americanism meaning essay

Americanism Essay: Examples, Tips & Topics [2024 Update]

It’s not hard to see why Americanism is one of the most popular essay topics. The concept of Americanism is in the center of the US identity. Writing an essay about it is an excellent way to find out more about this great country.

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That being said:

From this article, you will learn everything you need to know about Americanism and essay writing. Choose your topic, follow our tips, and write your perfect composition! Besides, you’ll find out the Americanism definition and history in the article.Before we move forward, check our custom writing services and bookmark our website. Our free tips will help you with all kinds of essays.

• 🏆 Essay Contest
• 📝 Types of Essays

✍️ Before You Start

• 🖊️ Introduction
• 📄 Main Body
• ✅ Conclusion

🪄 How Are You Inspired by America Essay Ideas

• 🦅 Patriotic Essay
• 💰 American Dream
• 🗽 American Identity
• 🏻‍🤝‍🧑🏾 American Values

📚 Americanism Essay Examples

🔍 references, ❓ what is americanism.

Americanism is a set of ideas specific to the United States. Among its key concepts are freedom, equality, individualism, and democracy. It is believed that the United States is an exceptional nation because of these values. In short, you can say that Americanism is what makes people in the US American.

☝️ The Meaning of Americanism

First, let’s see the Americanism definition. It is an idea that celebrates the freedom and individualism of the US citizens. Opportunities and possibilities make the USA distinct from other countries. Carl Schurz, an American statesman and reformer, once said about it:

“This is not a mere idealistic fancy. It is the natural position of this great republic among the nations of the earth. It is its noblest vocation, and it will be a glorious day for the United States when the good sense and the self-respect of the American people see in this their “manifest destiny.” Carl Schurz

Americanism has no counterparts in other cultures. At the same time, it is a way of life, a set of beliefs, and a national character.

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What else makes Americanism unique? For instance, it doesn’t depend on a person’s place of birth. Anyone can become an American. They only need to accept the US values, such as:

• To be in control of one’s fate;
• To be oriented on future goals;
• Not to be afraid of changes;
• To believe in equal opportunities;
• To appreciate individuality.

As you can see, Americanism has a lot in common with nationalism and patriotism. Indeed, it emphasized the love for one’s country. It includes its symbols, such as the flag and Declaration of Independence. But, unlike nationalism, Americanism doesn’t regard ethnicity as vital.

There are also some other terms associated with Americanism:

• “Melting pot” is a metaphor of the US as the place where diverse cultures melt into one. You can see it explored in various Americanism essay examples .
• The American Dream is the idea of a perfect way of life. People come to the United States to achieve it.
• Some people identify as US citizens, as well as belonging to an ethnicity ascribed at their birth. For example, one can be Asian-American or Italian-American. It is called hyphenated Americans.
• Pan-Americanism is a movement that promotes good relationships between all countries on the American continent.
• There are many positive traits to Americanism. Still, it is sometimes seen as a hypocritical idea. Critics point out that the US doesn’t always follow its ideals. Also, they say that US policies do more harm than good. The dislike of America’s values is known as anti-Americanism.

📜 History of Americanism

Did you know that Americanism has a long and exciting history? Well, you’ll see it in this section:

• Americanism has its roots in the 17th century Protestantism. Back then, people proclaimed the US the “chosen country.” It meant that America, with its morals and democratic principles, should be an example to others.
• Later the colonists won the Revolutionary war. People saw it as proof of the country’s special status. They believed that new land offers unlimited opportunities. You only had to work hard.
• Soon the idea of Manifest Destiny was born. The US was supposed to spread its values throughout the continent. When the era of globalization came, Americanism became even more widespread.
• After World War I, veterans started an organization called the American Legion. They wanted to promote patriotism, democracy, and freedom. Besides, they came up with the concept of “100 percent Americanism”. By it, they meant the complete adherence to the US values. The organization still exists today and holds annual Americanism essay contests.
• Theodore Roosevelt is associated with the popularization of Americanism. He encouraged immigrants to come to the US and adopt the American way of living. People from all over the world moved to the United States in search of a better life.
• The idea that all men are created equal is written in the Declaration of Independence. While this statement is many centuries old, it still inspires millions of Americans.

🏆 American Essay Contest

Americanism is an excellent topic for an essay. Want to know why? It helps to raise patriotism and promote knowledge about our fundamental rights. No wonder there are even competitions held between students.

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Colleges and universities usually announce Americanism essay contests as an opportunity for the winners to obtain a scholarship.

What is it exactly?

Americanism essay contest is an annual essay writing competition organized for high-school students. The sponsors of the event are the American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion. Generally, the contest is oriented to promoting national values and discovering new perspectives.

According to the rules, participants need to conduct research and compose a paper on America’s topic. The ideas can be completely diverse: patriotism, foreign relations, religion, etc.

The participants of the Americanism essay contest are divided into three classes:

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• Class I – grades 7 and 8;
• Class II – grades 9 and 10;
• Class III – grades 11 and 12.

Besides, there are specific participation requirements . Students who are allowed to take part in the competition should be:

• American citizens
• Lawful permanent residents.

Regarding the formatting requirements , the essay should be either typed or handwritten. The maximum length is 500 words. No visual aids are allowed.

The work should be submitted to the local American Legion Auxiliary Unit. Before sending your essay, make sure the document includes:

• title page (with essay title on it);
• the participant’s name and address (city, state, zip, street, house, apartment number);
• school grade;
• school name.

The contest winners usually receive money awards or scholarships: the higher the class, the more prestigious the prize.

Would you like to participate in the competition? Below, you will find the essential tips and useful advice on how to write a perfect paper for the Americanism essay contest.

☑️ Americanism Essay: Ideas & Tips

Now you’re ready to write your paper on Americanism. Follow our how-to guide to get the best results.

📝 Types of Americanism Essays

You might be wondering: what kind of composition should I write? There are many ways to discuss Americanism. Let’s see which design you can choose depending on your topic.

Definition essay on Americanism

When writing about Americanism, it would be your first choice. This type of composition is focused on the concept’s meaning. For example, if your topic of choice is “What Americanism means to me,” it would be logical to write a definition essay.

You can start by introducing the definition of the word “Americanism.” Look into several different dictionaries. Then, write your thoughts on the topic. Think of what you can add to the definition based on your personal experience.

Argumentative essay on Americanism

In this case, you research the topic and then discuss it. You also provide evidence to support your ideas.

Let’s imagine that your topic is “Why Americanism is important.” State your personal opinion in the intro paragraph. Then, prove it by using facts. You can sum it up as “Americanism is important because…”

Descriptive essay on Americanism

It’s a type of composition that involves creativity. Convey images, sounds, and textures through words.

For example, an essay titled “Why America is a beautiful country” is likely to be descriptive. You can discuss the landscapes and places you’ve seen. Choose ones that left the impression on you. Similarly, you can honor your relatives by writing a composition about them.

Compare and contrast essay

Sometimes you want to talk about two different things in your composition. For instance, you choose the subject “Americanism and nationalism.” A compare and contrast essay would be the perfect choice for you.

In it, you enumerate the common elements between two things (compare.) Then, say what makes them different from each other (contrast). This way, you gain a deeper understanding of both concepts.

Choose the essay design that suits you best and follow the instructions below.

Now let’s see what other prompts can make your writing experience better.

• First of all, decide on your essay topic. Ideally, it should be something that you care about. This way, it will be easier for you to express your personal opinion.
• Search credible websites when you look for information. Sites ending with .gov and .edu usually have the most competent data.
• Try to avoid using biased sources when you’re writing about Americanism. This topic can be sensitive to some people. So, it’s better to stick to the facts.
• Another thing to keep an eye on is relevance. Check the date of the source before using it. For instance, you want to explore the attitudes towards Americanism from ten years ago. Look for the information from this period. If you’re writing about the current situation, avoid outdated sources.
• Finally, create a draft for yourself. In it, you can outline the basic structure of your essay. It will help you to work in an organized manner. An outline will also make your ideas flow logically.

🖊️ Americanism Essay: Introduction

Now you’re ready to start writing! And the first thing to consider is the opening paragraph.

Every good introduction starts with a catchy sentence. It is intended to grab the reader’s attention. This sentence is also called a hook. There are many different ways to formulate it. For example, you can say what makes your topic exciting. Alternatively, you may start with a famous quote about America.

For instance, you can begin your essay with this quote:

This is America: A brilliant diversity spread like stars, like a thousand points of light, in a broad and peaceful sky. George H.W. Bush

Keep in mind that the introduction is a crucial part of your essay. It provides the reader with the necessary background information. It also contains the thesis which you will be discussing.

So, you start by telling the reader what they need to know before reading your composition. Namely, it can be the definition of Americanism and other key ideas.

America is the country full of choices and opportunities. It impresses with its astonishing landscapes, tasty cuisine, fascinating traditions, and rich cultural heritage. Yet, the most significant distinctive feature of the USA is the wide diversity of ethnicities and ideologies presented among the country’s citizens and residents. Even though people’s beliefs differ to some extent, each member of the American community has a right to speak up their mind and state their point of view. This is what makes the country strong and unique.

The next step is to state your thesis. It sums up your position on the topic. Let’s say your essay is titled “Why should I be proud to be an American?” The thesis can be, “I am proud to be an American because I have freedom of voice and freedom of choice.” Remember to connect everything with your thesis statement!

📄 Americanism Essay: Main Body

Now it’s time to develop it in the body paragraphs. Their structure depends on the type of composition.

• In Americanism definition essays, it’s your explanation of the central concept. For example, you can say which parts of the dictionary explanation you disagree with.
• In argumentative essays, it’s the reasoning and evidence which support your point of view. For instance, you can analyze the statistics showing the attitude towards Americanism.
• In descriptive essays, it’s the picture you convey through words. Describe a national park, a city, or a person.
• In compare and contrast essays, it’s the similarities and differences between the things in question. You can alternate between comparing and contrasting. Or, you might focus consecutively on similarities and then differences.

For example, in an argumentative essay, the first body paragraph can look like this:

I am proud to be an American because I have freedom of choice. The USA is a truly liberal country where every individual is capable of setting life goals and principles and satisfying them. In America, people have a right to decide upon their religious views, choose educational institutions, express their sexual orientation, etc. Being capable of determining the way of life the citizens prefer to lead, the Americans feel more fulfilled and satisfied with their lives. The freedom of choice opens a considerable number of opportunities. Moreover, it provides people with the ultimate right to build their own life – the one they desire to have.

Here’s another tip: use enumeration in your paper. Start each paragraph with “firstly,” “secondly,” etc. It will give your composition a clear structure.

✅ Americanism Essay: Conclusion

And now it’s time to finish your essay. In the closing paragraph, you sum up the main ideas that you’ve arrived at. For example, go back to your thesis statement and say if you’ve proven it.

Naturally, there are different ways to conclude different types of compositions:

• Recommend your readers to visit the most beautiful US locations.
• Say that despite many similarities, the things in question are different.
• Finish your definition essay by formulating your short explanation of Americanism.

For example, the concluding paragraph might look like this:

Overall, the idea of Americanism is based on the liberal society where every member is capable of speaking up their mind and defending their position. America opens the door to the world of liberty and justice. Offering freedom of voice and choice, the country provides its citizens and residents with the possibility to take the preferred life path. Here, people feel independent and fulfilled because their points of view are taken into consideration. Due to the constant development of the Americanism concept, the USA remains one of the most powerful countries in the world for the past couple of centuries.

