Format Essay: 1st Draft

America represents a Promise Land to much of the world. It is a place that stands for freedom, democracy and opportunity. It has symbolized religious and economic freedom throughout history and currently. The English Puritans sailed to America in the 1620s looking for religious freedom of worship; being driven out by the Church of England that they believed was beyond repair. America symbolized a place they could practice their religion and life without prejudice. In the early 1900s European immigrants flocked through Ellis Island looking for economic success. Adults came looking for jobs to support their families, a new hope of American riches ignited in their minds. Currently America still represents a Promise Land to many. A prime example is the illegal immigrants traveling north from Central America, seeking a new beginning. These immigrants are seeking a life without repression, better paying jobs and more. America represents a place of promise to these diverse groups of people. America’s place in the world as a Promise Land helps it maintain the role of being a world power.

America is a world power. We set the norms for right and wrong, we install fear in other countries, and we establish trends of the world. These are all components of creating America’s powerful role. America sets the norm for what is right and wrong in the world. For example as soon as America decided that racial prejudice is a bad thing, the principle spread around the world. There is no doubt that America installs fear in other countries. From the atomic bombs in Japan, to the Iraq war America has made its mark on the world by brutal force. An important of being a world power involves setting trends for the world to strive to follow. From edge cutting fashion to groundbreaking technology and influential media America is often times one step ahead of the world.

America plays the role of “the liberator” in the world. It constantly feels the need to help and liberate other countries for better, or for worse. Many times our intentions are good, for example simply bringing aid to various countries during natural disasters, or ultimately liberating the world during World War II. But an overwhelming amount of the time there is something in it for us. For example it is the U.S government’s tagline that they are liberating Iraq from the hands of evil terrorists, but how much of the incentive for the U.S lies inside the want of oil and pure revenge? This constant want of more, covered up by the United States as simply “liberating” countries, leads to a negative outlook on our country by the world. The world views the America as greedy.