In Chapter 6 of “Who Are We” Huntington gets into the meat of what really created American identity. He beings talking about the signing of the declaration of independence, and moves on to describe how wars shaped the nation, namely the Revolutionary and the Civil War. He describes how during war our nation comes together, rallying around different ideas and symbols. Some of our nation’s patriotism faded around the 1960’s, Huntington argues, but there have been other ebbs and flows throughout history.
One of the strongest and most memorable examples of America forming it’s identity was the story in this chapter about Ben Franklin signing the Declaration of Independence. Before he did, he strongly considered himself a “Briton”, but while signing, he transformed into an American. It made me think about how people coming to this country really had to throw away their own identity for a country whose identity hadn’t even been fully created yet. Having a common enemy and all having fight so hard for their new country really helped in creating a strong American identity.
Huntington argues that are nation was not fully created until after the Civil War, and the Civil War actually made us more patriotic. It seems that the more you lose for a country the more you have stake in it, and the more you want it to prosper. Suffering brings Americans closer together, and the only commonality they have to rally around is their American identity, so in times of trouble, American symbols shine brighter than ever. However, American identity is sputtering. I would love to know is others think a common identity is as necessary when the country is prospering, and why it has seemed to dull down in recent years.
3 replies on “ERA Who Are We Chapter 6”
I agree with the concept of American identity prospering in times of struggle and conflict but I do see how internal struggle can lead to an actual lack of national identity. When there is an internal conflict within the country I think that people may start to distinguish themselves from those they are disagreeing with which creates individual groups within society. If groups are created within America itself, internal conflict can arise due to the split within the country. I believe in today’s political climate groups are being created based off political ideology. These groups are then getting into conflict with one-another regardless of their national identity as an Aemrican. This split within America explains why national identity appears to be dull as you describe. The conflict within the country is influencing certain people to not identify with America because they see their opposing political group as too closely linked with America. This shows that conflict does not always strengthen national identity but in turn can hurt it.
I think you make some very interesting points that I agree with. Today’s political climate is very polarizing and does hurt our nations national identity. I believe that groups will form no matter what. It is human nature, we all want to find like minded people and have a sense of belonging. When individual groups accumulate strength, while the nation doesn’t have a strong identity, I feel it is natural for individual groups overcome the nation. This of course isn’t the case in the U.S., but I think there are some real dangers to having a nation with a very weak national identity.
Elizabeth touches base on the most memorable example within the chapter, the event when Benjamin Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence and officially became and identified himself as an American. Even though right before this signing he identified himself as a ‘Briton.’ She mentions that “ people coming to this country really had to throw away their own identity for a country whose identity hadn’t even been fully created yet.” Even though Elizabeth is touching base to when America was first formed, this allowed me to think about immigrants. Some have not even figured their own identity but come to America looking for one.
I agree with Elizabeth when she discusses how distress and damage can bring people closer together, and that is why Huntington discusses the Civil War. This allowed America to form into what it is today. This is why even immigrants leave their own countries to prosper and be apart of the American identity, because Americans have pride in what they have become.