Keep in mind that sometimes there’s no definitive answer to the thesis question. Don’t worry if there are some objective contradictions in your composition. You can state in the conclusion that there exist various points of view on the subject.

Now you know everything, you need to write a perfect essay. We hope our tips will help you do your best.

💡 Americanism Essay Topics

Can’t choose a topic for your composition? Check our list and get inspired. See a few Americanism essay examples that illustrate our ideas below:

• Explain whether you think that the American dream is still alive .
• What is the role of consumerism in American culture?
• Discuss the value of traditional American culture.
• Analyze how the concept of freedom is understood in America.
• Diversity and respect as a part of American culture.
• Explore the specifics of a family institution in modern America.
• Describe the women who made an impact on American history.
• Discuss how the film Armageddon reflects the American culture of patriotism.
• Is teaching patriotism in schools a possible task?
• The peculiarities of American communication culture.

Looking for some inspirational ideas for your paper about the US? Check the ideas for your “How Are You Inspired by America?” essay that we have prepared for you:

• How does the American flag inspire you? For more than 225 years, the American flag has represented freedom and justice. It’s been serving as both a warning to opponents and an assurance to partners that democracy still exists. In your essay, you can reflect on what the US flag means to you.
• The US culture of independence and freedom. Write about a sense of individualism that exists in the US. In addition, you can provide examples of the individual achievements of American citizens.
• The evolution of American values. Examine the shifting character of American values and trace their evolution from the country’s founding to the present. Discuss how historical events, social movements, and cultural shifts have shaped these values. How do they affect your life?
• American volunteerism and its impact. When someone is in need, Americans are there to help, whether it is across the world or just next door. In your essay, you can share a specific story or example of American volunteerism that has inspired you. Why did it resonate with you?
• Why is the US designed around convenience? In your essay, discuss the importance of convenience for Americans in various aspects, such as transportation, consumerism, and social norms. Analyze critical factors contributing to America’s convenience-driven culture.
• America as the most diverse country in the world. One reason why people dream of visiting the US is to meet individuals from around the world. You can write an essay exploring how encountering diverse cultures and perspectives in America has enriched your life.
• The summer weather in America. People often think of California and Florida when they imagine the US. Write about your experience visiting these or other states in the summer. Describe the weather, lakes, beaches, campfires, and other memorable aspects.
• The most iconic dishes of American cuisine. Here, you can dwell on the distinctive features of American cuisine – from hamburgers to deep dish pizza in Chicago. Explain how food has impacted your love and appreciation for the US.
• Why do you want to go to the US? In your essay, share your personal experience of when you fell in love with America. Maybe you are dreaming of visiting this country because of the films and TV shows you have watched in your childhood. Or, perhaps, you were impressed by the stories of your classmates who had already been there.
• The role of the United States in the global community. Examine America’s historical involvement in international affairs and its current geopolitical position. Discuss its challenges and opportunities in shaping a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.

🦅 Patriotic Essay Topics

• Why I am proud to be American . This topic is all about your personal attitude towards the US. Describe the things that you love most about America. For example, it can be the right to speak your mind, have a good education, etc.
• Why is patriotism important for America? Discuss the significance of patriotism for your country’s well-being. A nation that loves its homeland does everything to make it better. Besides, working for the common good helps to prevent conflicts between people.
• What can we do to promote American patriotism ? Think about the ways of spreading the love for the United States. For instance, we can teach the history of the early colonies and the Founding Fathers. We can also talk about how patriotism helped us win in sports, conflicts, and even wars.
• Can patriotism be harmful? It’s an exciting and controversial topic. Think of its deleterious forms. For example, the ones that fuel prejudice, such as nativism.
• What is the difference between constructive and blind patriotism ? It can be a compare and contrast essay. Discuss the meaning of these two concepts and say how to tell them apart.
• Why do we pledge allegiance to the flag ? This topic is concerned with official symbols of the US. The flag is one of them. You can talk about its history or describe what it stands for.
• Is American patriotism voluntary or obligatory? It’s an excellent topic for an argumentative essay. Traditionally being American means adhering to a set of values, including love for one’s country. Does it make patriotism required?
• Is patriotism a reasonable justification for conflicts? Loyalty to the country played a crucial part in several clashes. For instance, you can explore its role in the Red Scare, the Cold War, and Iraq operations.
• Patriotism and the beauty of America. From canyons to big cities – describe the most stunning places in the US! Say if the beauty of your country makes you love it even more.
• The role of patriotism in my life. And here, you can focus on your personal experience. Do the outstanding achievements of the American nation inspire you? Do you have a relative that you’re incredibly proud of? Discuss it in a composition!

💰 American Dream Essay Topics

There have been at least a hundred thousand movies, songs, books, and manifests about the all-famous American dream. Writing an essay on this subject would be an exciting experience.

• Concepts of the American Dream . Study various dictionary definitions and come up with one of your own. Try to sum up the critical elements of this concept. Then, describe it the way you see it.
• Is the American Dream still relevant today? Some people say that its popularity is on the decline. Study the facts and learn about the attitude of the majority.
• American Dream : then and now. As you probably know, the idea of the American Dream is several centuries old. Throughout history, its meaning has changed. What used to mean perfect living conditions for everybody now has to do with fame and money. You can explore the changes in the American Dream and the reasons behind them.
• Is it worth pursuing the American Dream ? Some think the pursuit causes more harm than good, while others feel inspired by it. A person’s attitude toward achieving the American dream largely depends on how they interpret it.
• American Dream in The Great Gatsby . Here you can conduct a short literary analysis of the novel. See how F.S. Fitzgerald describes the ambitious, self-made men of the United States. Say if you agree with the characterization or not.
• What do the skeptics say about the American Dream ? It’s always important to hear the arguments from both sides. Find a competent opinion against the American Dream and analyze it. You may choose a speech, a book, or a poem.
• Who can achieve the American Dream ? Discuss if everybody can attain the status associated with it. Think about people from different social groups: aristocracy, new immigrants, or people of color.
• Can the American Dream be destructive? Centuries of pursuing wealth and happiness have plenty of negative consequences. For example, many people have unrealistic expectations. Others still exploit the poor for their profit. See how it is connected with the American Dream.
• What makes people disillusioned with the American Dream ? Here you can focus on dubious things associated with it. For example, there can be obstacles beyond one’s control. Similarly, a lack of privilege can make the dream unattainable.
• Is the American Dream useful? Despite its downsides, the dream remains an essential concept for the nation. However, because of its ever-changing meaning, it’s hard to keep up with it. Say if this concept has outlived itself or is still useful despite the changing times.

🗽 American Identity Essay Topics

The United States consists of people coming from all over the world. Like a melting pot for different cultures, America combines them into one identity.

• What makes the American identity unique? Here you can enumerate the character traits typical for US citizens. It can be exceptionalism, individualism, etc.
• What elements of American identity are borrowed from other countries? Think about food or traditional holidays. You may also discuss things like the legal system and religion that helped to shape national identity.
• Multiculturalism in the US . America is an amalgamation of various nations and ethnicities. Some of their traits merge into one collective identity. Others remain specific to the countries they originate from. You can write a fascinating essay on cultures co-existing in the US.
• What is the American Spirit? It’s an exciting concept that is hard to define. You can talk about the American Spirit at war. Or, you may choose to describe people who embody it, such as George Washington .
• Why is optimism essential for the American identity? Without a positive attitude, you can’t build a successful future. Result orientation, action, and love of change make Americans optimistic.
• Manifest Destiny in the US . As you already know, Manifest Destiny is an integral part of Americanism. Discuss its origins and effects on the nation in a fascinating essay.
• American national symbols . You’ve heard of Uncle Sam, stars and stripes, and a bald eagle. But what do these symbols mean? Explore their history and impact in your essay.
• The role of historical knowledge in the US identity. You will probably agree that knowing the country’s history is essential. It teaches us valuable lessons, inspires us, and sets examples. You can describe your personal experience in your composition.
• The Constitution as the beginning of US identity. Here you can write about what made the Constitution a crucial document. Back when it was created, it allowed both democracy and slavery. Think about similar contradictions in the American identity.
• The importance of sports for the US. Sports have always played an important part in uniting people. Baseball, football, basketball – the list goes on! Choose your favorite games and describe their importance for the nation.

🧑🏻‍🤝‍🧑🏾 American Values Essay Topics

US citizens have particular sets of values. Find out what rules govern the lives of Americans.

• Freedom as a fundamental American value. This topic covers all kinds of liberty—from religious to political. Think about the role freedom played in the formation of the United States.
• American home as a value. It’s traditionally accepted to take great care of your home. At the same time, there’s a tradition of moving often. Think about what this contradiction can mean.
• Equality: the essential American value. See what equality means for America and discuss its milestones. Don’t forget to mention the civil rights movements in your essay. For example, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP.)
• Hard work as an American value. As you know, work is one of America’s greatest virtues. The idea is that everyone gets what they deserve. Thus, those who put more effort—gain more profit. Do you think it’s true?
• Change in American society . Many cultures around the world treat change as something negative. It’s not the same in the US, where people welcome changes. Variation is believed to bring progress and a brighter future. You can compare the attitude towards change in the United States and other cultures.
• The value of democracy in the US. Democracy helps to prevent conflicts and promote development. Many people think that it’s a superior form of government. Say whether you agree with this statement and why.
• What makes materialism a national value? You may be interested in exploring this topic and its history. In America, material wealth is a natural reward for hard work. Find out where this belief comes from and what it means today.
• Education as an American value. This topic is closely connected to the idea of opportunity. By going to university, you can become whatever you want to be. Explore this notion in your Americanism essay.
• The importance of Martin Luther King’s speech, “I Have a Dream.” MLK’s address brilliantly sums up American values. It also points out the problems we need to solve to make our lives better. Explore it in your essay.
• Donald Trump and re-evaluation of Americanism. Since 2016, Americanism became widely popular due to Donald Trump’s policies. The belief in the unique mission and exceptionalism are back in the spotlight. You can discuss whether it’s a good or a bad thing in your essay.

Below you will find a few incredible Americanism essay examples. Check them out to get inspired!

Why I Am Proud to Be an American Essay Example

Our first essay sample explores the topic “Why I Am Proud to Be an American”:

Growing up, I was taught to be proud of my country, my culture, and our nation’s heroes. I am grateful for what we have in the United States, including the freedom to write, speak, and choose. 

The United States is a country where you can freely express your opinions without fear of being criticized or punished. While there are nations throughout the world that penalize people for speaking out against the government or certain religious views, America encourages different perspectives. Of course, the regulations and laws prohibiting hate speech must be obeyed, but Americans are free to express their views regarding political, ethical, and religious issues. 

Another reason to be proud of being American is freedom of choice. The United States is one of a few countries in the world with legalized same-sex marriages. It also allows its citizens to practice the religion of their choice. This open-mindedness has made the US a welcoming place for people from all walks of life and has contributed to its reputation as a melting pot of cultures and beliefs. 

No country is perfect. The US is not flawless, either. We have many issues, such as racial tensions and terrorism. Though we now see undeniable progress toward equality, the problem of racial profiling and prejudice still exists. Domestic and international terrorism is another worrying issue that inflicts uneasiness and demands serious security measures. We need to combine the efforts of citizens and government to overcome all shortcomings through constructive dialogue and meaningful reforms.   

