Civil Disobedience Paper Essay

Throughout US history, there were many occurrences performed by people that helped define American Identity. Some of the many aspects that helped evolve characteristics of American identity are civil disobedience, freedom of religion, and immigration. Historical happenings throughout time helped create how the US is today, and why certain freedoms are allowed. Civil Disobedience is one of the important aspects of american identity. Harriet Tubman played a great role in performing civil disobedience involving her freeing slaves. Harriet had a huge bounty on her head and still she rebelled against the law, rescuing more slaves. Henry David Thoreau also performed a part in the act of civil disobedience when he refused to pay taxes, because of his opposition to the Mexican-American War. He wrote an essay Resistance to Civil Government stating that citizens have the right to disobey the law if the law was considered unjust. Furthermore, Woman’s rights is another example of civil disobedience. Women weren’t treated as equal as men and were denied the right to vote. In 1848 the Declaration of Sentiments had 12 resolutions that called for equal treatment of women and men under the law and voting rights for women. Overall, civil disobedience plays a huge role in American identity. Freedom of religion is another aspect that highlights american identity. Many people came to America in search of religious freedom. Colonists wanted a chance to worship freely and have a religion they wanted to take part in. When the pilgrims came to American their goal was to escape the persecution of the puritans. Later on many religions began to disperse everywhere and therefor, population began to grow in America. The Salem Witchcraft Trials, and the Great Awakening of the 1730s played a great role in influencing freedom of religion. America became a refuge for those who wanted religious freedom and became a home to the many people that had the chance to improve their lives. Overall, religious freedom is a huge aspect defining American Identity. Since before America’s founding, immigration has been part of the American identity. In 1845, potato famine in Ireland stopped plants from growing and many families were starved and wished for an escape, nearly 3.5 million Irish migrated to America during the 1820s through the1880s. The Irish weren’t the only immigrants that migrated to America. The Germans had come to America during World War 1 in order to better their lives. Immigrants with money would buy farms in the country, and immigrants with very little money would stay in the city, mainly in New York. By 1855, New York homed at least seventy percent of the New York population. Many immigrants have come to America and still have many coming in and out of our country nowadays. Overall civil disobedience, freedom of religion, and immigration are just a few of the many traits given to the US over time. Because of all these happenings that have occurred in the US, we as citizens have many rights. Here in the US we are known to have different yet unique identities, all thanks to the acts of rebelliousness and righteousness throughout US history.