Who was the first American in space?

Alan Shepard was the first American in space because he was selected as one of the seven original NASA astronauts for Project Mercury. On May 5, 1961, Shepard piloted the Freedom 7 spacecraft and completed a suborbital flight, becoming the first American to venture into space. His successful mission marked a significant milestone for the United States in the Space Race against the Soviet Union, and Shepard's achievement paved the way for future American space exploration.