Despite all these problems, I am and always will be proud to be an American. Freedom of speech and respect for diversity are two main principles that inspire me and make my country great. Of course, the US has imperfections and struggles, just like any other country. But we have already overcome significant obstacles in the past, and I know we will continue to do so in the future since we are the country of freedom and the home of the brave.

How Can I Be a Good American Essay

The essay example below provides a student’s reflections on how to be a good American.

Have you ever thought about what it means to be a good American? Even though everyone has their own answer to this question, there are several fundamental values that all US citizens respect and adhere to. These include abiding by the law, respecting individual rights, valuing our history and culture, and working together to make life better for everyone. 

The US Constitution is the basis of American democracy that protects individual liberties and rights. All Americans respect the Constitution and its Amendments and recognize the importance of the law. In addition, I believe that a good American is not afraid to take social responsibility, vote, participate in community organizations, and advocate for policies that uphold justice and equity. 

Examples from American history also demonstrate patriotism and love for the country. Good Americans recognize that a deep understanding of their nation’s past is significant for creating a meaningful connection to the present. When people learn about America’s history and culture, they understand its unique character, past challenges, successes, and strong spirit. This knowledge helps them become more active citizens, which enables America to keep improving and protecting its values. 

I think a good American is a true patriot who is not mindlessly loyal to the American nation but profoundly loves it, with all its strengths and flaws. A decent American also recognizes and appreciates the country’s victories and accepts its mistakes while working to make it a better place for all citizens.

Now you’re all set to write a perfect composition. What writing tips did you find the most useful? Let us know in the comments!

You might also be interested in:

• Coral Reef Essay: Descriptive Writing How-to Guide
• Best Descriptive Essays That Win Top Marks
• Harriet Tubman Essay: How to Write, Prompts and Ideas
• Halloween Essay: How to Write, Topics and Essay Ideas

🤔 Americanism Essay FAQs

Americanism essay is intended to capture the spirit of the USA. It often includes a reference to the ancestors and appreciation of human rights. Take aspects of the American way of life and develop them in a patriotic style.

Americanism is a concept that sums up the ideals of the USA. It treats equality, freedom, and one’s love for the country as especially important. Anyone who adopts Americanism can become a US citizen.

Americanism is an essential part of US culture. It’s a philosophy, a way of life, and a set of rules. It is unique, and it makes America different from all other countries.

You can say that Americanism is a belief in freedom and equality. It provides us with ideals we can follow to make the US better. These are the traditional values that make this country great.

• Comparing and Contrasting: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Argumentative Essays: Online Writing Lab: Purdue University
• Definition Essay: Excelsior Online Writing Lab: Excelsior College
• Writing the Introduction: Monash University
• Anti-Americanism Causes and Characteristics: Pew Research Center
• Americanism: Encyclopedia.com
• The Value of Democracy: Encyclopedia Britannica
• The American Spirit: Heritage.com
• Values in American Culture: Boston University
• Revisiting the American Dream: Is the U.S. Providing Fewer Opportunities to Get Ahead?: Wharton University of Pennsylvania
• Reality and the American Dream: Is Meritocracy Defined by Socio-Economic Status?: McKendree University
• One American Identity, Two Distinct Meanings: University of Colorado
• Writing Descriptive Essays: Purdue Online Writing Lab: Purdue University
• There Are Many Ways to Be Patriotic: Penn State College of Liberal Arts
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I would agree. ‘Dig deep’ and ‘dig deeper’ seem fine to me, and are common in corpora (more common than ‘dig deeply’ or ‘dig more deeply’ in BNC and COCA). I was wondering, is that because ‘deep’ can be a flat adverb, or is it because ‘deep’ here is an adjectival complement: that is, you’re not digging in a deep manner, but digging so as to be at a deep point (compare ‘run deep’, ‘go deep’, etc.)? I sympathize with the students over ‘computer program,’ as I often have to check myself with that one too!

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ALA Americanism Essay Contest: Stimulating students’ patriotism through writing

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Americanism in Language

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms

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• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
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• B.A., English, State University of New York

An Americanism is a word or phrase  (or, less commonly, a feature of grammar , spelling , or pronunciation ) that (supposedly) originated in the United States or is used primarily by Americans.

Americanism is often used as a term of disapproval, especially by non-American language mavens with little knowledge of historical linguistics . "Many so-called Americanisms come from the English ," Mark Twain accurately observed more than a century ago. "[M]ost people suppose that everyone who 'guesses' is a Yankee; the people who guess do so because their ancestors guessed in Yorkshire." 

The term Americanism was introduced by the Reverend John Witherspoon in the late-18th century.

Americanisms in Academics

Academicians, linguists, and grammarians have attempted to explain just what is meant by "Americacanisms," and specifically, how Americanisms came to be. Take a look at these examples from the likes of Robert McCrum and Kingsley Amis.

Robert McCrum et al.

• As pioneers, the first Americans had to make up many new words, some of which now seem absurdly commonplace. Lengthy , which dates back to 1689, is an early Americanism . So are calculate, seaboard, bookstore and presidential . . . . Antagonize and placate were both hated by British Victorians. As members of a multiracial society, the first Americans also adopted words like wigwam, pretzel, spook, depot and canyon , borrowing from the Indians, Germans, Dutch, French and Spanish." ( The Story of English . Viking, 1986)

Kingsley Amis

• - "A list of fully assimilated English words and expressions that started life as American coinages or revivals would include antagonise, anyway, back-number (adjectival phrase), back yard (as in nimby), bath-robe, bumper (car), editorial (noun), fix up, just (=quite, very, exactly), nervous (=timid), peanut, placate, realise (=see, understand), reckon, soft drink, transpire, washstand . "In some cases, Americanisms have driven out a native equivalent or are in the process of doing so. For instance, in no particular order, ad has pretty well replaced advert as an abbreviation for advertisement , a press clipping is driving out cutting as a piece taken from a newspaper, a whole new ballgame , that is a metaphorical game of baseball, is what meets the harried circumspect eye where once a different kettle of fish or a horse of another color furnished the challenge, and someone quit his job where not so long ago he quitted it. "Such matters probably indicate nothing more than minor, harmless linguistic interchange, with a bias towards American modes of expression as likely to seem the livelier and (to adopt an Americanism) smarter alternative." ( The King's English: A Guide to Modern Usage . HarperCollins, 1997)

Americanisms vs. British English

Others have commented on the impact of Americanisms on British English, as these examples from academic books on the subject as well as from the popular press demonstrate.

Gunnel Tottie

• "In American English, the first noun [in a compound ] is generally in the singular, as in drug problem, trade union, road policy, chemical plant . In British English , the first element is sometimes a plural noun, as in drugs problem, trades union, roads policy, chemicals plant . Some noun-noun compounds that entered American English at a very early stage are words for indigenous animals, like bullfrog 'a large American frog,' groundhog 'a small rodent' (also called woodchuck ); for trees and plants, e.g. cottonwood (an American poplar tree); and for phenomena like log cabin , the kind of simple structure many early immigrants lived in. Sunup is also an early American coinage, parallel to the Americanism sundown , which is a synonym for the universal sunset ." ( An Introduction to American English . Wiley-Blackwell, 2002)
• "[F]ew of the grammatical differences between British and American are great enough to produce confusion, and most are not stable because the two varieties are constantly influencing each other, with borrowing both ways across the Atlantic and nowadays via the Internet." ( British or American English? Cambridge University Press, 2006)

Bob Nicholson

• - "Most 'Americanisms' coined [during the 19th century] haven't stood the test of time. When a woman disposes of an unwanted admirer we no longer say that she has 'given him the mitten.' We still call experienced travellers 'globetrotters,' but tend to say they've 'bought the T-shirt' rather than 'seen the elephant.' We prefer more elegant metaphors for a cemetery than a 'bone-pit.' Our dentists might object if we called them 'tooth carpenters.' And if a teenager today told you they'd been 'shot in the neck' you might ring for an ambulance rather than ask what they'd had to drink the previous night. "Lots, however, have become part of our everyday speech. 'I guess,' 'I reckon,' 'keep your eyes peeled,' 'it was a real eye-opener,' 'easy as falling off a log,' 'to go the whole hog,' 'to get the hang of,' 'struck oil,' 'lame duck,' 'face the music,' 'high falutin,' 'cocktail,' and 'to pull the wool over one's eyes'―all made the leap into British usage during the Victorian period. And they've stayed there ever since." ("Racy Yankee Slang Has Long Invaded Our Language." The Guardian  [UK], Oct. 18, 2010)

Richard W. Bailey

• "Documenting the sustained prejudice against American English over the past century and a half is not difficult since the only alteration in the complaint involves the particular expressions that have come to the attention of the reviewers. So we will leap ahead to 21st century examples parallel to most of the complaints of the past. "In 2010, the expressions targeted for criticism included ahead of for 'before,' face up 'confront,' and fess up for confess (Kahn 2010). A counterargument has often been that these expressions are historically English, but the truths of historical linguistics are seldom persuasive or even seen as germane to the dispute. 'Americanisms' are simply bad English in one way or another: slovenly, careless, or sloppy. . . . Reports like these seethe with disapproval. "The same metaphors are used elsewhere in the English-speaking world. In Australia, new forms of language believed to derive from America are seen as a contagion: 'suffering the creeping American disease' is a way to describe a situation the critic deplores (Money 2010). . . . "The expressions that give rise to such complaints are not such ordinary Americanisms as blood type, laser , or minibus . And some are not Americanisms at all. They share the quality of being racy, informal, and perhaps a little subversive. They are usages that poke fun at pretense and gibe at gentility." ("American English."  English Historical Linguistics , ed. by Alexander Bergs. Walter de Gruyter, 2012)

Steven Poole

• "The playwright Mark Ravenhill recently tweeted irritably: 'Dear Guardian sub please don't allow passing . Here in Europe we die . Keep the horrible euphemism over the Atlantic.' . . . "Ravenhill's . . . complaint about passing is that it is an Americanism , one that should be kept 'over the Atlantic' by the verbal equivalent of a ballistic-missile shield, so as to preserve the saintly purity of our island tongue. The trouble with this is that it's not actually an Americanism. In Chaucer's Squire's Tale, the falcon says to the princess: 'Myn harm I wol confessen er I pace,' meaning before it dies. In Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 2 , Salisbury says of the dying Cardinal: 'Disturbe him not, let him passe peaceably.' In other words, the origin of this use of passing is firmly on this side of the Atlantic. It's as English as the word soccer ―at first spelled 'socca' or 'socker,' as an abbreviation of association football . "A lot of other supposed Americanisms aren't Americanisms either. It's sometimes thought that transportation instead of the good old transport is an example of that annoying US habit of bolting on needless extra syllables to perfectly good words, but transportation is used in British English from 1540. Gotten as the past tense of got ? English from 1380. Oftentimes ? It's in the King James Bible." ("Americanisms Are Often Closer to Home Than We Imagine." The Guardian [UK], May 13, 2013)

Simon Heffer

• "Some Americanisms keep slipping in, usually when we are given agency copy to re-write and do an inadequate job on it. There is no such verb as 'impacted,' and other American-style usages of nouns as verbs should be avoided ( authored, gifted etc). Maneuver is not spelt that way in Britain. We do not have lawmakers : we might just about have legislators , but better still we have parliament . People do not live in their hometown ; they live in their home town , or even better the place where they were born." ("Style Notes." The Telegraph , Aug. 2, 2010)
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Americanism

Definition of Americanism

Examples of americanism in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Americanism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1779, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing Americanism

• Pan - Americanism

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Dictionary Entries Near Americanism

Americanisation

Americanist

Cite this Entry

“Americanism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Americanism. Accessed 23 Mar. 2024.

