The documents I am going to use are A Model of Christian Charity by John Winthrop, The declaration of independence by Thomas Jefferson, and the American Scholar by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
In theModel of Christian Charity, John Winthrop tells a plan of what the America should be in the future. Just like what he says, he hopes people that holding firmly together, and makes the America will be a “city upon a hill”.
From the declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson shows a great determination of freedom from the Britain. I think this document will strongly help me define what America is and reflects the spirits of Americans.
The American Scholar represents the emancipation of the thoughts from the British literature. As the time goes, the freedom does not only refer to the freedom in the body, but also the freedom in the thoughts. So, just like the declaration of independence, the American Scholar is more likely to be a declaration of literature.
In short, from John Winthrop to Emerson, from original hope to actual action, from physical freedom to the emancipation of thoughts, the definition of America changes a lot.
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