Nationalism In The 20th Century: A Thematic Approach By Stephanie A.

Nationalism in the United States Throughout the 20th century nationalism has had a huge impact in many of the events that have shaped the world. Nationalism was very significant in promoting the historical development and influenced the whole world politically, economically, and socially. According to The World in the 20th century: A Thematic Approach by Stephanie A. Hallock, nationalism is defined as “the self-perception that one is part of a nation, defined as a community with its own language, traditions, customs and history that distinguish it from other nations; a sense of identity that often becomes the primary focus of one’s loyalty” (Hallock, 5). World War I had a large impact on how Americans viewed their own country, which has led …show more content…
After World War I, the economy slowly changed due to the adaption of peace after the war. The result of this changing economy was more jobs and opportunities for Americans as new technologies were invented. More women were able to have jobs, as a result of their positions taken during the war when the men were away. The many new opportunities for Americans that came from the economy made many feel positive about their country and own lives. Nationalism also has a large impact on the economy because of foreign trade affairs. According to Ben Li, “In a given country, each region has economic interests in both its domestic and foreign markets. The relative importance of domestic and foreign trade changes over time, affecting the optimal size of a region’s domestic market. If the optimal size of a region’s market coincides with the size of a region’s country, that region will exhibit strong nationalism, which is essentially an endorsement of the country’s configuration” (Li). A strong domestic market is one of the most important factors of a thriving economy. This is a good example of nationalism because if a country’s domestic market is strong, then the country is strong. The countries who are occupy is more foreign trade, show weaker levels of nationalism, because the domestic market holds less importance to them (Li). An example of when nationalism was effected by the …show more content…
The excitement of violence of war began to increase throughout the twentieth century (Pettegrew). According to Pettegrew, “the principle of committing oneself to a cause remained closely tied to the identity of the modern American soldier” (Pettegrew). Nationalism created an archetype of the American soldier, “which took on aspects of heroism much as the athlete acquires an identity through the quality and style of play” (Pettegrew). This gave perspective gave the American soldier patriotic feelings which gave them the drive and motivation to fight for their country. Nationalism can also be found in music, art, literature, and theatre during the 20th century. For example, during World War I and the Great Depression, composers made music to help boost Americans enthusiasm and confidence. It also helped remind them of how America is different from everyone else. Other countries such as England, Mexico, Russia, and Germany also used music as a way to increase confident and boost spirts in their country. After WWII, a rise in globalization began as a result of the victory. The United States global responsibility increased and the United States was known as one of the most powerful nations in the world (Fousek). According to Foursek, “As the world’s greatest power, the United States held solemn duties: to feed the starving and rebuild the world economy, to provide moral leadership in the name of