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What is Americanism?

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• Johns Hopkins University Press
• Volume 35, Number 1, March 2007
• 10.1353/rah.2007.0003
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Exploring Essays on Americanism: Understanding the Essence of American Identity

When it comes to the essence of American identity, a multitude of concepts come into play. From patriotism and nationalism to political ideology and democratic values, the United States has always been a melting pot of ideas and perspectives. Throughout its history, there have been various essays that delve deep into these topics, shedding light on what it truly means to be an American.

One such essay is the annual Americanism Essay Contest that has been conducted since 2023. This contest provides an opportunity for young citizens to explore and express their views on American identity. Each year, the contest addresses a different aspect of Americanism, prompting participants to think critically and engage with the American identity in a meaningful way.

One of the recurring themes in these essays is the idea of American exceptionalism and the American Dream. Many writers explore the notion that America is a land of opportunity, where anyone can achieve success through hard work and determination. They discuss how this mindset shapes the American identity and influences the dreams and aspirations of its people.

Another important topic that emerges in these essays is the role of politics and policy in shaping American identity. The writers delve into how political ideologies and policies have affected the nation’s identity over time. They discuss the impact of presidents like Roosevelt and the policies they implemented, as well as the role of the Constitution and the various amendments that have shaped the country’s democratic values.

Furthermore, the essays touch upon the matter of anti-Americanism and the perception of America from foreign nations. Some authors explore how the actions and policies of the United States have contributed to anti-American sentiment abroad, while others argue that such criticism is unfounded and stems from a lack of understanding.

In addition to these overarching themes, individual essays tackle a wide range of specific topics, such as the role of women in American society, the influence of money and politics, the native versus foreign-born population’s perspective on Americanism, and the impact of education on the development of American identity.

The Evolution of Americanism: From Founding Principles to Modern Interpretation

At its core, Americanism is rooted in the belief that all people are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This fundamental idea submitted by the Founding Fathers continues to be a guiding principle for Americans today.

Throughout history, Americanism has taken on different forms, reflecting the general progress and diverse nature of the American people. From the early days of the United States, the concept of Americanism has manifested in various ways, such as through political papers and policy work aimed at protecting the nation from foreign invasion and preserving the values upon which it was built.

Over time, Americanism has also come to encompass other important aspects of American identity. For example, the women’s suffrage movement and the civil rights movement, both deeply rooted in the principles of Americanism, have sought to expand the definition of citizenship and ensure that all people are treated equally under the law.

One of the defining characteristics of Americanism is its patriotic nature. The belief in the American dream and the spirit of hard work and opportunity that it represents has long been an essential part of the American identity. Various types of patriotic propaganda and contests have been organized to encourage people to express their love for their country and celebrate the ideals that make America unique.

In recent years, the concept of Americanism has been the subject of much debate and discussion. Some argue that Americanism has been used as a tool to exclude certain groups and promote a narrow definition of what it means to be American. Others see Americanism as a positive force that brings people together and creates a sense of unity and pride in their country.

As America continues to evolve, so too does the concept of Americanism. It is not a static ideology but a living and breathing movement that adapts to the needs and aspirations of the American people. Whether you’re a prospective immigrant, an academic studying American history, or a citizen seeking to better understand your own national identity, exploring the evolution of Americanism can provide invaluable insights into the values and ideas that have shaped the nation throughout its history.

Examining Americanism through Literature: Perspectives and Themes

Literary essays on Americanism have played a significant role in shaping the country’s identity and providing insight into its core values. These essays often delve into various aspects of American life, such as politics, money, the American dream, and the heart of the nation.

One key theme explored in American literature is the idea of opportunity and the pursuit of the American dream. Many essays have highlighted the belief that America is a land of boundless opportunity, where anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve success and fulfill their aspirations. This theme has shaped the national narrative and continues to resonate within the American consciousness.

Another important theme in American literature is the role of politics and democratic values. Essays often reflect upon the ideals of American democracy, the importance of civic participation, and the struggle for freedom. The First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech and expression, is a cornerstone of Americanism and is often discussed in essays that aim to promote a more inclusive and democratic society.

American exceptionalism is another theme that runs through many literary works exploring Americanism. This concept asserts that the United States has a unique and special role in the world, with a mission to spread its values and ideology. American exceptionalism has been both celebrated and criticized, and essays often examine the tensions and contradictions inherent in this belief.

Moreover, Americanism has been a subject of satire and critique, with writers using their essays to question and challenge the status quo. Anti-Americanism is also a theme that emerges within some literary works, exploring the negative perceptions of the United States held by those within and outside the country.

One notable example is the annual “Americanism Essay Contest,” organized by the Fleet Reserve Association. This contest aims to promote patriotism and educate students about the values and history of the United States. The essays submitted often reflect a diverse range of perspectives, from descriptive and academic papers to satirical and critical pieces.

Tips for Exploring Americanism through Literature:

• Choose essays that cover a wide range of perspectives and themes to get a comprehensive view of Americanism.
• Look for essays that provide historical context and examine the role of literature in shaping American identity.
• Consider both positive and negative portrayals of Americanism to gain a balanced understanding of the concept.
• Pay attention to the language and writing style used in the essays, as they can offer insights into the cultural and social context of the time.
• Read essays by diverse authors, including those from marginalized communities, to explore alternative perspectives on Americanism.

Americanism in Popular Culture: Icons, Symbols, and Stereotypes

Popular culture plays a significant role in shaping the American identity. From the birth of America, popular culture has been a means of expressing and celebrating the values and beliefs that make up the American identity. Moreover, it has been a powerful tool for spreading American culture and knowledge to other parts of the world.

When we think of Americanism in popular culture, there are various types that come to mind. Descriptive Americanism is often portrayed in movies, music, and literature, depicting the American way of life and the diversity of its people. Satirical Americanism, on the other hand, uses humor and irony to critique certain aspects of American society. Moreover, there is a contest between American exceptionalism and anti-Americanism, with some people viewing America as the epitome of freedom and progress, while others question its actions and foreign policy.

A key symbol of Americanism in popular culture is the American flag. The flag represents the pride and unity of the American people. It is often seen in movies, TV shows, and advertisements, reinforcing the idea of American identity and nationalism.

Icons such as Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty also hold significant meaning in popular culture. Uncle Sam is a personification of the United States government, often used in political cartoons and propaganda. The Statue of Liberty, located in New York City, is seen as a symbol of freedom and liberty. It represents the ideals that America was founded on and continues to strive for.

Stereotypes are another aspect of Americanism in popular culture. Some stereotypes portray Americans as wealthy and arrogant, while others depict them as hardworking and patriotic. These stereotypes can shape perceptions of American identity, both within and outside the country.

Different Interpretations of Americanism: Debates and Controversies

President roosevelt’s view on americanism.

One perspective on Americanism was famously presented by President Theodore Roosevelt in a speech entitled “True Americanism” in 1894. Roosevelt declared that Americanism should encompass loyalty to the principles upon which the nation was founded, regardless of an individual’s birthplace or language. He emphasized the importance of assimilation as a means of uniting the diverse population within the United States and fostering a shared national identity.

Moreover, Roosevelt viewed Americanism as a belief system that promoted the values of freedom, opportunity, and equality. He argued that those who opposed Americanism were undermining the very foundations of the nation, thus labeling them as anti-American.

The Manifest Destiny and Americanism

The concept of the Manifest Destiny played a significant role in shaping Americanism. The belief in the superiority of the American way of life and the perceived duty to expand the nation’s territory fueled a sense of national pride and exceptionalism. Many viewed the United States as destined to spread its principles and values throughout the continent and beyond.

However, the notion of American exceptionalism has been met with criticism, both domestically and internationally. Critics argue that such a mindset can lead to a disregard for the interests and sovereignty of other nations, ultimately fueling negative perceptions of Americanism.

The Prospective Challenges in Defining Americanism

Defining Americanism in the modern era presents its own set of challenges. With the increasing diversity and globalization, the concept of American identity becomes more fluid and inclusive. The waves of immigration and the growing influence of different cultures and ideologies within the country have led to a more dynamic interpretation of Americanism.

Furthermore, current debates on topics such as socio-economic inequality, racial tensions, and partisan politics have raised questions about the true meaning of Americanism. Some argue that the emphasis on money and power within American society contradicts the principles of equality and opportunity that Americanism is supposed to uphold.

It is regrettable that Americanism has been a subject of divisive debates and controversies throughout history. Nevertheless, these debates reflect the continuous evolution of American identity and the ongoing struggle to define what it means to be American. As the country moves towards 2023, it is important to critically discuss and update our understanding of Americanism in order to promote a more inclusive and united society.

What is the main theme of the article?

The main theme of the article is exploring the essays on Americanism and understanding the essence of American identity.

Can you briefly explain what Americanism means?

Americanism refers to the set of values, traditions, and beliefs that are considered to be typically American, such as democracy, individualism, and freedom.

What is the connection between public education and Americanism?

Public education plays a vital role in shaping and promoting Americanism by teaching students about the values and principles of American society, such as equality, liberty, and justice.

What is the author’s opinion on communism and anti-Americanism in America?

The author satirically discusses the presence of communism and anti-Americanism in America, highlighting the irony of these ideologies existing in a country that promotes individualism and freedom.

What can readers gain from reading this article?

Readers can gain a deeper understanding of American identity and the importance of public education in promoting American values. Additionally, they can reflect on the irony of certain ideologies coexisting in American society.

What is the essay “Exploring Essays on Americanism: Understanding the Essence of American Identity” about?

The essay “Exploring Essays on Americanism: Understanding the Essence of American Identity” is about exploring and understanding the essence of American identity through various essays.

What topics are covered in the essay?

The essay covers topics such as Americanism, the essence of American identity, public education, communism, and anti-Americanism in America.

By Alex Koliada, PhD

Alex Koliada, PhD, is a well-known doctor. He is famous for studying aging, genetics, and other medical conditions. He works at the Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics. His scientific research has been published in the most reputable international magazines. Alex holds a BA in English and Comparative Literature from the University of Southern California , and a TEFL certification from The Boston Language Institute.

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PATRIOTISM was once defined as “the last refuge of a scoundrel”; and somebody has recently remarked that when Dr. Johnson gave this definition he was ignorant of the infinite possibilities contained in the word “reform.” Of course both gibes were quite justifiable, in so far as they were aimed at people who use noble names to cloak base purposes. Equally of course the man shows little wisdom and a low sense of duty who fails to see that love of country is one of the elemental virtues, even though scoundrels play upon it for their own selfish ends; and, inasmuch as abuses continually grow up in civic life as in all other kinds of life, the statesman is indeed a weakling who hesitates to reform these abuses because the word “reform” is often on the lips of men who are silly or dishonest.

