Early American National Culture / Identity

Was this something that sprung up naturally? Or was it created?

The ideals of a ‘republican’ nation• Equality of opportunity rather than outcome

– Land is still plentiful– No rigid class system like in Europe– Embracement on the Enlightenment

• American Exceptionalism– The idea that the United States is fundamentally

different– Due to: it unique origins, national credo, &

historical evolution

Early Education• Jefferson ‘national crusade against ignorance’

– Needed to protect democracy– Supposed to have a free public schooling

• Private schools do most of the educating• Elitist in outlook

– Noble Savages• ‘civilize’ Native Americans w/ education (assimilation)• Missionary schools

– Slaves received almost none– Access to Higher Education was even more

restricted• Focused on the classics (latin, greek, philosophy,

theology)• Some law schools

Medicine & Science• Scientific method based on observation

and rational thinking

• Most doctors at the time didn’t go to medical school– Bleeding & purging– Benjamin Rush: advocated proper

sanitation– Decline in midwifery

• End result: expansion of education did not expand opportunity, rather restrict it

National Culture• A common national identity would also

support the American republic– Wanted cultural as well as political independence

from England (Europe)– American Textbooks– American Spelling

• American Literature– Writings proclaimed the special-ness of America– Washington Irving, Rip van Winkle

• Mason Weems– History on the Life and Death, Virtues and

Exploits of General George Washington

National Religious Character• Not nearly as unified as the rest of the national

character• American Revolution weakened traditional churches

– but still held religious beliefs• 10% of Americans were members of formal

churches• Emergence of Rational Theologies

– Deism– Unitarian Universalism

• 2nd Great Awakening– Fight the spread of rationalist thought– Allowed for unity of Christians of different denominations