American Dream Part 2

In an earlier post, I talked more about what the American Dream used to be than what it is now. After studying illegal immigration's effect on the economy in modern day, I have gotten a better feel for why people come to America today, and how desperately they want to be Americans. These days, the people who come to America due to poor conditions in their own country, are not immigrating legally. The legal immigrants tend to come from other first-world countries, and can usually start in at least the lower-middle class. However, impoverished people in poor living conditions in one country are now trying to get into America without going through the legal process. Most illegal immigrants today either sneak across the border, or come with a visa, and stay after it expires. This shows that people with the American Dream are willing to take huge risks to improve their lives, even if it means committing a serious crime that would eventually lead to deportation. Often, these people aren't coming to America with their whole families to try to set up a new life there, but are just going to live there and make some money to send back home, until they have enough to get by with whatever jobs are available in their home countries. They aren't looking to become doctors or lawyers or anything like that either, but are looking for "low-skill jobs" that most Americans don't want to take, such as construction, farming, and working in restaurants. People used to come to America in order to make something big of themselves, and some still do, but lots of people are now coming to America just to make enough money to get by.

The American Dream

Ever since the beginning of colonization in the United States in the early 17th century, America has represented an opportunity to start anew to obtain a better life than what you had in the past. When the English decided to colonize the northeastern part of the country, most of Europe was in a state of overpopulation and pollution. This was a great opportunity for people to get away from the problems in Europe, and start a new life in the United States where everyone was starting from scratch. Immigrants continued to pour into the U.S., especially after we gained our independence, and it wasn't up to Britain to say who could live in America and who couldn't. In the 19th century, when the potato blight occurred, a massive amount of Irish immigrants came to America, because they had the American dream to overcome the hardship in their country and go to America where anyone could make it big. The thing that separated America from other countries was that everyone was accepted, because the Great American Melting Pot was made by mixing cultures from all around the world, to form the greatest country there is. Admittedly, the American dream isn't as accessible as it used to be, now that we are starting to face problems like overpopulation and pollution. Not everyone can make enough of a living to support a family, and pay for a house off of hard work alone anymore. Hopefully, we can get back to the point where everyone in the country gets equal treatment, in terms of taxes, insurance, etc., regardless of their economic class.

Orioles Magic

Ever since I moved to Baltimore County in 1999, I've gotten to experience most of the things that a kid growing up in America gets to go through. However, one thing that hasn't happened since I moved here is experience the hometown baseball team going to the postseason. The Orioles have not had a winning season since 1997, making being an Orioles fan a sort of painful experience. Finally this year, we've managed to put the pieces together to form a team that will go to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, and the first time since I've lived in Maryland. We have a lot of powerful hitters, and a great consistent pitching staff, the latter something we have really struggled with in years past. I have seen many playoff games for a team in Baltimore, but it's always been the Ravens. I'm used to seeing the Ravens make the playoffs at this point, and it's not going to be that big of a deal until they make it to the Super Bowl. However, seeing a team that has been a total failure as long as I have followed them have such completely unexpected success this year is very exciting. Plus, it takes so much more effort to make the postseason in baseball, as there are more than 10 times as many games in a season. This also means there is more suspense, which makes this playoff appearance more exciting. Even though the whole experience could end after one measly game, it would still be the biggest thing in sports to happen in Baltimore for awhile.

Antebellum Culture

Although the United States got off to a pretty good start after the revolution, some issues started to become apparent during the early 19th century. A new generation was taking the reigns of the country, people who weren't around during the revolution. The government was also being modified, as the United States pretty much came up with its own system of government. People were unsure about the new things going on politically. Also, Americans started to think that slavery may not be as justified as they thought. As slavery rebellions started to occur, people's thoughts about it changed. Earlier, they believed that the slaves were accepting of their situation, and that they were treated as family. However, with news of rebellions such as the one on the Creole, and Toussaint's role in the Haitian Revolution, it became clear that the slaves were being mistreated. Because of this, and dwindling trust in the government, new societies started to come up involving equal rights for all people, instead of just equal rights for all white men. Various abolitionist and women's rights organizations were started, and these ideas began to spread. Some organizations released statements saying that mothers have the duty of being good role models to their children, and making sure they grow up to become good Christians, and just good people in general. As America developed in the early 19th century, certain societies formed to try to change America for the better in ways they didn't think the government could.

Jefferson vs Hamilton

Thomas Jefferson is essentially worshipped by Americans today, as he stands out as one of those who gave the most to America in its early days, but the United States, over time, has shifted towards Alexander Hamilton's ideas, rather than keeping America how it was in colonial times. Thomas Jefferson receives a lot of credit for the foundation of our country. He wrote the Declaration of Independence after all. He is also on the nickel and the $2 bill showing that he is highly regarded enough to be put on two pieces of American currency. Hamilton is on the $10 bill, but those are less common than nickels, and there has been consideration to replace him with Ronald Reagan, anyway. Despite all this, today's America agrees more with Hamilton's ideas than with Jefferson's. For instance, at first, the federal government didn't handle very much, and most states mostly governed themselves. Today, federal government has taken on a larger role, as Hamilton believed was appropriate. Also, Jefferson believed the economy should be agriculture-based, which it was, until the Industrial Revolution. Today, almost everything, even food, is made in factories. Finally, Jefferson did not believe in a national bank, and yet today almost everyone has money in banks with branches in many states, if not all across the country. Although Thomas Jefferson gets credit for setting America on its path to success, today's America represents Hamilton's more than his own.