Cultural history of the United States

This article covers the cultural history of the United States primarily since its founding in the late 18th century. The region has had patterns of original settlement by different peoples, and later settler colonial states and societal setups. Various immigrant groups have been at play in the formation of the nation's culture. While different ethnic groups may display their own insular cultural aspects, throughout time a broad American culture has developed that encompasses the entire country. Developments in the culture of the United States in modern history have often been followed by similar changes in the rest of the world (American cultural imperialism).

This includes knowledge, customs, and arts of Americans, as well as events in the social, cultural, and political spheres.

Before European colonization

The Americas before European colonization were home to a variety of societies, economies, and cultures.^[1]

The Columbian exchange was a series of biological and cultural transfers between Europe, Africa, and Asia, on the one hand, and North and South America, on the other.^[2] Among these were concepts of liberty, private property, and labor.^[3]

Colonial era

The United States was the first major British colony to become independent. Early into the American Revolution, the majority of the colonists still felt loyal to Britain and preferred reconciliation over independence.^[4] Close cultural relations eased the resumption of post-Revolution ties between the two nations and later aided their cooperation during World War II, giving rise to what became known as the Special Relationship.^[5] Both nations' cultural legacies and rising global stature led them to consider themselves as successors in certain ways to the Roman Empire,^[6] and American hegemony was able to peacefully succeed the British Empire's dominance in part due to the widely shared heritage.^[7]

Justice system

Prior to the early 19th century, people were infrequently jailed. Jails were considered too expensive and could not competently secure a criminal for a lengthy period. Those convicted were either flogged, placed in stocks for a time, or hanged. In 1829, an attempt was made to reform (induce repentance in) convicts by incarcerating them in a penitentiary. Strict silence was enforced. This model was widely copied and persisted for nearly a century. Authorities conceded failure when those incarcerated often went insane through lack of social contact.^[8]

American Individualism

Individualism in the United States has its beginnings dating back as far as the Revolutionary period. The ideas of the Enlightenment influenced many of the Founding Fathers when it came to philosophy on government and its relationship with individual rights. The founding documents of the United States, particularly the Bill or Rights, sought to protect individual rights and promote free expression of its citizens.^[9]

As the United States expanded westward, individualism became synonymous with the frontier character. Coined by President Herbert Hoover as "rugged individualism in 1928, many Americans developed a strong oppositional stance to the government in their lives. The brand of western individualism was defined by self-reliance as a result of living in remote areas. Today, attitudes of individualism are still prevalent in many areas that made up the western frontier. This is especially the case when it comes to counties with lower population densities.^[10]

Immigration

Immigration from the turn of the 20th century onward began to reshape American society, encouraging an identity forged around civic participation rather than ancestry.^[11] By the turn of the 21st century, new computing and transportation technologies and the impact of globalization also played a significant role in how immigrants entered and altered American culture.^[12]

Contemporary era

Notes

^ Mancall, Peter C. (2021-04-26). "Economic History of the United States: Precolonial and Colonial Periods". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Economics and Finance. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190625979.013.480. ISBN 978-0-19-062597-9. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
^ Emmer, Pieter (Feb 2003). "The myth of early globalization: the Atlantic economy, 1500–1800". European Review. 11 (1): 37–47. doi:10.1017/S106279870300005X. ISSN 1474-0575. S2CID 144318805.
^ Graeber, David (2021). The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity. D. Wengrow. London. ISBN 978-0-241-40242-9. OCLC 1237349194.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ admin-afba (2023-07-04). "Independence Day (July 4): The evolution of American independence". AFBA. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
^ Henkhaus, Luke. "How The US Became Independent (And Inseparable) From Great Britain". artsci.tamu.edu. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
^ Malamud, Margaret (2010-10-07), Bradley, Mark (ed.), "10 Translatio Imperii: America as the New Rome c.1900", Classics and Imperialism in the British Empire, Oxford University Press, p. 0, ISBN 978-0-19-958472-7, retrieved 2025-01-08
^ Schake, Kori (2017). Safe Passage: The Transition from British to American Hegemony. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-97507-1.
^ Johnston, Larry (January 11, 2012). "Shhh! Silent prisons were something to shout about". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 7B.
^ Daniels, Eric. (2011). A Brief History of Individualism in American Thought. In Donelson R. Forsyth & Crystal L. Hoyt (Ed.). For the Greater Good of All: Perspectives on Individualism, Society and Leadership (pp. 69-84). Palgrave MacMillan
^ Bazzi, Samuel; Fiszbein, Martin; Gebresilasse, Mesay. (2020). "Frontier Culture: The Roots and Persistance of 'Rugged Individualism' in the United States." Econometrica, 88(6), 2329-2368.
^ Hirschman, Charles (2005-11-01). "Immigration and the American century". Demography. 42 (4): 595–620. doi:10.1353/dem.2005.0031. ISSN 1533-7790.
^ Suarez-Orozco, Marcelo M. (2001). "Global shifts: U. S. immigration and the cultural impact of demographic change". Conference Series ; [Proceedings]. 46.

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[1] Mancall, Peter C. (2021-04-26). "Economic History of the United States: Precolonial and Colonial Periods". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Economics and Finance. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190625979.013.480. ISBN 978-0-19-062597-9. Retrieved 2023-03-21.

[2] Emmer, Pieter (Feb 2003). "The myth of early globalization: the Atlantic economy, 1500–1800". European Review. 11 (1): 37–47. doi:10.1017/S106279870300005X. ISSN 1474-0575. S2CID 144318805.

[3] Graeber, David (2021). The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity. D. Wengrow. London. ISBN 978-0-241-40242-9. OCLC 1237349194.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[4] -afba (2023-07-04). "Independence Day (July 4): The evolution of American independence". AFBA. Retrieved 2024-12-29.

[5] Henkhaus, Luke. "How The US Became Independent (And Inseparable) From Great Britain". artsci.tamu.edu. Retrieved 2025-01-08.

[6] Malamud, Margaret (2010-10-07), Bradley, Mark (ed.), "10 Translatio Imperii: America as the New Rome c.1900", Classics and Imperialism in the British Empire, Oxford University Press, p. 0, ISBN 978-0-19-958472-7, retrieved 2025-01-08

[7] Schake, Kori (2017). Safe Passage: The Transition from British to American Hegemony. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-97507-1.

[8] Johnston, Larry (January 11, 2012). "Shhh! Silent prisons were something to shout about". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 7B.

[9] Daniels, Eric. (2011). A Brief History of Individualism in American Thought. In Donelson R. Forsyth & Crystal L. Hoyt (Ed.). For the Greater Good of All: Perspectives on Individualism, Society and Leadership (pp. 69-84). Palgrave MacMillan

[10] Bazzi, Samuel; Fiszbein, Martin; Gebresilasse, Mesay. (2020). "Frontier Culture: The Roots and Persistance of 'Rugged Individualism' in the United States." Econometrica, 88(6), 2329-2368.

[11] Hirschman, Charles (2005-11-01). "Immigration and the American century". Demography. 42 (4): 595–620. doi:10.1353/dem.2005.0031. ISSN 1533-7790.

[12] Suarez-Orozco, Marcelo M. (2001). "Global shifts: U. S. immigration and the cultural impact of demographic change". Conference Series ; [Proceedings]. 46.

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