What is true of patriotism and reform is true also of Americanism. There are plenty of scoundrels always ready to try to belittle reform movements or to bolster up existing iniquities in the name of Americanism; but this does not alter the fact that the man who can do most in this country is and must be the man whose Americanism is most sincere and intense. Outrageous though it is to use a noble idea as the cloak for evil, it is still worse to assail the noble idea itself because it can thus be used. The men who do iniquity in the name of patriotism, of reform, of Americanism, are merely one small division of the class that has always existed and will always exist,- the class of hypocrites and demagogues, the class that is always prompt to steal the watchwords of righteousness and use them in the interests of evil-doing.

The stoutest and truest Americans are the very men who have the least sympathy with the people who invoke the spirit of Americanism to aid what is vicious in our government or to throw obstacles in the way of those who strive to reform it. It is contemptible to oppose a movement for good because that movement has already succeeded somewhere else, or to champion an existing abuse because our people have always been wedded to it. To appeal to national prejudice against a given reform movement is in every way unworthy and silly. It is as childish to denounce free trade because England has adopted it as to advocate it for the same reason. It is eminently proper, in dealing with the tariff, to consider the effect of tariff legislation in time past upon other nations as well as the effect upon our own; but in drawing conclusions it is in the last degree foolish to try to excite prejudice against one system because it is in vogue in some given country, or to try to excite prejudice in its favor because the economists of that country have found that it was suited to their own peculiar needs. In attempting to solve our difficult problem of municipal government it is mere folly to refuse to profit by whatever is good in the examples of Manchester and Berlin because these cities are foreign, exactly as it is mere folly blindly to copy their examples without reference to our own totally different conditions. As for the absurdity of declaiming against civil-service reform, for instance, as “Chinese,” because written examinations have been used in China, it would be quite as wise to declaim against gunpowder because it was first utilized by the same people. In short, the man who, whether from mere dull fatuity or from an active interest in misgovernment, tries to appeal to American prejudice against things foreign, so as to induce Americans to oppose any measure for good, should be looked on by his fellow-countrymen with the heartiest contempt. So much for the men who appeal to the spirit of Americanism to sustain us in wrong-doing. But we must never let our contempt for these men blind us to the nobility of the idea which they strive to degrade.

We Americans have many grave problems to solve, many threatening evils to fight, and many deeds to do, if, as we hope and believe, we have the wisdom, the strength, the courage, and the virtue to do them. But we must face facts as they are. We must neither surrender ourselves to a foolish optimism, nor succumb to a timid and ignoble pessimism. Our nation is that one among all the nations of the earth which holds in its hands the fate of the coming years. We enjoy exceptional advantages, and are menaced by exceptional dangers; and all signs indicate that we shall either fail greatly or succeed greatly. I firmly believe that we shall succeed; but we must not foolishly blink the dangers by which we are threatened, for that is the way to fail. On the contrary, we must soberly set to work to find out all we can about the existence and extent of every evil, must acknowledge it to be such, and must then attack it with unyielding resolution. There are many such evils, and each must be fought after a fashion; yet there is one quality which we must bring to the solution of every problem,- that is, an intense and fervid Americanism. We shall never be successful over the dangers that confront us; we shall never achieve true greatness, nor reach the lofty ideal which the founders and preservers of our mighty Federal Republic have set before us, unless we are Americans in heart and soul, in spirit and purpose, keenly alive to the responsibility implied in the very name of American, and proud beyond measure of the glorious privilege of bearing it. There are two or three sides to the question of Americanism, and two or three senses in which the word “Americanism” can be used to express the antithesis of what is unwholesome and undesirable. In the first place we wish to be broadly American and national, as opposed to being local or sectional. We do not wish, in politics, in literature, or in art, to develop that unwholesome parochial spirit, that over-exaltation of the little community at the expense of the great nation, which produces what has been described as the patriotism of the village, the patriotism of the belfry. Politically, the indulgence of this spirit was the chief cause of the calamities which befell the ancient republics of Greece, the medieval republics of Italy, and the petty States of Germany as it was in the last century. It is this spirit of provincial patriotism, this inability to take a view of broad adhesion to the whole nation that has been the chief among the causes that have produced such anarchy in the South American States, and which have resulted in presenting to us not one great Spanish-American federal nation stretching from the Rio Grande to Cape Horn, but a squabbling multitude of revolution-ridden States, not one of which stands even in the second rank as a power. However, politically this question of American nationality has been settled once for all. We are no longer in danger of repeating in our history the shameful and contemptible disasters that have befallen the Spanish possessions on this continent since they threw off the yoke of Spain. Indeed, there is, all through our life, very much less of this parochial spirit than there was formerly. Still there is an occasional outcropping here and there; and it is just as well that we should keep steadily in mind the futility of talking of a Northern literature or a Southern literature, an Eastern or a Western school of art or science. Joel Chandler Harris is emphatically a national writer; so is Mark Twain. They do not write merely for Georgia or Missouri or California any more than for Illinois or Connecticut; they write as Americans and for all people who can read English. St. Gaudens lives in New York; but his work is just as distinctive of Boston or Chicago. It is of very great consequence that we should have a full and ripe literary development in the United States, but it is not of the least consequence whether New York, or Boston, or Chicago, or San Francisco becomes the literary or artistic centre of the United States.

There is a second side to this question of a broad Americanism, however. The patriotism of the village or the belfry is bad, but the lack of all patriotism is even worse. There are philosophers who assure us that, in the future, patriotism will be regarded not as a virtue at all, but merely as a mental stage in the journey toward a state of feeling when our patriotism will include the whole human race and all the world. This may be so; but the age of which these philosophers speak is still several aeons distant. In fact, philosophers of this type are so very advanced that they are of no practical service to the present generation. It may be, that in ages so remote that we cannot now understand any of the feelings of those who will dwell in them, patriotism will no longer be regarded as a virtue, exactly as it may be that in those remote ages people will look down upon and disregard monogamic marriage; but as things now are and have been for two or three thousand years past, and are likely to be for two or three thousand years to come, the words “home” and “country” mean a great deal. Nor do they show any tendency to lose their significance. At present, treason, like adultery, ranks as one of the worst of all possible crimes.

One may fall very far short of treason and yet be an undesirable citizen in the community. The man who becomes Europeanized, who loses his power of doing good work on this side of the water, and who loses his love for his native land, is not a traitor; but he is a silly and undesirable citizen. He is as emphatically a noxious element in our body politic as is the man who comes here from abroad and remains a foreigner. Nothing will more quickly or more surely disqualify a man from doing good work in the world than the acquirement of that flaccid habit of mind which its possessors style cosmopolitanism.

It is not only necessary to Americanize the immigrants of foreign birth who settle among us, but it is even more necessary for those among us who are by birth and descent already Americans not to throw away our birthright, and, with incredible and contemptible folly, wander back to bow down before the alien gods whom our forefathers forsook. It is hard to believe that there is any necessity to warn Americans that, when they seek to model themselves on the lines of other civilizations, they make themselves the butts of all right-thinking men; and yet the necessity certainly exists to give this warning to many of our citizens who pride themselves on their standing in the world of art and letters, or, perchance, on what they would style their social leadership in the community. It is always better to be an original than an imitation, even when the imitation is of something better than the original; but what shall we say of the fool who is content to be an imitation of something worse? Even if the weaklings who seek to be other than Americans were right in deeming other nations to be better than their own, the fact yet remains that to be a first-class American is fifty-fold better than to be a second-class imitation of a Frenchman or Englishman. As ’a matter of fact, however, those of our countrymen who do believe in American inferiority are always individuals who, however cultivated, have some organic weakness in their moral or mental make-up; and the great mass of our people, who are robustly patriotic, and who have sound, healthy minds, are justified in regarding these feeble renegades with a half-impatient and half-amused scorn.

We believe in waging relentless war on rank-growing evils of all kinds, and it makes no difference to us if they happen to be of purely native growth. We grasp at any good, no matter whence it comes. We do not accept the evil attendant upon another system of government as an adequate excuse for that attendant upon our own; the fact that the courtier is a scamp does not render the demagogue any the less a scoundrel. But it remains true that, in spite of all our faults and shortcomings, no other land offers such glorious possibilities to the man able to take advantage of them, as does ours; it remains true that no one of our people can do any work really worth doing unless he does it primarily as an American. It is because certain classes of our people still retain their spirit of colonial dependence on, and exaggerated deference to, European opinion, that they fail to accomplish what they ought to.

It is precisely along the lines where we have worked most independently that we have accomplished the greatest results; and it is in those professions where there has been no servility to, but merely a wise profiting by foreign experience, that we have produced our greatest men. Our soldiers and statesmen and orators; our explorers, our wilderness-winners, and commonwealth-builders; the men who have made our laws and seen that they were executed; and the other men whose energy and ingenuity have created our marvellous material prosperity–all these have been men who have drawn wisdom from the experience of every age and nation, but who have nevertheless thought, and worked, and conquered, and lived, and died, purely as Americans; and on the whole they have done better work than has been done in any other country during the short period of our national life.

On the other hand, it is in those professions where our people have striven hardest to mold themselves in conventional European forms that they have succeeded least; and this holds true to the present day, the failure being of course most conspicuous where the man takes up his abode in Europe; where he becomes a second-rate European, because he is over-civilized, over-sensitive, over-refined, and has lost the hardihood and manly courage by which alone he can conquer in the keen struggle of our national life. Be it remembered, too, that this same being does not really become a European; he only ceases being an American, and becomes nothing. He throws away a great prize for the sake of a lesser one, and does not even get the lesser one. The painter who goes to Paris, not merely to get two or three years’ thorough training in his art, but with the deliberate purpose of taking up his abode there, and with the intention of following in the ruts worn deep by ten thousand earlier travelers, instead of striking off to rise or fall on a new line, thereby forfeits all chance of doing the best work. He must content himself with aiming at that kind of mediocrity which consists in doing fairly well what has already been done better; and he usually never even sees the grandeur and picturesqueness lying open before the eyes of every man who can read the book of America’s past and the book of America’s present. Thus it is with the undersized man of letters, who flees his country because he, with his delicate, effeminate sensitiveness, finds the conditions of life on this side of the water crude and raw; in other words, because he finds that he cannot play a man’s part among men, and so goes where he will be sheltered from the winds that harden stouter souls. This emigre may write graceful and pretty verses, essays, novels; but he will never do work to compare with that of his brother, who is strong enough to stand on his own feet, and do his work as an American. Thus it is with the scientist who spends his youth in a German university, and can thenceforth  work only in the fields already fifty times furrowed by the German ploughs. Thus it is with that most foolish of parents who sends his children to be educated abroad, not knowing – what every clear-sighted man from Washington and Jay down has known – that the American who is to make his way in America should be brought up among his fellow Americans. It is among the people who like to consider themselves, and, indeed, to a large extent are, the leaders of the so-called social world, especially in some of the northeastern cities, that this colonial habit of thought, this thoroughly provincial spirit of admiration for things foreign, and inability to stand on one’s own feet, becomes most evident and most despicable. We believe in every kind of honest and lawful pleasure, so long as the getting it is not made man’s chief business; and we believe heartily in the good that can be done by men of leisure who work hard in their leisure, whether at politics or philanthropy, literature or art. But a leisure class whose leisure simply means idleness is a curse to the community, and in so far as its members distinguish themselves chiefly by aping the worst–not the best–traits of similar people across the water, they become both comic and noxious elements of the body politic.

