Building an American Identity
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The United States of America was an experiment in inventing an entirely new kind of nation. In the new republic, Americans saw possibilities opening before them that few people had ever experienced before. Representative government, the absence of an established aristocratic class, and, most of all, the unlimited possibilities of the huge continent, made it seem as if humanity was being offered a fresh start. This newness continued, as Americans joined in the industrial revolution and, eventually, took the lead--becoming the most powerful and prosperous nation in history. But, despite rapid and continuous growth, there were numerous problems in the new nation. Slavery and the destruction of the native Americans were two of the results of the Americans' belief in their right to succeed at any cost. Thus, as Americans worked at building a new society, they also had to develop new codes of behavior that would fit their situation. They were involved in creating a new identity for themselves, as Americans. In order to do this, they had to decide what was expected of an American. Political and literary writing were sources that inspired Americans to social rectitude--behavior toward the rest of the people that was in accordance with their images of themselves. A canon of American writing can be constructed from works that told Americans what their public duties were. These works range from letters to stories, and they convey their ideas about American identity in very
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radually produced a type of aristocracy that was every bit as unprincipled as the hereditary aristocracies of Europe. It is especially noteworthy, when considering Davis' place in a canon concerned with American identity and social rectitude, to note that it is only through the intervention of Quakers, a group known for placing principle above all other considerations, that some of the family's humanity is salvaged in the story.
The problems of the working poor never started a revolution in America. Perhaps, this was because American identity was so closely tied to the idea of unlimited possibilities for anyone. But, Southern slavery was the cause of a war. The South fought to preserve slavery, and the North fought to preserve the union. The North did outlaw slavery, but efforts at integrating the freed slaves into society were not successful. The racial discrimination that continued to block opportunity for African Americans was the subject of former slave Booker T. Washington's "Atlanta Exposition Address." Washington recognized that the limitations that white Americans continued to place on black people, were intimately tied to old ideas that were nearly impossible to erase. Thus, Washington urged people to cast down
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Approximate Word count = 3283
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page)
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