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Kentucky State Winner

Emily Johnson
Brodhead, KY
Stoney Creek School
Home School
11th Grade

I am an American. People all across the United States can claim this, yet what does it mean? Some would say it means you are a citizen of the United States, but what does that entail? What are your obligations and rights as a citizen? To find the answers to these questions we must look into the past.

When the first settlers came to America in the 1600s, they came for freedom. The freedom to: start a new life, to get out from under the English king's thumb, and freedom to worship God as they chose. They believed in these rights so much that they were willing to fight to keep them.

In 1775 the Revolutionary War started. The reason? The colonists wanted a part in their government. They didn't want a king across the ocean to dictate their laws, taxes, and rights. Even though the odds were against them, the colonists fought the British troops. When the signers of the Declaration of Independence and other important leaders were faced with losing their lives, their land, and everything they owned, they stood strong. With their determination and the conviction that what they were fighting for was right, the colonists defeated the British after eight years.

After the war, Thomas Jefferson drafted the Constitution of the United States with the rights of the people in mind. Some did not feel the Constitution protected the United States citizens enough. That is when the first ten amendments or the Bill of Rights were written. They play a major part in protecting the freedoms of the citizens. The first two state the freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom to assemble, freedom of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms. The other eight tell: how citizens are protected from unlawful search and seizures, how citizens will not be made to house soldiers, what rights a person has who is charged of a crime, how some trials are conducted, and it makes sure that whatever power is not directly given to the federal government is under the authority of the states or the people.

As the United States has grown, the people have had to defend their freedoms. In the war of 1812 they showed the world that they could hold their own against anyone who would go against them. Later the Civil War was fought, and slavery was abolished. Amendments later passed allowed the African Americans to vote. Then in the beginning of the 1900s women fought for their right to vote. After much hard work an amendment was passed to allow women suffrage. As the country has grown amendments have been added to protect a citizen's rights.

Some of the rights of citizens are also obligations. Voting is an example. A citizen should vote for local, state, and national officials to ensure that they keep their freedoms. A few other things that are responsibilities of a citizen are paying taxes, being on a jury when called, and obeying the law.

I am an American. Everyone who can claim this should be proud of their country. They should be thankful for the men and women who have fought and died to protect their freedoms. Those freedoms and the responsibility of our citizens are what being an American is all about.