The third sense in which the word “Americanism” may be employed is with reference to the Americanizing of the newcomers to our shores. We must Americanize them in every way, in speech, in political ideas and principles, and in their way of looking at the relations between Church and State. We welcome the German or the Irishman who becomes an American. We have no use for the German or Irishman who remains such. We do not wish German-Americans and Irish-Americans who figure as such in our social and political life; we want only Americans, and, provided they are such, we do not care whether they are of native or of Irish or of German ancestry. We have no room in any healthy American community for a German-American vote or an Irish-American vote, and it is contemptible demagogy to put planks into any party platform with the purpose of catching such a vote. We have no room for any people who do not act and vote simply as Americans, and as nothing else. Moreover, we have as little use for people who carry religious prejudices into our politics as for those who carry prejudices of caste or nationality. We stand unalterably in favor of the public-school system in its entirety. We believe that English, and no other language, is that in which all the school exercises should be conducted. We are against any division of the school fund, and against any appropriation of public money for sectarian purposes. We are against any recognition whatever by the State in any shape or form of State-aided parochial schools. But we are equally opposed to any discrimination against or for a man because of his creed. We demand that all citizens, Protestant and Catholic, Jew and Gentile, shall have fair treatment in every way; that all alike shall have their rights guaranteed them. The very reasons that make us unqualified in our opposition to State-aided sectarian schools make us equally bent that, in the management of our public schools, the adherents of each creed shall be given exact and equal justice, wholly without regard to their religious affiliations; that trustees, superintendents, teachers, scholars, all alike shall be treated without any reference whatsoever to the creed they profess. We maintain that it is an outrage, in voting for a man for any position, whether State or national, to take into account his religious faith, provided only he is a good American. When a secret society does what in some places the American Protective Association seems to have done, and tries to proscribe Catholics both politically and socially, the members of such society show that they themselves are as utterly un-American, as alien to our school of political thought, as the worst immigrants who land on our shores. Their conduct is equally base and contemptible; they are the worst foes of our public-school system, because they strengthen the hands of its ultra-montane enemies; they should receive the hearty condemnation of all Americans who are truly patriotic.

The mighty tide of immigration to our shores has brought in its train much of good and much of evil; and whether the good or the evil shall predominate depends mainly on whether these newcomers do or do not throw themselves heartily into our national life, cease to be Europeans, and become Americans like the rest of us. More than a third of the people of the Northern States are of foreign birth or parentage. An immense number of them have become completely Americanized, and these stand on exactly the same plane as the descendants of any Puritan, Cavalier, or Knickerbocker among us, and do their full and honorable share of the nation’s work. But where immigrants, or the sons of immigrants, do not heartily and in good faith throw in their lot with us, but cling to the speech, the customs, the ways of life, and the habits of thought of the Old World which they have left, they thereby harm both themselves and us. If they remain alien elements, unassimilated, and with interests separate from ours, they are mere obstructions to the current of our national life, and, moreover, can get no good from it themselves. In fact, though we ourselves also suffer from their perversity, it is they who really suffer most. It is an immense benefit to the European immigrant to change him into an American citizen. To bear the name of American is to bear the most honorable titles; and whoever does not so believe has no business to bear the name at all, and, if he comes from Europe, the sooner he goes back there the better. Besides, the man who does not become Americanized nevertheless fails to remain a European, and becomes nothing at all. The immigrant cannot possibly remain what he was, or continue to be a member of the Old-World society. If he tries to retain his old language, in a few generations it becomes a barbarous jargon; if he tries to retain his old customs and ways of life, in a few generations he becomes an uncouth boor. He has cut himself off from the Old World, and cannot retain his connection with it; and if he wishes ever to amount to anything he must throw himself heart and soul, and without reservation, into the new life to which he has come. It is urgently necessary to check and regulate our immigration, by much more drastic laws than now exist; and this should be done both to keep out laborers who tend to depress the labor market, and to keep out races which do not assimilate readily with our own, and unworthy individuals of all races–not only criminals, idiots, and paupers, but anarchists of the Most and O’Donovan Rossa type. From his own standpoint, it is beyond all question the wise thing for the immigrant to become thoroughly Americanized. Moreover, from our standpoint, we have a right to demand it. We freely extend the hand of welcome and of good-fellowship to every man, no matter what his creed or birthplace, who comes here honestly intent on becoming a good United States citizen like the rest of us; but we have a right, and it is our duty, to demand that he shall indeed become so and shall not confuse the issues with which we are struggling by introducing among us Old-World quarrels and prejudices. There are certain ideas which he must give up. For instance, he must learn that American life is incompatible with the existence of any form of anarchy, or of any secret society having murder for its aim, whether at home or abroad; and he must learn that we exact full religious toleration and the complete separation of Church and State. Moreover, he must not bring in his Old-World religious race and national antipathies, but must merge them into love for our common country, and must take pride in the things which we can all take pride in. He must revere only our flag; not only must it come first, but no other flag should even come second. He must learn to celebrate Washington’s birthday rather than that of the Queen or Kaiser, and the Fourth of July instead of St. Patrick’s Day. Our political and social questions must be settled on their own merits, and not complicated by quarrels between England and Ireland, or France and Germany, with which we have nothing to do: it is an outrage to fight an American political campaign with reference to questions of European politics. Above all, the immigrant must learn to talk and think and be United States. The immigrant of to-day can learn much from the experience of the immigrants of the past, who came to America prior to the Revolutionary War. We were then already, what we are now, a people of mixed blood. Many of our most illustrious Revolutionary names were borne by men of Huguenot blood–Jay, Sevier, Marion, Laurens. But the Huguenots were, on the whole, the best immigrants we have ever received; sooner than any other, and more completely, they became American in speech, conviction, and thought. The Hollanders took longer than the Huguenots to become completely assimilated; nevertheless they in the end became so, immensely to their own advantage. One of the leading Revolutionary generals, Schuyler, and one of the Presidents of the United States, Van Buren, were of Dutch blood; but they rose to their positions, the highest in the land, because they had become Americans and had ceased being Hollanders. If they had remained members of an alien body, cut off by their speech and customs and belief from the rest of the American community, Schuyler would have lived his life as a boorish, provincial squire, and Van Buren would have ended his days a small tavern-keeper. So it is with the Germans of Pennsylvania. Those of them who became Americanized have furnished to our history a multitude of honorable names from the days of the Muhlenbergs onward; but those who did not become Americanized form to the present day an unimportant body, of no significance in American existence. So it is with the Irish, who gave to Revolutionary annals such names as Carroll and Sullivan, and to the Civil War men like Sheridan–men who were Americans and nothing else: while the Irish who remain such, and busy themselves solely with alien politics, can have only an unhealthy influence upon American life, and can never rise as do their compatriots who become straightout Americans. Thus it has ever been with all people who have come hither, of whatever stock or blood. The same thing is true of the churches. A church which remains foreign, in language or spirit, is doomed. But I wish to be distinctly understood on one point. Americanism is a question of spirit, conviction, and purpose, not of

creed or birthplace. The politician who bids for the Irish or German vote, or the Irishman or German who votes as an Irishman or German, is despicable, for all citizens of this commonwealth should vote solely as Americans; but he is not a whit less despicable than the voter who votes against a good American, merely because that American happens to have been born in Ireland or Germany. Know-nothingism, in any form, is as utterly un-American as foreignism. It is a base outrage to oppose a man because of his religion or birthplace, and all good citizens will hold any such effort in abhorrence. A Scandinavian, a German, or an Irishman who has really become an American has the right to stand on exactly the same footing as any native-born citizen in the land, and is just as much entitled to the friendship and support, social and political, of his neighbors. Among the men with whom I have been thrown in close personal contact socially, and who have been among my stanchest friends and allies politically, are not a few Americans who happen to have been born on the other side of the water, in Germany, Ireland, Scandinavia; and there could be no better men in the ranks of our native-born citizens.

In closing, I cannot better express the ideal attitude that should be taken by our fellow-citizens of foreign birth than by quoting the words of a representative American, born in Germany, the Honorable Richard Guenther, of Wisconsin. In a speech spoken at the time of the Samoan trouble he said:

“We know as well as any other class of American citizens where our duties belong. We will work for our country in time of peace and fight for it in time of war, if a time of war should ever come. When I say our country, I mean, of course, our adopted country. I mean the United States of America. After passing through the crucible of naturalization, we are no longer Germans; we are Americans. Our attachment to America cannot be measured by the length of our residence here. We are Americans from the moment we touch the American shore until we are laid in American graves. We will fight for America whenever necessary. America, first, last, and all the time. America against Germany, America against the world; America, right or wrong; always America. We are Americans.”

All honor to the man who spoke such words as those; and I believe they express the feelings of the great majority of those among our fellow-American citizens who were born abroad. We Americans can only do our allotted task well if we face it steadily and bravely, seeing but not fearing the dangers. Above all we must stand shoulder to shoulder, not asking as to the ancestry or creed of our comrades, but only demanding that they be in very truth Americans, and that we all work together, heart, hand, and head, for the honor and the greatness of our common country.

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Americanism Essay Contest For Grades 7–12

FRA sponsors an annual essay contest to promote the spirit of Americanism and patriotism among our country’s youth. FRA's Americanism Essay Contest is open to all students, grades 7 through 12, including those who are home schooled.  Students are invited to submit a 350-word essay through an FRA member or local FRA branch before the December 1st deadline .  Local winners are forwarded for competition at the regional level and regional winners compete for national prizes.   The grand national winner receives $1,500.  Other winners receive $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, and $500 for third place.  Each national winner will receive an attractive plaque citing his/her achievement, and every entrant judged at the national level receives a certificate of recognition. Prizes may be awarded to students winning at local and regional levels of competition.

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Essay Samples on Americanism

Americanism and its impact on the english language and its dialects.

R. S. Suetlana (2017) expressed that dialect utilize particularly, tongues and highlights, are known as mode and cluster of discourse, breed decoders evaluate response, this survey reaction are attitudinal expression. State of mind is clarified in greater term as “a mental propensity that's communicated by...

• Americanism
• English Language

Anti Americanism and Pakistan Afghanistan Conflict After 9/11

The Joined together States intrusion of Afghanistan happened in October 2001, within the wake of the September 11, 2001 assaults on the Joined together States, checking the starting of its “War on Terrorism” campaign. Looking for to remove the Taliban and discover al-Qaeda engineer Osama...

• Afghanistan Crisis

Gender Difference in the Political Discourse

Political discourse is a broad field of study and it is identified by its participants that is politicians. Politicians actively participate not only in politics itself, but also in every kind of activity that may become helpful in gaining political aims. They are the group...

• Gender Inequality

The Values of Native Americans and Their Impact on the Modern America

Settler colonialism was an unmitigated disaster for Native Americans. Prior to the arrival of our fore fathers, the indigenous people were free. They had a vibrant culture with an established values and belief system. They hunted and fished for food. They had communities with leaders,...

• American Dream
• American Values

Values as the Crucial Element of the Person's Identity

Values are the principles or standards that governors an individual’s behaviour. They are the general expression of what is important to every individual. They are to our subconscious what mitochondrion (power house) is to cells. They are the ideals on which we evaluate people, actions,...

