When America, as we know it today, was originally colonised around the 17th century, it inherited many of the cultural systems of the countries that founded the early colonies.
As Britain was one of the countries that staked a considerable claim on what would become modern-day North America, there were many cultural souvenirs of British history within the evolution of the new nation.
The early British settlers were often devout British subjects who were devoted to the country and the monarchs who ruled it, and this sense of deference and respect was upheld in the blossoming new American towns and cities that began to emerge.
This can be seen even today in some of the place names that were chosen as the fledgling country developed, with many being a variation of places from the early settlers’ homelands.
New York (though originally New Amsterdam) was named after the English city of York, and the state of Virginia was named in honour of The English monarch, Queen Elizabeth I, who was known as the virgin queen.
So, in the early days of the evolution of America, the social system was very much influenced by the British system of royalty and nobility, with all its legendary Counts, Barons, Knights and Lords.
Aristocracy and Modern Day America
Modern America has changed much since then, and one aspect of the early colonies that failed to survive the American War of Independence was this social system of nobility.
When America became a republic, it spelt the end of the social hierarchy known as the aristocracy, and with its break from Britain, there was no longer a place for the culture of noble titles bestowed by a monarch.
As America grew in its independence from Britain, it assumed a much more egalitarian and democratic approach to society and shunned the age-old hierarchical system of nobility that had thrived in Europe for centuries.
The new systems of government that developed were staunchly republican and fiercely averse to any culture or arbitrary privileges such as the appointment of noble titles in reward for loyal service or charitable works.
As a result, for the citizens of the new America, there was no opportunity for them to rise within the social order and be honoured by their Government with a noble title, such as a Knighthood or a Lordship.
This remains true today, meaning that Americans cannot receive a knighthood from their own country, because America is a republic and doesn’t recognise the system of formal nobility that can be found in many other countries around the world where a monarchy or royal equivalent has endured.
However, social systems do tend to develop along similar lines the world over, with a central government that awards certain honours, rights or privileges to its citizens for certain achievements or endeavours, and America is no exception.
The United States’ Honours System
While the republican nation doesn’t issue honours like a knighthood, as happens every year in England for example, it does have certain awards that are presented to individuals of merit and distinction within American society.
For example, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is widely regarded as the American equivalent of a British knighthood or MBE. It’s a similar level of honourable recognition in that it is only awarded to a select few individuals, who have made a significant contribution to the country, in the fields of security, world peace, cultural achievements or some other type of valuable attainment.
This American honour is comparable to the British tradition of bestowing knighthoods on worthy citizens, though it does not yet have the historic legacy and enduring nobility of the more conventional knighthoods.
Americans Knighted in the British Honours System
There is another option available to citizens from the US who dream of attaining a knighthood, and this is due to some of the remaining Orders of Knights around the world that allow foreign nationals to be admitted into their ranks.
For example, the legendary British system of knighthoods has historically acknowledged the achievements and endeavours of American citizens by granting them honours within the Order of The British Empire, sometimes at the level of Knighthood or Damehood.
Notable Americans who achieved such lofty status within the British social system include;
George H W Bush GCB
Dwight D Eisenhower GCB
Bill Gates KBE
Melinda Gates DBE
Mark Getty KBE
Paul Getty KBE
Billy Graham KBE
J Edgar Hoover KBE
Bob Hope KBE
Angelina Jolie DCMG
Ralph Lauren KBE
Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin KBE
André Previn KBE
Ronald Reagan GCB
Dame Marjorie Scardino DBE
Steven Spielberg KBE
So, even though America, as a republic, doesn’t officially recognise titles of nobility or grant honours such as a knighthood, Americans can become a knight by being knighted in an honorary way, and they can belong to chivalry orders of organisations in other parts of the world.
As is reflected in the range of Americans who have been knighted, noteworthy citizens from all industries, sectors and occupations have an opportunity to rise within the echelons of society and attain recognition for their service, contribution or body of work.
Such remarkable contributions can result in the esteemed bestowal of honours, even from the monarch of a foreign country, and as a result, the noble title of Knight or Dame is available to American citizens.
