Life Liberty And The Pursuit Of Happiness Essay

493 Words2 Pages

After being unfairly taxed and poorly treated by the British government, a few brave Europeans set sail to form their own colonies. From nothing, our Founding Fathers built the blue print for modern democracy, thus giving the citizens a chance to have a voice. The Declaration of Independence clearly states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are just three examples of "unalienable rights" that all people should have. America- the Land of the Free- gives us the chance to be free… something that other countries simply do not. The American Dream is the idea that each law-abiding citizen deserves equal opportunity in seeking success through perseverance and dedication. Initially, this "Dream" was only extended to white property owners, but today it applies to all Americans. Unlike other countries, your financial status at birth does not directly affect your social status as an adult. Some say that the old American Dream has died, but the idea of starting something from nothing is truly inspiring. In fact, it …show more content…

Displaying patriotism can be done many ways: respecting the flag, reciting the pledge, singing the national anthem, etc. While all of that is important, patriotism does not just stop at waving the flag. A true patriot makes positive contribution to better this country. Positive contributions are formally known as civic duties and responsibilities. Some civic duties include paying taxes, serving as a juror, attending school, and signing up for select service after making 18 (men). Some civic responsibilities include voting, serving for the country, and holding a political office. These civic duties and responsibilities are necessary to maintain this