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The Ku Klux Act and Their Definition of Americanism

One could think that the Ku Klux Act did not generally define 'Americanism' as a whole. However, it is quite evident that this act, unfortunately, did represent a bigger part of Americanism, which has, from the earlier four hundred years been responsible for the oppression...

American Dream: The Collective Imagery of American Values

Every individual has their own dreams and aspirations in life. The route that they take to achieve these goals, more often than not, causes people to lose sight of their own morals and values. While the honest route is always the best choice, it may...

America First: Extreme Nationalism and Americanism in American History

The term ‘America First’ has a dark history of extreme white nationalism and is deeply rooted in racism, anti-immigration and xenophobia. However, the origins of this phrase stems from 1915, during the Great War, where President Woodrow Wilson and Americans used this slogan to oppose...

Anti-Americanism of the Soviet Period in Russia

For a better understanding of the roots of the problem, it is better to know what happened before the bad opinion was established. Before the Second World War, in Decembrists period was opposition in Russia whose ideology preferences was on USA democracy regime. One of...

Best topics on Americanism

1. Americanism and Its Impact on the English Language and Its Dialects

2. Anti Americanism and Pakistan Afghanistan Conflict After 9/11

3. Gender Difference in the Political Discourse

4. The Values of Native Americans and Their Impact on the Modern America

5. Values as the Crucial Element of the Person’s Identity

6. The Ku Klux Act and Their Definition of Americanism

7. American Dream: The Collective Imagery of American Values

8. America First: Extreme Nationalism and Americanism in American History

9. Anti-Americanism of the Soviet Period in Russia

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The Meaning of Americanism

by Mark Da Cunha | Jan 25, 2024

Nearly a quarter of a century into the 21st century, we live in a world of electric cars and rockets flying to launch satellites into space. Infant mortality has dropped and life expectancy has risen as the wonders of science and progress spread across the globe. Yet, at the same time wars are waged — “hot” ones in Ukraine , Gaza , Yemen, and the usual African countries, and “cold” ones elsewhere. Energy prices have skyrocketed along with the cost of living . Countries like Venezuela , have fallen to the point that their citizens resort to eating dogs and paying smugglers a fortune to cross to freer borders; while Argentina seems on a reversal course of fortune.

Central to this is the most powerful and wealthiest nation on earth, the United States of America. As it enters another election year the U.S. appears domestically to be on a precipice, as alt-right “America first” nationalists wage a “mostly peaceful” battle with progressive-left “save democracy” “ anti-racists .” They represent two conflicting visions of America with no common ground between them, leading to what some predict will be a violent civil war, with BLM race riots and a “J6 insurrection” being the initial salvos. In this context, historian and professor, C. Bradley Thompson has published a series of essays as a book, What America Is: The Moral Logic of the American Revolution and Other Essays , to shed light on that perennial question: “What is Americanism, and what does it mean to be an American?”

To Professor Thompson, America, is a country historically unlike any other, as being the first country to be born not as an accident of history, but as a decision based on a specific philosophy. Americanism, he stresses, is not something one is born into, as much as what one chooses . Writes Thompson, “I was an American born in the wrong country. Only later did I realize that to be an American is a choice and a way of life.”

What is this “way of life”?

“Americans are benevolent precisely because they are free. This is the genius of America. America is the freest nation in the history of the world, but that freedom does not lead to chaos or the rule of brute force. Instead, freedom leads to friendship, neighborliness, and the bonds of civil association. Government force cannot make us become friends; it can’t make us like or care for each other; it can’t make us share a meal with a perfect stranger. This can only happen when we’re free to choose—to choose how we want to live our lives and with whom.”

Thompson laments that despite attacks by terrorists on September 11th, and other countries on December 7th, 1941, the greatest threats to America in the past half-century have been internal .

Writes Thompson,

“The sad truth of the matter is that several generations of American intellectuals have been actively working to undermine the nation’s core principles and institutions. This is an observable and demonstrable fact. No armed military can defend America from this kind of assault. This effort has been quite deliberate, and it has been succeeding at an alarming rate. America today is fast approaching a cultural denouement that, unless confronted and thwarted, will cause the nation to collapse from within. The American spirit of liberty is not yet dead, but it is fading fast.”

He holds that America is attacked for its virtues, and that to defend those virtues, one must understand to the core what those virtues and values are. In his words, “Guns and bombs are not required to fight this battle. Your primary weapon is your mind, and your motivation must be your love for the promise of American life.”

In Chapter 1, “The Moral Logic of the American Revolution,” he notes Thomas Jefferson describing the Declaration of Independence as “an expression of the American mind.” Thompson then goes on to examine the components in the Declaration that make up that “American mind” namely: truth (“objective, absolute, immutable, universal, and permanent”), equality (“that all men share common qualities or attributes—namely, reason and free will—that distinguish them from all other species”), rights (“moral principles that serve as both a license to act and a fence to protect man’s freedom in a social context”), consent and revolution . He then shows the consequences of putting such theories into practice, that is, how “the moral logic” impelled them to act. In sum, they were “rebels with a cause.”

In Chapter 2, he answers the perennial question “What America is.” Though much has been written about what is wrong with America, Thompson takes on the task of “painting a portrait of what I think is best and most heroic about America.” In theory, Thompson notes that “The United States of America is the first nation in history to be founded on the basis of philosophy” which is outlined in her Declaration of Independence, which represents the philosophy of the Enlightenment. America is a country born of reason, or in Alexander Hamilton’s words “reflection and choice” as opposed to “accident and force.” More so, “Americanism,” and the culture that surrounds it, is not a matter of concretes , such as speech, food (Apple pie), dress (blue jeans), etc., but a set of concepts , expressed in that Declaration.

Echoing philosopher Ayn Rand, he writes:

“the American way of life with a social system that recognized, defined, and protected as sacrosanct the rights of individuals. The greatest achievement of the American Revolution was to subordinate society and government to this fundamental moral law.”

In practice this meant,

“A new civilization—a republican civilization—was born, free from the dead weight of the past, free from the encrusted hierarchies of old-regime Europe, free from artificial privilege and haughty arrogance, free from ostentation, decadence, and corruption, free from vicious, medieval laws, free from overweening state power, and free from the cynicism of low expectations. … Liberated from Old World habits, regulations, and taxes, this new American society produced a new sort of man defined by entrepreneurial energy and creativity.”

The result of this was the “self-made man” who Thompson notes is best exemplified in word and deed by Frederick Douglass (he includes Douglass’ essay in the Appendix). He notes that contrary to what many think such individualism and liberty “encouraged and generated new associations and bonds of civil cooperation.”

Concludes Thompson at the end of the chapter, “The American experiment in self-government truly was a novus ordo seclorum . We must fight to keep alive the vestal flame of American liberty for the new explorers of the twenty-first century and beyond.”

In chapter 3, “Equality and The American Dream,” Thompson looks at the “great paradox of the American promise, however, is that it unites two seemingly contradictory principles: equality and inequality.” All men are created equal in their rights, but they are unequal in their abilities. How does one “square this circle?” Thompson proceeds to do so remarkably.

In chapter 4, “Independence Forever,” he recounts his naturalization to become an American citizen when he was flooded with raw emotions that brought tears to his eyes (and to this reviewer in reading his story) as he viscerally grasped to his emotional core what those sacred words meant.

Chapter 5, “America Seen from the Eyes of a Child” recounts his discovery as a child in Canada that he was an American born in the wrong country, to today as a professor at an American University where he observes that Americans born in this country feel the reverse. For this, he lays the blame on academia:

“For almost 100 years America’s intellectuals have waged a war of attrition against the core values of American civilization. College professors regularly teach that reality is unknowable, that truth and intellectual certainty are a mirage, that there are no moral absolutes, and that all cultures and ways of life are of equal worth. Since becoming a professor, I have seen firsthand the damage that our college professors have done to American culture. The reigning moral orthodoxy of America’s schools, from elementary to secondary and post-secondary is the doctrine of moral relativism.”

In Chapter 6, “Americanism, or America’s Last Best Hope” he observes the tensions that are breaking America apart, “There are now two Americas, and the division is not between “haves” and “have nots” or between whites and blacks. The coastal, blue state, Ivy–educated Ruling Elite has contempt for flyover, red state, trailer park deplorables, and vice versa. Where is all this leading us? This much is certain: to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, a nation that hates itself cannot stand.”

He also observes that Americanism can provide a solution, and lead to a “Restoring the Vital Center” (Chapter 7) if those on the left and right can (re-)discover what Americanism is, and unite together as Americans. C. Bradley Thompson’s short book “What America Is” is an excellent place to start.

Recommended Links:

• What America Is: The Moral Logic of the American Revolution and Other Essays by C. Bradley Thompson (2023).

Mark Da Cunha

The views expressed above represent those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editors and publishers of Capitalism Magazine . Capitalism Magazine sometimes publishes articles we disagree with because we think the article provides information, or a contrasting point of view, that may be of value to our readers.

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Defining Americanism

If Patrick Deneen wants to discuss the nature and meaning of Americanism, I’m happy to oblige. Before I do that, though, let me make clear in no uncertain terms what is at stake here. I concluded my Cato Unbound essay with these words: “Those who wish to defend America’s Enlightenment values and the individual-rights republic created by its revolutionary Founders must therefore recapture from the neocons the intellectual and moral highground that once defined the promise of American life.” In response, Deneen writes as follows: “It is not fascism that is to be feared, but the universalizing and even imperialistic logic internal to Enlightenment philosophy itself that significantly inspired the Founders and animates neoconservative foreign policy.” In a nutshell, here then are the philosophic differences between Deneen and Thompson: he is an opponent of Enlightenment liberalism, while I am its proponent. Our mutually exclusive definitions of Americanism hinge on this difference.

Consider for a moment what Deneen is really suggesting here. He is staking his intellectual credibility on denouncing publicly what he calls “the imperialistic logic of Enlightenment philosophy.” In other words, what he’s really suggesting is that truth and logic are imperialistic, as are the self-evident truths of the Declaration of Independence. In doing so, Deneen finds himself in the same company with many radical feminists, multiculturalists, environmentalists, postmodernists, and Islamic totalitarians. They too find America’s Enlightenment values inherently “imperialistic.”

But there’s more. Deneen seeks to find a pre-Enlightenment philosophy of “robust localism” shorn of the “universalizing and even imperialistic logic internal to Enlightenment philosophy.” As he wrote recently at his blog, Front Porch Republic, Deneen supports the creation of a new philosophy that “ would be a kind of anti-Enlightenment —one that will recommend not the acquisition of scientific knowledge for the end of human conquest of nature, but rather the cultivation of the ‘virtue of ignorance’ toward the end of a more humble and deeper understanding of nature of which we are fundamentally and inescapably a part—and which, we are able to frankly acknowledge and accept, will kill us in the end.”[1] And so whereas Irving Kristol and Leo Strauss want to begin the long trek back to Platonic political philosophy, Deneen wants to get off the bus somewhere in the Dark Ages.

If we’re to have a serious discussion of “Americanism,” we should define our terms. Americanism is, in my view, something specific, whereas for Deneen it is everything and nothing. His Americanism would include the “robust localism” of Bull Connor Republicans, the national-greatness conservatism of David Brooks, and everything in between. These traditions may have an American history, but they do not define what is unique about America.