An alternative route for US citizens
While the above routes to a knighthood (or the American equivalent) open up the possibilities for American nationals to rise within society, there is an alternative route that the Founding Fathers would likely claim as a reflection of the American Way, and that’s the practice of purchasing a noble title of Knight.
While these opportunities may be extremely rare in modern times, there are still occasions when knighthoods become available for purchase, usually through specialist agents who have unique connections with such exclusive vendors. And these opportunities are usually available to citizens of all nations, assuming they fit the other criteria required, such as the relevant means and identity checks.
So, for those Americans who are drawn to the idea of becoming an official Knight or Dame, it’s possible to fast-track the process of attaining honours in recognition of a life’s work, and pursue the modern approach of simply purchasing a genuine noble title – a practice that has been conducted throughout the finest noble systems of the world, and still endures today.
Marekani, kama tunavyoijua leo, ilipoanzishwa karibu na karne ya 17, ilirithi mfumo mwingi wa utamaduni wa nchi zilizoweka makoloni ya mapema. Kwa kuwa Uingereza ilikuwa moja ya nchi zilizodai kuwa na mamlaka kubwa juu ya Amerika Kaskazini ya kisasa, kulikuwa na kumbukumbu nyingi za kitamaduni za historia ya Uingereza katika mageuzi ya taifa jipya. Wakaaji wa kwanza wa Uingereza walikuwa mara nyingi raia wa Uingereza waliojitoa ambao walikuwa wamejitolea kwa nchi na watawala waliotawala, na hisia hii ya heshima na heshima ilihifadhiwa katika miji mpya ya Amerika iliyokuwa ikianza kuibuka. Hii inaweza kuonekana hata leo katika baadhi ya majina ya mahali ambayo yalichaguliwa kama nchi mpya iliyoendelea, na wengi kuwa tofauti ya maeneo kutoka nchi za makazi ya mapema. New York (ambayo awali ilikuwa New Amsterdam) ilipewa jina la mji wa York wa Uingereza, na jimbo la Virginia lilipewa jina kwa heshima ya Mfalme wa Uingereza, Malkia Elizabeth I, ambaye alijulikana kama Malkia Bikira. Katika siku za mwanzo za mageuzi ya Amerika, mfumo wa kijamii ulikuwa umevutiwa sana na mfumo wa Uingereza wa kifalme na watu mashuhuri, na wote wake hadithi Counts, Barons, Knights na Mabwana. """Utamaduni wa kisasa wa Marekani umebadilika sana tangu wakati huo, na moja ya mambo ya makoloni ya mapema ambayo yalishindwa kuokoka Vita vya Uhuru wa Marekani ilikuwa mfumo huu wa kijamii wa watu mashuhuri." "Wakati Marekani ikawa jamhuri, ilimaanisha mwisho wa utaratibu wa kijamii unaojulikana kama ""aristocracy,"" na baada ya kuachana na Uingereza, hakukuwa na nafasi tena kwa utamaduni wa vyeo vya kifalme vilivyopewa na mfalme." Marekani ilipokuwa ikikua katika uhuru wake kutoka Uingereza, ilichukua mbinu ya usawa zaidi na ya kidemokrasia kwa jamii na kuepuka mfumo wa enzi za enzi za ubinadamu ambao ulikuwa umefanikiwa katika Ulaya kwa karne nyingi. Mifumo mpya ya serikali iliyotengenezwa ilikuwa ya jamhuri na ilikuwa na upinzani mkali kwa utamaduni wowote au upendeleo wa kimakusudi kama vile uteuzi wa vyeo vya kifalme kama thawabu kwa huduma ya uaminifu au kazi za hisani. Kwa sababu hiyo, raia wa Marekani mpya hawakuwa na nafasi ya kupandishwa cheo na kupewa cheo cha cheo cha juu kama vile Knighthood au Lordship. Hii bado ni kweli leo, ikimaanisha kwamba Wamarekani hawawezi