To What Extent Was Westward Expansion The Prime Ingredient Of American Nationalism In The Period 1789 To 1815?.
"There ought to be no New England men, no New Yorker known on the continent, but all of us Americans."1.
To start we must first look at the word nationalism and define what it means in this term. Nationalism in this case is the patriotic feeling that the Americans had due to the expansion along with other things. The nationalism that Americans felt started before 1789. .
They had banded together and created an invincible civilian army and defeated the strongest nation in the world, Britain.
In 1777 they chose "the stars and stripes" to be the United States National Flag. With 13 stripes for the founding 13 states, it was later decided that stars would be added with each new addition to the statehood. Americans were able to feel that they were now one country not several states, the flag became the symbol of nationalism.
The constitution of 1787 encouraged the admittance of new states into the union "New states may be admitted by congress into this union"2. It became linked with nationalism, it holds a symbolic value and binds the country together, it gives them their freedom and liberty but also their link to each other. The constitution was a national idol for the people of America.
In 1814 the "Star Spangled Banner" was written during the war with Britain. Although it did not become the National Anthem till the civil war it was still considered a national song that everyone knew and sang.
George Washington also became a strong national figure, someone who everybody rallied behind, and who led the country. He evoked nationalism amongst all of America. His birthday became a national holiday, second to Independence Day.
The symbols of America were deliberate so as to prove the United States nationhood.
There is no question, however that although there were several ingredients that lead to American nationalism the westward expansion was the main one.
