 

To truly be an American is to stand up for what’s right, to pursue freedom for all, and to leave a legacy worth inspiring dreams in this place we all call home.

What does it mean to be an American to you?