American Nationalism Raises Xenophobia

Some citizens believe that the rise of American nationalism has escalated the xenophobia issue in America. History displays the United States as the melting pot: The home of the free and the brave — Or is it? It appears that some might believe otherwise.

The Unhyphenated Americans

During the early 20th century, the noun “hyphenate” described an inhabitant or naturalized citizen of the U.S. It also defined a person whose current transcontinental national origin instigated others to raise doubt. Uncertainty in regards to his or her patriotic allegiances – with or without a just cause for that inquiry. Hyphenates, such as the German-Americans, Italian-Americans, and others, at one time were objects of mistrust.

For years, the Census Bureau questioned Americans about their heritage: To what nation does this individual pull their culture from? The following was the answer when white Americans were asked:

•  Only 17 percent claimed German decent;
• About 16 percent acknowledged that they had Irish descendants;
• The rest mentioned they had around 14 percent of English blood.

As reported by Huffington Post, these were the most common answers. Nonetheless, one in twelve white Americans chose not to put themselves in a box, but just called themselves — Americans. This indicates a native white identity, separate from any European origin. Unhyphenated Americans are clear-cut. They are more likely to be Protestants, who embrace the Protestantism point of view. Approximately two-thirds of them reside in the South, particularly in the Appalachia Greater area.

The Rise of American Nationalism

Hans Kohn, a Jewish-American philosopher and historian, claimed the U.S. government established a civic nationalism. This civil patriotism was supposed to be founded on legal and logical concepts of nationality. He also believed it was based on common language and cultural traditions, instead of ethnic American nationalism.

Historians report, the Founding Fathers created the nation upon classical, liberal, individualist principles instead of ethnic nationalist ideologies. Since World War I, American nationalism was based upon the civic, pro-independence culture of the nation’s founders.

However, in 1958, Abraham Lincoln introduced a form of American civic nationalism. This ideology was rooted in the doctrine of the Declaration of Independence. Lincoln’s goal was to create a dynamic for national harmony. However, this did not sit well with the South.

Southerners did not feel accepted by the North. They were slave holders and did not like this idea of unifying with those who were against this system. Southerners felt estranged and saw themselves as second-class citizens. As aggressive anti-slavery Northerners tried to end slavery, Southerners became more aloof. It would not be long before they formed their own form of patriotism, called Southern-American Nationalism.

The New American Nationalism

History proves that xenophobia existed long before Donald Trump became president. The victory of the North, in the Civil War, celebrated a significant shift in American nationalism. During the 1890s, the white South felt justified through its trust in the newly formed memory of the “Lost Cause of the Confederacy.” The North came to consent or at any rate, tolerate racial segregation. Historians also claim Northerners chose to look the other way when it came to the disfranchisement of Southern black voters.

Asian immigrants were not wanted either. In the 1880s, limitations were forced on most Chinese immigrants. The Japanese, in 1907, had informal restrictions placed on them. By 1924, the U.S did not make it easy for any Asian to enter the country. Nevertheless, the ones eligible for full citizenship were children born in the nation to Asian parents. In the 1940s, the restrictions came to an end for Chinese Americans. By 1965, all Asians were granted citizenship.

After 9/11, a new wave of nationalism plagued the nation. Military enlistment rose to an all-time high. This sudden increase included, not only lower-class Americans, but middle-class and aristocratic citizens.

However, some white Americans believe the U.S. should be a white and Christian nation. This ideology is nothing new and some think Trump manipulated that idea. People believe he repeatedly plays on people’s prejudices toward Muslims and immigrants, depicting them as corrupting raiders.

The Good Old Days

As stated by Jacqueline Gehring, a political science professor at Allegheny College, some Americans long for the good old days. “Throughout the U.S. people say they want to go back to the good old days, but that’s very much a radicalized idea,” says Gehring. Others agree that Trump’s tagline, “Make America Great Again,” goes all the way back to a time when ethnic minorities were not in powerful positions. A time when black people, especially were not seen as thriving the same way as working and middle-class whites. Gehring argues that it was an era where things were great for some families, but not so great for others.

Rather or not American nationalism raises xenophobia is not a question for some Americans, particularly for those that derive from ethnic groups that suffered extreme oppression.

By Jomo Merritt
Edited by Jeanette Smith

Sources:

Huffington Post: The American Nationalism Problem
Science of Us: These Are the Three Types of American Nationalism
Newsweek: HOW DONALD TRUMP’S NATIONALISM WON OVER WHITE AMERICANS

Image Courtesy of Ramsey County Minnesota’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License