When on September 11th ruthless terrorists kidnapped civil airliners and steered them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing and injuring thousands of innocent people on the ground, it was for the first time after Pearl Harbor that Americans had been attacked on their home soil. The events caused all different kinds of feelings in U.S. citizens: anger, grief, anxiety, desperation. But first of all they resulted in patriotism. People wanted to show their loyalty to their country and demonstrate to foreign aggressors that their nation was strong. Many joined the armed forces in the wake of 9/11 and added to the chorus of voices that called for a war on terror, which was answered when in October 2001 American and British coalition troops invaded Afghanistan in search of Osama bin Laden and with an intention of destroying the al-Qaeda network.
In this term paper I will give an overview of the special form of patriotism in the United States of America, highlighting only what I believe are the most pertinent aspects to support my thesis that patriotism was and still is an important factor in American society. I will try to elaborate on how U.S. patriotism developed through history and explain why it is practiced in a near-religious fashion even today.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 0. Initial remarks
- 1. The American Creed
- 1.1 The forging of a nation
- 1.2 Sources of the Creed
- 1.3 Religion and the Creed
- 2. Patriotism Triumphant
- 3. A nation to live and die for
- 4. Conclusion
- 5. Fußnoten
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper provides an overview of patriotism in the United States, focusing on its historical development and its near-religious practice. It argues that patriotism is, and has been, a significant factor in American society. The paper explores the evolution of this patriotism and the reasons behind its enduring strength.
- The development of the "American Creed" as a core set of values.
- The role of national symbols and events in shaping patriotism.
- The influence of religion and Enlightenment ideals on the American Creed.
- The impact of significant historical events, such as the Civil War, on the American Creed.
- Patriotism as a motivating factor in American foreign policy.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
0. Initial remarks: This introductory section sets the context by referencing the September 11th attacks and their impact on American patriotism. It highlights the surge in national unity and the subsequent "war on terror" as a backdrop for examining the unique nature of American patriotism and its historical evolution. The author states the intention to explore the development and near-religious aspects of US patriotism.
1. The American Creed: This chapter delves into the core values that define the "American Creed," a set of principles central to American national identity. It traces the origins of the Creed to Noah Webster's early patriotic textbooks and identifies key values like liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and laissez-faire. The chapter discusses the Creed's remarkable stability over time, noting that its most significant challenge came during the Civil War, when the South attempted to justify slavery in contradiction to these fundamental principles. The conflict highlights the importance of a shared ideology for national unity and the enduring influence of the Creed on American self-perception, even shaping justifications for subsequent wars.
1.1 The forging of a nation: This sub-chapter, integral to Chapter 1, details how the American Creed was formed, emphasizing its roots in early American education and the works of influential figures. The focus is on the dissemination of core values through educational materials like Webster's textbooks, reinforcing the unity and shared identity built around these ideals. It connects the Declaration of Independence and Washington's Farewell Address as key texts in shaping this foundational national narrative.
1.2 Sources of the Creed: This sub-chapter, also within Chapter 1, explores the intellectual and cultural influences that shaped the American Creed. It identifies Enlightenment ideas and Anglo-Protestant culture as major contributors, along with legal guarantees like the Magna Carta and concepts of natural law. The influence of more radical Puritan sects in adding the ideals of equality and government responsiveness is also emphasized.
1.3 Religion and the Creed: This sub-chapter (part of Chapter 1) examines the significant intertwining of religion, primarily Christianity and Protestantism, with the development and ongoing influence of the American Creed. It highlights the close relationship between church and state, even on an ideological level, and its profound impact on Americans’ views of their country, government, and their nation's role in the world. John Winthrop's "City upon a Hill" metaphor is cited as an early example of this perceived special mission of the United States.
2. Patriotism Triumphant: This chapter (details not provided in the excerpt) would likely explore the manifestations and expressions of American patriotism, perhaps focusing on national symbols, rituals, and public displays of loyalty.
3. A nation to live and die for: This chapter (details not provided in the excerpt) would probably delve into the sacrifices made in the name of American patriotism, potentially examining military conflicts and the profound impact of these events on the nation's identity and values.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
American patriotism, American Creed, national identity, Enlightenment ideals, religion, Civil War, national symbols, foreign policy, historical development, cultural values.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Overview of American Patriotism
What is the main topic of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of American patriotism, focusing on its historical development, core values ("American Creed"), and its near-religious practice within American society. It examines the evolution of patriotism and the reasons behind its enduring strength.
What are the key themes explored in the document?
The key themes include the development of the "American Creed" as a core set of values; the role of national symbols and events in shaping patriotism; the influence of religion and Enlightenment ideals; the impact of significant historical events (like the Civil War); and patriotism's role in American foreign policy.
What is the "American Creed"?
The "American Creed" refers to a core set of values central to American national identity. These values include liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and laissez-faire. The document traces its origins to early American education and influential figures like Noah Webster. It emphasizes the Creed's remarkable stability and its influence on American self-perception and justifications for war.
What role did religion play in shaping American patriotism?
The document highlights the significant intertwining of religion, primarily Christianity and Protestantism, with the development and influence of the American Creed. It discusses the close relationship between church and state, both ideologically and practically, and its profound impact on Americans' views of their country, government, and their nation's role in the world. John Winthrop's "City upon a Hill" metaphor is cited as a key example.
What sources influenced the development of the American Creed?
The American Creed's development was influenced by Enlightenment ideas, Anglo-Protestant culture, legal guarantees like the Magna Carta, concepts of natural law, and the ideals of equality and government responsiveness from more radical Puritan sects. Key texts like the Declaration of Independence and Washington's Farewell Address also played a significant role.
How is the Civil War addressed in the document?
The Civil War is presented as the most significant challenge to the American Creed, as the South attempted to justify slavery in contradiction to its fundamental principles. The conflict highlights the importance of a shared ideology for national unity and the enduring influence of the Creed on American self-perception.
What is the structure of the document?
The document includes an introduction, a detailed table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries (including sub-chapters), and keywords. The chapter summaries provide overviews of the historical development and near-religious aspects of US patriotism.
What historical events are discussed in relation to American patriotism?
The document references the September 11th attacks and their impact on national unity and the "war on terror" as a backdrop for examining American patriotism. The Civil War is explored in depth as a crucial turning point in the development of the American Creed.
What are some of the keywords associated with the document?
Keywords include American patriotism, American Creed, national identity, Enlightenment ideals, religion, Civil War, national symbols, foreign policy, historical development, and cultural values.
- Quote paper
- Tobias Rösch (Author), 2006, Patriotism in the United States, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/94329
