The Creation of American Identity 1776-1789

Grace Welsh

Date of Award

2007

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Lewis, Eugene

Keywords

Colonial America, National Identity

Area of Concentration

Anthropology

Abstract

An examination of "emerging" America viewed from the perspective of political anthropology will be approached using the methodology of ethnohistory. I explore the nature of the development of American ethnic/ national/cultural identity. The employment of ethnohistorical methods will aid in my attempt to highlight a struggle for an "American" identity by analyzing the idea of civic myth traditionally used to gain support for the shift towards a national government. In the course of this exploration, I explain how historical events and processes aided in forging a national cultural identity. I will go on to examine and discuss the social relationships that led to the early political structures of the colonies and states, and the subsequent management of social representation in relationship to a hegemonic discourse of power. The use of historical material in the later half ofthe 18th century will be heavily referenced. The processes that led to the formation of the Constitution created certain paradoxes, between the myth and the reality of what became the "American Way." In altered form, these paradoxes are still with us today.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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