Poetic Myths: American Nationalism and the War of 1812

“The Star Spangled Banner” is one of the best known patriotic songs in the United States; however, most people do not know it originated as a poem during a much understudied, but highly influential time. “The Star Spangled Banner” is one of several poems that helped build unity in America during and after the War of 1812. This project analyzes early 19th century American poetry and the influence it had on building foundational ideologies of American nationalism. It focuses on the role poetry played in creating nationalistic myths by using primary texts to explore and analyze the different themes, words, and styles used to convey poetry to the populace between 1812 and 1829. It also shows ideas, beliefs, and social and political ideologies prevalent among those with the influence to get their voices heard. The ideas that are most prevalent in the American nationalistic myth are those of valor, gallantry, pride, perseverance, godly endeavor, liberty, duty, roughness, and steadfastness. This study helps provide a general understanding of how national unity is built in fledgling countries

Building the New American Man: The Role of the United States Navy in Creating Ideas of Manhood, Masculinity, and an American Identity in the Early American Republic

After the Revolutionary War, the United States struggled to be recognized by the various global powers throughout the Atlantic World. The American propensity for claiming a neutral trade status, often led to conflict with other nations who were warring with one another. Particularly during their early years, the United States was challenged by Great Britain, the French, and the Barbary powers in the Mediterranean. Relying heavily on maritime trade and contracts, the United States needed to prove that, even without Britain backing them, they were a country worthy of these contracts and treaties. Presented as a social history of the United States Navy, this dissertation argues that it was the U.S. Navy that made these trade agreements possible by being the face and brand of America. Their actions and attitudes not only showed that the United States was a country with morals, humility, and honor, they were also not a country to be trifled with. Taking on the most powerful navies and authorities in the Atlantic and Mediterranean worlds, and not just surviving, but thriving, proved to the world that the United States deserved a place in the trade community. In addition, the U.S. Navy also provided an example of what the new American man was striving to become back home. Gentlemen of courage, honor, intrepidity, integrity, and bravery. Their actions gave the American populace a focus on which to unite, when so many topics threatened to tear them apart. The United States Navy, oft underrepresented in the annals of American History, were actually very important to understanding how and why the United States was given a place on the world stage, and the kind of image they were portraying to the world

Unity Amidst Chaos: How Poetry Influenced Nationalism in Post-Revolutionary America

This project analyzes late Post-Revolutionary American poetry and the role it played in the growth of nationalism by examining the various mediums, like song and oral recitation, and the impact poetry had on the illiterate populace. Previous studies into nationalism have focused mostly on the polled (those able to vote) demographic. However, these studies excluded the high number of poor, illiterate citizens in America who did not qualify as a polled citizen, but were influential and important as United States citizens regardless. Using primary and secondary texts, this project will explore this unpolled demographic, their impact on national issues, and how they were influenced by the polled populace. The project will then explore the different influential poems and mediums used to convey them to the citizenry. Finally, the project will examine if and how the poetry influenced the unpolled populace and how that, in turn, affected American nationalism

Poetic Myths: Poetry, Nationalism, and the War of 1812

The Star Spangled Banner is one of the best known patriotic songs in the United States, however, most people do not know it originated as a poem during a much understudied, but highly influential time. The Star Spangled Banner is one of several poems that helped build unity in America during and after the War of 1812. This project analyzes early 19th century American poetry and the influence it had on building foundational ideologies of American nationalism. Utilizing Benedict Anderson’s theory of imagined communities, nationalism is approached as a myth fabricated to build unity within a nation. This project focuses on the role poetry played in creating that myth by using primary texts, to explore and analyze the different themes, words, and styles used to convey poetry to the populace between 1812 and 1829. This project shows ideas, beliefs, and social and political ideologies prevalent among those with the influence to get their voices heard - most notably white males. This study helps provide a general understanding of how national unity is built