How do the character, language and themes reflect aspects of what it means to be “American” ?

At the time this was written, being American meant being born in the United States and wondering about those who were not.  One of the jurors is an immigrant, so when he comments on some of the rights of Americans he is regarded with some suspiciion.  Another indication of what it was like to be an American has to do with the fact that all of the jurors are men, an indication of what 1954 society was more like where men often worked and women stayed home and did not participate in the government or the legal system.