Weekly Summary Two

Over the past week many of my fellow bloggers have discussed the United State’s status as a nation. The consensus was that the U.S. is a nation because we say it is, so stop asking whether or not it’s a nation, and I too believe this to be true. We are constantly reminded, especially during presidential elections and inaugurations, that, though we may be different in some ways, we also have much in common that we should celebrate and be willing to protect. In addition, much of American history has exhibited a tendency towards the top-down nationalism favored by political leaders in the second half of the 19th century, particularly with Lincoln trying to preserve the union of the country during the Civil War. It’s interesting to see the ways in which the development of the U.S. in the 19th century was similar to Europe’s, not just with nationalism but also with imperialism. Though our country’s history is unique, we do share more in common with Europe than we think.