American Unity has its Differences

Throughout history, the concept of unique thinking and ideas has been as much a critical part of American history as pride and nationalism have been. This nation began with a unique thought which sparked the American Revolution during the 18^th century. Not many back then dared cross the powerful nation of Britain, one of the main superpowers of the 18^th century. When Britain colonized North America, the beginnings of the new nation did not take long to develop their own autonomous and distinctive desire for that which they did not have. Instead of sticking to the archetypal practice of people under rule: bending to the will of the declared leader, the new colonies responded to being held under Britain’s thumb, and being taxed for England’s wars without American representatives in parliament, by revolting. This act, which led to the creation of the United States of America, is an example of how American thought from the start has been unique and incomparable. Years later, American opinions would continue to evolve and Americans begin to challenge the custom of slavery, which had been held for ages; an activist notion that divided the nation and led to the American Civil War.

American Democracy, a fundamental concept, demonstrates uniqueness in that it is based on giving all Americans an equal opportunity in life. In other nations, like India for example, people are divided into social classes determined by birth, social position, economic status, and similar factors. However, although this type of freedom is an American ideal, it is not as firm as envisioned as it is in reality. Classes do exist in the United States, ranging from sub-poverty, to mid-class levels, to upper class and rich levels. Just as in other countries with more rigid social ranks, general treatment of different classes in America is noticeable. For instance, a celebrity, representative of the upper/elite class would in many cases be treated in a much more superior manner than a high school teacher, representative of the middle class. Markers of status, like clothes can intensify bring about this type of discrimination, like in a restaurant for instance. A server would be more likely to give more attention to an individual dressed in nice clothes and ordering expensive items, as they would be more likely to have more money and therefore leave a large tip. Unlike other countries, though, the individual has the ability to change social classes in America. Though someone may be born into poverty or even riches, it depends solely on that person’s actions and lifestyle to determine whether they remain in that lifestyle and class or not. If an individual possesses the drive and motivation to work hard and do what is necessary, like putting in extra effort at work to move up in job positions and earn a better salary, then it is entirely possible to move up to a higher social class. The same is true for higher-class individuals, who can go “from riches to rags” with poor decision-making and money management skills, like losing money to an addiction like gambling or alcohol.

America is also unique in the way variations of American culture continually surface and grow, with time, into subcultures. These subcultures each begin with a certain point and each point starts with a unique thought, one that challenges the ordinary and creates a new strain in the gene of American thought. In the 1950s, the music genre of rock and roll began to grow in popularity from its jazz and blues roots, appealing heavily to the young generation. Young adults brought meaning to the word “teenager” as they established their new unique thoughts and attitudes with their new colorful clothes, dance styles, and adolescent methods of having fun. The beatniks of the 1960’s began as a divergence from mainstream, middle-class thought; a subculture that strayed from the typical blue or white collared lifestyle and embraced the creative side of the human spirit through poetry and music. The beatnik generation in turn led to the hippie generation of the 1970s, which was another sect of the typical American culture. The hippie generation was characterized by alternate lifestyles, like different types of clothing, recreational drug usage, and a laid back, music-oriented lifestyle.