kupokea cheo cha knighthood kutoka nchi yao wenyewe, kwa sababu Amerika ni jamhuri na haitambui mfumo wa heshima rasmi ambayo inaweza kupatikana katika nchi nyingine nyingi duniani kote ambapo ufalme au sawa ya kifalme imeendelea. Hata hivyo, mifumo ya kijamii huwa na mwelekeo wa kuendeleza kwenye mistari kama hiyo duniani kote, na serikali kuu inatoa heshima fulani, haki au upendeleo kwa raia wake kwa mafanikio fulani au juhudi, na Amerika si ubaguzi. Ingawa taifa la jamhuri halitoi heshima kama vile cheo cha knighthood, kama inavyotokea kila mwaka nchini Uingereza kwa mfano, ina tuzo fulani ambazo hutolewa kwa watu wa sifa na tofauti ndani ya jamii ya Amerika. Kwa mfano, medali ya Uhuru ya Rais inachukuliwa sana kama sawa na Marekani ya knighthood ya Uingereza au MBE. Ni kiwango sawa cha utambuzi wa heshima kwa kuwa tu inapewa kwa watu wachache waliochaguliwa, ambao wamefanya mchango mkubwa kwa nchi, katika nyanja za usalama, amani ya ulimwengu, mafanikio ya kitamaduni au aina nyingine ya mafanikio ya thamani. Heshima hii ya Marekani ni sawa na utamaduni wa Uingereza wa kutoa cheo cha knighthood kwa raia wenye thamani, ingawa bado haina urithi wa kihistoria na heshima ya kudumu ya cheo cha knighthood ya kawaida. "Wamarekani waliopigwa na Knight katika Mfumo wa Heshima wa Uingereza kuna chaguo jingine linapatikana kwa raia kutoka Marekani ambao wana ndoto ya kufikia cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo cha cheo.""" Kwa mfano, mfumo wa kihistoria wa Uingereza wa cheo cha knighthood umekiri mafanikio na juhudi za raia wa Marekani kwa kuwapa heshima ndani ya Amri ya Milki ya Uingereza, wakati mwingine katika kiwango cha cheo cha Knighthood au Damehood. "Wanafunzi wa chuo kikuu cha Uingereza, George H.W. Bush, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates, Bill Gates Kama inavyoonyeshwa katika safu ya Wamarekani ambao wamekuwa knighted, wananchi mashuhuri kutoka viwanda vyote, sekta na kazi wana nafasi ya kupanda ndani ya ngazi za jamii na kupata utambuzi kwa huduma yao, mchango au mwili wa kazi. "Mashirika hayo ya kifalme yanajulikana kwa ""mashindano ya heshima"" na ""mashindano ya heshima"" na ""mashindano ya heshima"" na ""mashindano ya heshima"" na ""mashindano ya heshima"" na ""mashindano ya heshima"" na ""mashindano ya heshima"" na ""mashindano ya heshima"" na ""mashindano ya heshima.""" Njia mbadala kwa raia wa Marekani: Wakati njia zilizotajwa hapo juu za kuwa Knight (au sawa na Marekani) zinafungua uwezekano kwa raia wa Marekani kupanda ndani ya jamii, kuna njia mbadala ambayo Wazazi wa Kuanzisha pengine wangedai kama mwangaza wa American Way, na hiyo ni mazoezi ya kununua jina la Knight. Ingawa fursa hizi zinaweza kuwa nadra sana katika nyakati za kisasa, bado kuna matukio wakati cheo cha knighthood kinapatikana kwa ununuzi, kwa kawaida kupitia mawakala wa wataalamu ambao wana uhusiano wa kipekee na wauzaji kama hao wa kipekee. Na fursa hizi kwa kawaida zinapatikana kwa raia wa mataifa yote, kwa kudhani wanakidhi vigezo vingine vinavyohitajika, kama vile njia husika na ukaguzi wa kitambulisho. Kwa hiyo, kwa wale Wamarekani ambao wamevutiwa na wazo la kuwa Knight rasmi au Dame, inawezekana kuharakisha mchakato wa kupata heshima katika utambuzi wa kazi ya maisha, na kufuata mbinu ya kisasa ya kununua tu jina la kifalme halisi - mazoezi ambayo yamefanywa katika mifumo bora ya kifalme ya ulimwengu, na bado inadumu leo.