In honor of America’s Independence Day, tomorrow July 4th, I am going to present some all-American products, people, and activities. Firth though let me explain that to say something is “all-American” implies that the thing has qualities or characteristic of traditional American ideals or that the thing originates from the United States of America or it is very popular or well known by most Americans.
Here are my top 10 all-American people, places, and things:
1) Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is the funny lovable mouse cartoon character created by Walt Disney in 1928. He is the official mascot of The Walt Disney Company and well known around the world, but his home is in America, in Disneyland, of course.
2) Barbecue or BBQ meat
Meat is barbecued around the world. To barbeque meat simply means to grill meat over a fire, but American BBQ is unique in its own way. American BBQ involves both cooking meat over a fire and also covering the meat in a sweet, spicy, rich sauce. It is delicious!
3) The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a marvel of nature. It is a serious of canyons and steep cliffs carved by the Colorado river in the state of Arizona. The Grand Canyon area in Arizona is a national park and a place that awes and inspires everyone who visits it. The beauty of the Grand Canyon is almost beyond words.
4) Country Music
Country music is a type of popular American music that started in the rural and southern parts of the United States in the 1920s. This type of music often includes guitars, fiddles, and banjos accompanying singers that often sing about sadness, or love, or sad love stories.
5) Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley was an American singer, musician, and actor, who is often referred to as “the King of Rock and Roll” or just “the King”. His songs and performances transformed the American music scene in the 1950’s. He is considered an icon of American music.
6) Harley-Davidson motorcycles
Harley-Davidson motorcycles are the all-American motorcycle. The Harley-Davidson company was founded in the early 1900s and their fast, stylish, and sometimes loud motorcycles are still a favorite among Americans today.
7) John Wayne
John Wayne is the stage name for the famous Academy Award-winning, American actor whose real name was Marion Morrison. He became famous starting in the 1930s as a TV and film cowboy (cowboys are also all-American) and went on to act in many other roles, before dying as an icon of film in 1979.
8) PB&J or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a staple of the diet of most American children, and a lot of adults like them too! These sandwiches are simple to make and are eaten for lunch across America everyday.
9) Hollywood
Hollywood is the home of the American film industry and the origin of entertainment film making around the world. Without Hollywood there would be no Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, or Denzel Washington. This is the place where movie stars are made!
10) Blue jeans
Although people all around the world wear blue jeans now, these comfortable and durable pants originally came from California in the late 1800s. In the beginning, they weren’t intended to be stylish like they are today. They were made for miners and cowboys as work pants.
Image by Michael Carian on Flickr.com.
I’m sure you can think of many other things that you might consider all-American, what are you thinking of? Share in the comments box below what you consider to be an all-American person, place, or thing.
