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What is an American? When faced with the formidable task of defining a term as broad as “American,” one must expand their consideration beyond the word’s literal meaning. According to Webster’s Dictionary, an American is “a person from the United States or any of the countries of North, South, or Central America.” While this definition is correct in the most literal sense, the term “American” has taken on greater meaning to people all over the world. For many, this one simple word brings to mind unique ideas of government, a quality of life, and a diversity of religious and ethnic backgrounds that have come to be associated with the United States and its citizens. Recalling lives of oppression under tyrannical monarchs of the Old World, the first American settlers sought to return the power of government to the people. In doing this, they laid the foundation for a revolutionary experiment in governing: democracy. The idealistic goal of fairness and representation of all people was the cornerstone of this new system. With the Firs