American Society
A history of the social structures and government of the United States.
The Constitution and Government of the United States
Much of the United States’ cultural identity traces back to its foundation as a government. The Thirteen Colonies developed during an era of far-reaching monarchies in the afterglow of their Renaissance. European powers in particular had extended their influence around the world, conquering foreign populations for the benefit of their empires. At the same time, Renaissance philosophies gave rise to the Enlightenment, a school of thought emphasizing rationality, individual liberty, and the duties of a state to its people. This philosophy proved influential among the nation’s early leaders, including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington.
A number of factors, including the issue of taxation, pushed the colonies to unite in rebellion against Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence, completed on July 4, 1776, reflects Enlightenment ideals in its most famous sentence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Slavery, however, continued for almost a century following the Revolutionary War. In addition, women did not gain the right to vote until 1920.
The United States formed the first representative democracy of the modern era. Rather than voting on each issue, its citizens elect representatives to vote in their stead. This process takes place on both a local and national level, with city, county, and state governments operating alongside federal authority. The federal government is divided into three major branches: Judicial, Legislative, and Executive. The Legislative branch consists of two lawmaking bodies, the Senate and House of Congress. The validity of these laws are assessed and upheld by the Judicial branch, headed by a Supreme Court. The Executive branch, led by an elected president, works to implement and enforce these laws.
Social Structures of the United States
Since its revolutionary origins, the United States has grown from thirteen largely agricultural states to a global industrial power. Its fiftieth and last state, Hawaii, was admitted in 1959, a few months after Alaska. The nation expanded through waves of immigration, creating a multicultural society pushing ever westward. In the process, these settlers displaced hundreds of Native American tribes, the original inhabitants of the land.
Huge reserves of untapped resources, ‘empty’ land, and the system of slavery fueled a booming early capitalist economy. The belief that any person can rise to success through hard work and skill remains central to American national identity. Free speech and the right to free worship are also considered fundamental rights. Public education is provided until the age of 18. At this point, citizens are considered eligible to vote and join the military. Social classes are primarily determined by wealth, with a wide gap between the very rich and very poor. Discrimination based on race and gender continues to limit economic opportunities for many people. This dynamic has driven much of the United States’ social movements. Another cultural divide exists between rural and urban areas, which is frequently reflected in national politics.
Social Movements Within the United States
The principles of equality espoused in the founding of the United States have been continually tested, protested, and reformed. Initially, the right to vote was limited in most cases to white male landowners. Slaves were counted by the census as three-fifths of a person to protect the interests of those early white landowners. Following the Civil War and the end of slavery, black citizens continued to face voter suppression and segregation. Other ethnic minorities have also struggled to be accepted into wider American society. As a consequence, the 20th century saw a number of social and labor movements meant to increase opportunity for all citizens. Many were met with widespread resistance and even violent suppression, but they resulted in a gradual expansion of rights for the common person.
Modern Societies of the United States
Today, American society continues to examine questions of race, gender, sexuality, immigration, economics, environmentalism, and the role of government. The place of the nuclear family in society, while still the standard, has declined alongside religious practice. The nation’s politics are for the most part divided between two major parties: conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats. Political beliefs tend to be divided along rural and urban lines, with city-dwellers more likely to adopt liberalism than their rural counterparts.
Typical Americans consume a wide variety of digital media through television and the Internet. Since the days of the radio, mass media has enabled both a unified sense of national culture as well as the growth of fringe movements. Growing tensions and alienation between the political parties and their followers have recently put a strain on society as a whole. Despite these challenges, patriotism is still a strong element of American identity. The nation celebrates its past through holidays like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Presidents' Day, Veterans Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Learn More About American Culture
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References
Grant, Susan-Mary. A Concise History of the United States of America. Cambridge University Press. 2012.
Nies, Judith. Native American History: A Chronology of a Culture's Vast Achievements and Their Links to World Events. Random House Publishing Group. 2012.
Remini, Robert. A Short History of the United States: From the Arrival of Native American Tribes to the Obama Presidency. Harper Collins. 2009.
“The World Factbook: United States.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 5 Sept. 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html.
Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present. Routledge. 2015.
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