So, enough of Deneen and the “virtue of ignorance.” Let me now explain how I understand the nature and meaning of Americanism.

Americanism is a wide abstraction with a complex—if contested—meaning. It’s part political philosophy, part culture, part moral virtue, part attitude. Defined most broadly, Americanism is that political philosophy which identifies and defines the way of life and moral character most unique to the people of the United States of America. It prescribes a certain political philosophy and it describes the unique conditions under which that theory was translated into practice by millions of ordinary men and women in late eighteenth and nineteenth-century America. At a deeper level, Americanism captures the meaning of what Ayn Rand once referred to as the “American sense of life.”[2] Describing what the theory of Americanism is and how it was translated into practice is, however, no easy task.

Americanism is a curious concept that has no foreign counterpart. It suggests that the American identity is defined and shaped by an idea, an “ism,” or an ideology. No other nation has anything quite like it. We may speak of a French, an Italian, or a Persian culture, but there is no French-ism, Italian-ism, or Persian-ism. Americanism, by contrast, is more than just a culture steeped in historically evolved folkways (i.e., the forms and formalities associated with speech dialects, food, music, dress, architecture etc.). America’s traditional folkways (including Deneen’s various localisms) are no doubt different from those of any other nation, but such cultural accoutrements do not capture the essence of Americanism.

What, then, is Americanism? What are its principal characteristics? The answers to these questions will be found most clearly stated in the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was the practical and theoretical symbol of this new ideology. It represented both a heroic action (i.e., a formal declaration to the world of American independence from Great Britain) and a revolutionary idea (i.e., the doctrine of individual rights). It forever associated the American way of life with a social system that recognized, defined and protected the rights of individuals as sacrosanct. Morally, Americanism insisted that men have a right to be free—free to pursue their individual happiness without the interference of others. Politically, it declared that government should be strictly limited to protecting individual rights, which meant creating a sphere of freedom institutionalized by a separation of church and state, school and state, economy and state, and culture and state. Economically, it said that individuals should be free to produce and exchange their goods and services free of government control, and that they should be able to keep and/or dispose of their wealth without it being taken by the government. Socially, it was perhaps best captured by another distinctly American colloquialism: the idea of rugged individualism.

In sum, Americanism meant a principled commitment to freedom. It was associated with the moral and political principles of a society in which individuals were morally sovereign and left free of government interference to be self-owning, self-starting, self-reliant, and self-fulfilling.[3] It meant self -government in the fullest sense of the term (i.e., morally, politically, socially, and economically).

The meaning of Americanism today, however, is very different. To the extent that the term is even still used, its meaning has been highjacked by both the Left and the Right. The Left most often identifies Americanism with multiculturalism, relativism, environmentalism, regulation, and welfarism—in other words, with progressivism.[4] The Right typically identifies Americanism with Christianity, school prayer, tradition, family values, and community standards—in other words, with social conservatism.[5] None of these values are, however, uniquely American. In fact, in one form or another, they all have a distinctly European provenance that is set in direct opposition to the native meaning of Americanism.

How have I arrived at my definition of Americanism? Briefly, my methodology is similar to that of a distillery: it refines, extracts, and condenses the essential spirit of Americanism. My process therefore treats and filters out all of the impurities that have polluted the distinctive qualities that define the concept Americanism. My definition captures that which is most unique to America—that which was not a foreign import or born elsewhere.

We must always keep in mind, however that Americanism in practice (i.e., the reality of life in America day-to-day) has no doubt sometimes stood in stark relief to the ideal of Americanism. It is certainly true that the philosophy of Americanism has not always been applied equally to all Americans at all times and in all ways. Even the most laissez-faire period of American history was full of controls, regulations, and supports of one kind or another. More importantly, the wicked and tragic history of chattel slavery in America followed by the institutionalized discrimination of African-Americans after their emancipation are the most obvious examples of how Americans have not always lived up to the ideal of Americanism.

How, then, do we account for these obvious inconsistencies and contradictions? Abraham Lincoln helps us to understand the inconsistent and paradoxical relationship between the ideal and the real in American history. In his 1857 speech on the Dred Scott decision, Lincoln noted that the original theorists of Americanism, our founding fathers,

meant simply to declare the right, so that the enforcement of it might follow as fast as circumstances should permit. They meant to set up a standard maxim for a free society, which should be familiar to all, and revered by all; constantly looked up to, constantly laboured for, and even though never perfectly attained, constantly approximated, and thereby constantly spreading and deepening its influence, and augmenting the happiness and value of life to all people of all colours everywhere.[6]

The exception, slavery, thus does not disprove the rule or invalidate the concept. In fact, it actually helps to highlight the truth and force of Americanism. Lincoln’s “standard maxim” and the constant effort of the American people to always look up to, labor for, and approximate their freedom philosophy symbolizes the true meaning of Americanism. The great fact of Americanism is not that slavery once existed in this country, as it did in many other places, but that a heroic movement arose in the name of America to end it. The freedom philosophy of Americanism freed four million slaves, it liberated women and others from oppressive laws in more recent decades, and it has extended the sphere of freedom in countless other ways. Sadly, though, while we have gained many new freedoms in recent decades, we have also lost many old ones. Thus the history of Americanism has not ended.

Reclaiming the original and proper meaning of this one word—Americanism—is vitally important today because its definition will play an important role in determining how the American people view their past, present, and future. In a sense, the idea of Americanism captures the essence of who and what we are as a nation not only at the political level but also at a deeper psychological level. At stake in this battle to define a single word is nothing less than the future of America itself. The outcome shall determine whether the people of this nation will continue their descent into statism or whether they will recover the original spirit of liberty that first breathed life into what Abraham Lincoln once called mankind’s “last best hope of earth.”[7]

[1] “The New Lisbon,” http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2011/03/the-new-lisbon/ [2] In her essay “Don’t Let It Go,” Ayn Rand defined the concept “sense of life” as a “pre-conceptual equivalent of metaphysics, an emotional, subconsciously integrated appraisal of man and existence.” In Ayn Rand, Philosophy: Who Needs It? (Indianapolis, IN: Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1982), 250. [3] For a classic statement on the relationship between Americanism and a free society from the 1940s, see Ayn Rand, Textbook of Americanism (1946). See also, Leonard Reed, “The Essence of Americanism,” at http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/the-essence-of-americanism/ . [4] Michael Kazin and Joseph A. McCartin, Americanism: New Perspectives on the History of an Ideal (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 2006). The classic liberal-socialist critique of the original idea of Americanism is contained in Louis Hartz’s, The Liberal Tradition in America: An Interpretation of American Political Thought Since the Revolution (New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., 1955). [5] David Gelernter, Americanism: The Fourth Great Western Religion (New York: Doubleday, 2007). [6] Abraham Lincoln, “Speech on the Dred Scott Decision,” in The Political Thought of Abraham Lincoln , edited by Richard N. Current (Indianapolis, IN: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., 1967), 88-89. [7] Abraham Lincoln, “Annual Message to Congress,” December 1, 1862.

Also from this issue

Neoconservative intellectuals often describe themselves as having a particular mode of thinking — maybe even just a “mood.” C. Bradley Thompson argues that neoconservatism is much more than that. Its key philosophical inspiration of comes from Irving Kristol, and particularly from Kristol’s engagement with the philosopher Leo Strauss. Thompson argues that, under Straussian influence, neoconservatives champion the rule of a philosophically cunning elite over a population that will never be able to understand their intellectual masters. Instead, the populace is steered toward self-sacrifice, war, and nationalism — as well as a set of religious and moral beliefs that the elites in no way share. Such a doctrine, Thompson charges, points disturbingly toward fascism.

Response Essays

Douglas Rasmussen argues that post-Lockean natural rights theory does not entail nihilism, as Strauss seems to have feared. A further error of Straussian neoconservatism, Rasmussen argues, is that it often conflates society with the state. Although the members of a civil society may rightly desire that society’s continuance, it does not follow that the state must coerce people into being good. Statecraft is not soulcraft; governing consists of setting ground rules that leave individuals free to seek the good.

Patrick Deneen disagrees that neoconservatism is alien to the American political tradition. In particular, founders such as James Madison and Alexander Hamilton envisioned politics as a realm where men of extraordinary wisdom and talent would shape the course of the new nation. The idea that commerce may corrode the morals is certainly present at the founding, as are civic virtue, self-sacrifice, and concern for the public good, the latter to be divined by wise statesmen. The neoconservative claim to Americanism is as strong, if not stronger, than Thompson’s preferred libertarian ideology.

Damon Linker argues that, although Thompson’s treatment of neoconservatism has considerable value, he errs in his characterization of Leo Strauss and his followers’ political theory. Strauss was an Aristotelian, Linker argues, and Aristotelian political thought is comparatively benign. Linker also argues that national greatness conservatism—a staple of today’s neoconservatives—is a 1990s addendum to the philosophy with little relation to Strauss, Irving Kristol, or the other early lights of neoconservatism.

The Conversation

• Aristotelian Politics: Dangerous for Liberty? by Douglas B. Rasmussen
• On Patrick Deneen’s Intellectual Method by C. Bradley Thompson
• On Deneen’s Argument, or the Lack Thereof by C. Bradley Thompson
• Response to Douglas Rasmussen by C. Bradley Thompson
• Response to Damon Linker by C. Bradley Thompson
• Defining Americanism by C. Bradley Thompson
• Strauss, Nationalism, and Fascism by Damon Linker
• Response to Brad Thompson by Patrick J. Deneen
• Discussion, Not Hatred by Douglas B. Rasmussen
• The Road Not Taken by C. Bradley Thompson
• Neoconservatism: Best of the Blogs by The Editors

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• Americanism

a custom, trait, belief, etc., peculiar to the United States of America or its citizens.

a word, phrase, or other language feature that is especially characteristic of the English language as spoken or written in the U.S.

such a word or phrase first recorded in American English.

devotion to or preference for the U.S. and its institutions.

Origin of Americanism

Other words from americanism.

• an·ti-A·mer·i·can·ism, noun
• pro-A·mer·i·can·ism, noun

Words Nearby Americanism

• American holly
• American hornbeam
• American Indian
• American Indian Movement
• American ipecac
• Americanist
• American ivy
• Americanization
• Americanize
• American kestrel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use Americanism in a sentence

But he also remembers what Iberian anti- Americanism looked like up close.

Two decades on from his masterpiece on anti- Americanism abroad, Whit Stillman remains obsessed with native-expat dynamics.

Moreover, no one acting alone could have toppled—no one acting alone ever will—the idol of anti- Americanism .

Recent events show that anti- Americanism remains a potent populist tool among Arabs.

The tide of anti- Americanism has been rising in Pakistan for almost a decade.

I may record here that each of my assistants has since, to borrow an Americanism , “made good.”

I at once undertook to spread the gospel of Americanism , and introduced the celebration of the Fourth of July.

Principles of Americanism ; essentials of Americanization; technic of race-assimilation.

"Doing business at the old stand," laughed Thorndyke, attempting an Americanism .

"Truthful," for example, is said to be an Americanism , and at one time gave offence on that account.

British Dictionary definitions for Americanism

/ ( əˈmɛrɪkəˌnɪzəm ) /

a custom, linguistic usage, or other feature peculiar to or characteristic of the United States, its people, or their culture

loyalty to the United States, its people, customs, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012