Americanism (ideology)

This article is about political liberalism and individualism in the United States. For Catholic condemnation, see Americanism (heresy).
Example 1: A colorful red, white and blue decorated 1919 document by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, declaring itself to be patriotic and barring people viewed as unpatriotic from membership.
Example 2: Labor strikers of the Industrial Workers of the World holding American flags, held back by a militia bearing rifles and bayonets.
Ideals of Americanism vary widely from assimilation, monoculturalism, or centrality of a right to property to more classical liberal conceptions believed to be represented in the American Revolution, human rights, and republicanism.

Americanism, also referred to as American patriotism, is a set of nationalist values which aim to create a collective American identity for the United States that can be defined as "an articulation of the nation's rightful place in the world, a set of traditions, a political language, and a cultural style imbued with political meaning".[1] According to the American Legion, a U.S. veterans' organization, Americanism is an ideology, or a belief in devotion, loyalty, or allegiance to the United States of America, or respect for its flag, its traditions, its customs, its culture, its symbols, its institutions, or its form of government.[2] In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, "Americanism is a question of spirit, conviction, and purpose, not of creed or birthplace."[3]

Americanism has two different meanings: the defining characteristics of the United States, or loyalty to the United States and defense of American political ideals. These ideals include but are not limited to independence, equality before the law, freedom of speech, republicanism, innovation, and meritocracy.[1][4]

  1. ^ a b Kazin, Michael and Joseph A. McCartin, eds. Americanism: New Perspectives on the History of an Ideal Archived 2016-03-17 at the Wayback Machine. Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, 2006.
  2. ^ SAL Americanism report, American Legion, 2012.
  3. ^ Theodore Roosevelt. True Americanism, The Forum Magazine, April 1894.
  4. ^ Global Attitudes & Trends: Chapter 1: The American Brand, Pew Research Center, July 14, 2014.