American nationalism

American nationalism is a form of nationalism in the United States that, as a movement or ideology, views Americans as a nation that should be congruent with and represented by the government of the United States, and it supports what it perceives to be the interests of that nation. It can be subject to civic, cultural, economic or state influences. Essentially, it indicates the aspects that characterize and distinguish the United States as an autonomous political community. The term often explains efforts to reinforce its national identity and self-determination within its national and international affairs.

American nationalism has found expression throughout American history. The first Naturalization Act of 1790 passed by Congress and signed into law by George Washington defined American identity and citizenship on racial lines, declaring that only "free white men of good character" could become citizens, and denying citizenship to enslaved black people and anyone of non-European stock; thus it was a form of ethnic nationalism. Some American scholars have argued that the United States government institutionalized a civic nationalism founded upon legal and rational concepts of citizenship, being based on common language and cultural traditions, and that the Founding Fathers of the United States established the country upon liberal and individualist principles.