The American Creed

Words, symbols, or rituals express the American creed

Introduction

The American Creed, written in 1917 by William Tyler Page, was accepted by the United States House of Representatives on April 3, 1918. The American Creed is an important ideology that represents the component of American identity. The United States is known for its freedom, justice, and opportunities that encourage people to come to the United States and make its citizens proud. While these are things Americans take for granted, they express what the Founding Fathers worked hard to preserve. As a result, the American creed can be more powerful than the issues that divide us. The American Creed can be seen every day through symbols like the flag and rituals like the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance. These symbols remind people that we must work harder to ensure that the nation’s ideals protect all American citizens.

About the Author

William Tyler Page was born in 1868 in Frederick County, Maryland. He was the great-great-grandson of Carter Braxton, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, and a descendant of President John Tyler. Page started working “twelve hours a day in a printing house and paper bag factory” when he was ten years old. Page began working as a page for the United States House of Representatives in Washington, DC, on December 19, 1881 and became an employee in 1919. Page worked for the Capitol for a total of 61 years. At the age of 49, in 1917, he wrote The “American Belief” to participate in a national patriotic contest suggested by Henry Sterling Chapin in New York City, inspired by the excitement of America’s early entry into the world. First World War.

William Tyler Page wrote:
“I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
Therefore, I believe it is my duty to my country to love it, support its Constitution, obey its laws, respect its flag, and defend it against all enemies.” The objective was to ought a concise a statement on American political faith.

The legacy

American beliefs, words, symbols, and rituals have profound and definitive meanings. Words like America is a free country, the American dream, the opportunities offered to the citizens. There are also symbols of virtue and wrong in America, like the American flag is a good symbol for most people. In contrast, the Confederate flag is generally a lousy symbol that represents white supremacy. Those who burned and hung the American flag upside down respected the soldiers who fought to provide the right to be free. The uniformed soldiers fought with courage and bravery to fight for the rights of others. Although when something terrible happens in America, we all come together as one.

The American ceremonies, such as the oath of allegiance and the 4th of July, and remembrance Day are grand. The 4th of July is a beautiful moment to celebrate our independence, where beautiful fireworks are shown as we come together as one. On Remembrance Day, we honor our soldiers who fought for us. The oath of allegiance represents a promise between the American and his citizens. We promise to be faithful. In return, the government will listen to those in power. The phrase “freedom and justice represents the nation and what it stands for and is also the idea on which American was built. America represents freedom. According to the First Amendment written in the constitution, all citizens have the privilege of religion, speech, and assembly. America also represents an opportunity known as “The American Dream.”

As I stated in the module 16 quiz, the American Dream is the opportunity that America offers its people, especially young people, like public schools, grants, scholarships, etc. The American dream is to take advantage of all these opportunities, build a more prosperous life, and achieve a long-term goal. James Truslow Adams coined the phrase the American Dream during the Great Depression, the world’s worst economic recession. In some countries, it was a perpetual depression. Therefore, people who come to the United States believe that anyone can succeed in society no matter where they were born or what social class they belong to. Many immigrants come to America for a new way of life and believe that anything is possible with hard work and determination.

The American creed connects us with our values and enables us to work hard and to bring us as a nation closer to our goals and our dreams.

Works Cited

“The American’s Creed.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/DOCUMENTS/creed.htm.