America has been attempting to forge its own self-identity since it became independent. Ending the reign of the British Empire gave the young revolutionaries the opportunity to make their own path, unique and separate from all else. Beginning with the separation, the young nation was forced to solidify its claims that it could become and maintain a self-sufficient society in the global arena. In order to do this, it had to first justify their position to their own citizens. Challenges to the creation of this system domestically were due to the unprecedented venture they were undertaking; at the time, there wasn’t a democratic nation that they could use as their model. This made it difficult to establish their principles and initiate their system. But the foundation that set them apart would eventually directly aid in the recognition internationally. However, global acknowledgment did not spell the end of the creation of their self-identity. The complications that come from a free society would present new challenges that would continually test the validity of their system and the integrity of the young nation’s attempt to distinguish itself. 

America’s self-identification began with the creation of unique foundation of principles that separated itself from the rest of the world. Instituting a democratic government, America believed in freedom to the full extent: no longer would its citizens be subject to the rule of a king. However, this was not an issue that easily convinced the citizens, as many skeptics believed that this system would be no different than the monarchial evils. As witnessed in the political ad, the though of having the people rule needed to be witnessed in action rather than words in order to be appreciated by all. However, once the process was created with a Constitution that represented the rights for the people with the provision of the Bill of Rights, faith was restored in the hearts of the country. Over this period of time, the nation was creating new provisions that had never been attempted before, including a government consisting of local, state and federal levels. Although the federal government resembled a controlling power, the local and state influence combined with a powerful Congress set America apart as being ruled by the people.

Even with the creation of a sound government, the European powers were still skeptical about the prospects of this new nation. Having never witnessed such a concept work, Europe believed that is was only a matter of time for this experiment to fail and the colonization of the continent to continue as before. Although the democratic policies of America didn’t impress them, America did begin the process of ridding their continent of any outside influences. The Louisiana Purchase from France, finalized in 1803, nearly doubled the landmass of America. Increasing the boundaries to the Mississippi and down to New Orleans, America had not only increased the size of the country, but it had gotten rid of the French. Now, all that stood in their way were the natives. But the young nation still needed to solidify its position with global recognition, which it did not have. This would result from a renewed war with their former rulers, the British. After tension had raised to a boiling point, the War of 1812 erupted. Although America would not conclusively defeat the British, they did hold their own and fend them off, thereby preventing another British takeover. With the signing of the Treaty of Ghent and the Monroe Doctrine later, America had finally earned the respect of the world as a valid power.

America had now successfully created their government and gained the respect of the world, but their identity was not yet complete. It now needed to face its greatest test in successfully managing a domestic conflict with the potential of dividing the nation permanently. The issue of slavery had grown to be the decisive issue in America by 1820. The map of America following the Missouri Compromise reveals a nation torn sectionally by this conflict. By this time, the abolitionists of the North were spreading the word throughout the country about the horrible realities of slavery. William Garrison and The Liberator elaborated on these horrors in a way that had not been witnessed before to the common citizen. The charge was on and the Southern slave states needed to defend their trade, which they did. States, like South Carolina, protected their acts by commenting on the age-old practice as their right. Furthermore, such leaders as John C. Calhoun articulated their belief in slavery, which was responsible for the bulk of their economy and livelihood. Although there were outside influences, like Emerson and the Transcendentalists, America exhausted all diplomatic resolutions and the Civil War broke out. During this great war where America found a way to maintain its bonds in the direst of times, the identity was finally completed.

The road to the creation of America’s identity was tumultuous during this time period. Early attempts to create a new and unique government that would distinguish itself from the rest of the world was difficult. Creating such a different identity than all else left America with a challenging road to gaining global recognition. However, the young nation slowly but surely rid themselves of the outside influence and gained the respect of the European powers with its failure to concede to brutal attempts to take over the nation again. Also, the new policy of noncolonization and nonintervention brought about by the Monroe Doctrine gave America the validity to continue on in forging their own identity. The final test came with internal struggle over racism. A conflict that pitted the nation against itself sectionally, racism brought America to its greatest challenge. But America overcame all of these challenges and conflicts on the road to creating their own unique identity. Setting themselves apart from the rest of the world from the outset, the self-identity was a mirror image of what America represented: a revolutionary nation with the fundamental belief that it was to be ruled by the people and for the people.

Americans during the early years of their country were attempting to discover the self-identity of the United States.  This could be considered a difficult task due to the great diversity of people living in America; there were people who supported slavery, who were against slavery, who wanted to remain connected with Europe, and who wanted to be completely separate from everything in Europe.  Each of these peoples then tried to explain their feelings through actions and writings.  The nine documents given are arguments of each of the types of people living in America that were trying to help the young nation find its self-identity.

One of the conflicts between people in the United States was about whether slavery was good or bad.  John C. Calhoun believed that slavery was a “positive good.”  He argues that “in the present state of civilization, where two races of different origin, and distinguished by color, and other physical differences, as well as intellectual, are brought together, the relation now existing in the slaveholding States between the two, is, instead of an evil, a good - a positive good” in his speech given in the Senate on February 6, 1837.  He goes further to say that the Southern states that allowed slavery have less disorder and danger politically than the states that do not allow slavery.  A person who took the view of anti-slavery was William Lloyd Garrison.  In the first article of his newspaper The Liberator he uses the American Declaration of Independence to support his feelings; “Assenting to the ‘self-evident truth’ maintained in the American Declaration of Independence, ‘that all men are created equal, and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights--among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,’ I shall strenuously contend for the immediate enfranchisement of our slave population.”  Garrison also writes how he feels that his influence “is felt at this moment to a considerable extent.”  Both Garrison and Calhoun publicly announced their views and then tried to persuade others into supporting them.  This was their attempt to help find the identity of the United States when regarding slavery.

Another very important conflict occurring between Americans during this time in their history was if the United States should break free entirely from Europe, or if they should seek help from them.  Ralph Waldo Emerson felt that Americans should try to separate themselves from European practices. He says in a speech given to the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Harvard University in 1837 that “we have listened too long to the courtly muses of Europe” and that Americans need to define themselves as their own scholars, or the American scholar.  James Monroe felt that Europeans should not be allowed to interfere with the systems of America.  The Monroe Doctrine by James Monroe from December 2, 1823 states “it is impossible that the allied powers should extend their political system to any portion of either continent without endangering our peace and happiness.”  A political ad from the 1800’s states the feelings of some that the British might have too much of an influence in America.  This ad tells Republicans to “be cautious of the golden crown with the flaming eagle upon it.” All three of these documents show how some Americans greatly wanted to become free from European influence.

Two other acts from Americans were somewhat supportive of being connected with Europe.  The Louisiana Purchase was a way of taking France out of the United States, however it could have had a different outcome.  It was said that if France refused to sell this area, then the United States would form an alliance with England in order to protect it.  The United States was still willing to become attached with a major European power to protect itself.  The Treaty of Ghent, which was a “treaty of peace and amity between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America”, also caused the United States to remain friends with the British.  It seems that the political leaders of this time realized that the United States needed to remain friendly to the British, but also needed to remain apart from them.

The United States during its early years wanted to find its personal-identity.  However this was not an easy task because of the different feelings Americans had.  Some wanted slavery while others loathed it.  Some wanted the United States to be completely independent, while others wanted to remain allies with Europeans.  These issues would have to be solved later in history.