Ways American's Express the American Creed

The American’s Creed was written by William Tyler Page in 1917 to establish unity in our country. The document explains the defining characteristics of the United States and what it means to be an American. The American’s Creed is expressed in many ways such as words, symbols and rituals, which hold deep meaning of being a true American.

Words are one of the most powerful things in existence. They can hold true, deep meaning and express how we truly feel. We use powerful words such as “united” to describe America. As stated in the American’s creed, the United States is “a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and inseparable” (Page). This is a more complex way of saying that our Nation is united, and nothing can tear us apart. We must stay united in order maintain our status as the “City Upon a Hill” (John Winthrop). Being a “City Upon a Hill” means to be an example for other countries that may be struggling, and the only way this is possible is to stand united as a nation.

One of America’s most important symbols is the flag. Every country has a flag, but it’s what it symbolizes that makes it unique. Our flag represents democracy, or a government by the people. As Lincoln said, also included in the American’s Creed, the United States is “a government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Democracy is what we thrive on; it is the foundation of our country. It is essential because it ensures that the people’s best interest will always be in mind. This is something fairly unique to America, and we should cherish it.

Americans show support for their country through many rituals. One of the most important and well-known is the Pledge of Allegiance. Everyday, children and adolescents at school stand up, put their hands over their hearts, and recite this pledge. When they do this, they promise to always stay faithful to their country. As explained in the Pledge of Allegiance, we are “one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” This reinforces the American’s Creed by explaining that our country provides us with many liberties and opportunities, and we are one united nation that must work together in order to prosper.

Each country has words, symbols, and rituals to represent themselves. However, America’s representations are unique. Words such as “united” explain how our country is strong and will never be divided. The American Flag symbolizes an extremely important characteristic of our country, democracy. Lastly, the Pledge of Allegiance is one of many rituals that Americans perform to demonstrate their faithfulness. All in all, various words, symbols, and rituals represent important characteristics of our country: unity, democracy, and faith.