Minimum References, Describing Culture United States America.

¶ … minimum references, describing culture United States America. Your There are several observable artifacts of the culture of the United States of America. Some of the most notable of these artifacts are immensely observable on national holidays. For instance, the Independence Day celebration on the Fourth of July is demonstrable in the sense that on this day, people are prone to fly American flags more so than on other days, and the battle for the independence of this country from England is regularly reenacted all across America with the displaying of fireworks. Other observable artifacts attest to aspects of religion, such as Christmas, which is the principle Christian holiday within this principle Christian nation, and which is observable by the displaying of Christmas trees, the decoration of them, and the exchanging of gifts. Other holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving, in particular, have traditions and customs relating to the purchasing and the consumption of food. These observable artifacts shape the culture that they represent by serving as tangible reminders of important events in American history, such as the Colonial War, the birth of Jesus (which is highly important in a Christian country), and the conquering of the Native Americans -- and their role in that fact -- which was essential for the founding of this country.

The espoused values of the United States are decidedly egalitarian -- if not outright republican in the degree of parity and equity which is proclaimed for all. These espoused values are most notably found within such documents as the U.S. Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and other seminal political documents founded in an idealist ideology. Most of these values attest to the rights of liberty and personal freedom, as well as to rights of life and happiness (Jefferson, 1776). These espoused values are unequivocally responsible for common cultural conceptions such as the American Dream, in which people actually believe that all they have to do is come to this country, work hard, and they can have the best life for themselves. This conception has greatly shaped the history of America. Anyone can look at the various phases of immigration waves that have swept through this nation, from the heyday of liberty island to the present influx of Asian and Chinese immigrants, and see that the perception of these espoused values has widely shaped the scope and nature of who is considered an American today (Warshauer, no date).