Search for national identity

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The Search For National Identity
Nationalism is the attitude members of a nation have when they care about their national identity. Nationalism can also be the love of a country and the willingness to make sacrifices for it. Just as a person’s identity is affected by other people and the events in their life, a nation is affected the same way. There have been many people and events that have affected the national identity of America.
There were two Awakenings that spread different aspects of American thought. The first Awakening brought a change in the style of preaching. The new style that took hold was passionate and fiery, characterized by preachers giving detailed descriptions of the fate of those headed to eternal punishment in hell. Jonathan Edwards was one of the leaders of the first Awakening. Edward’s involvement in the Awakening started when he delivered a series of fiery sermons against Arminianism. Those sermons told of eternal damnation of the people if they kept to their rebellious ways. ( Berkin pg.76), (RRAL pg 19) Charles Chauncy was the biggest opponent of the first Awakening. Chauncy’s writings denounced Edwards and the awakening. (RRAL pg. 26) The Awakening was a counter to the Age of Enlightenment, in that it reaffirmed the thinking that the heart is greater than the mind, and that intellect cannot be relied upon. (Berkin pg. 75)
Emotional revival meetings characterized the second Great Awakening in American. Those revival meetings would last for five days at a time. Revival attendees would listen to preachers in the evening and study during the daytime. The meetings would draw up to twenty-five thousand people. (Berkin pg. 76) People didn’t only come to here the preaching, they also came for social purposes. People got a chance to talk and trade with other people. This Awakening called for a return to God and Godly living. Church attendance increased during the Awakening. Attempts to limit alcohol and abolish slavery also came as a result of the second Awakening, as did the rise of the American Bible Society. The Society sent out missionaries to spread the Word of God, and increase the distribution of Bibles. (RRAL pg. 60) In combination, these Awakenings increased the recognition of God’s presence and the direction of individual lives, as well as the life of the Nation.
Westward expansion has also dramatically influenced the shape of ...

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...bolition of slavery. He wrote and spoke out against the institution of slavery. (RRAL pg. 101) Inventions like the cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney, helped lessen the need for slaves, but did not completely end the practice. When slavery was prohibited, it caused a dramatic change in America. America’s identity was then enhanced with the notion that everyone is equal. The equality of people is prevalent in today’s society. While the first and second Great Awakenings increased America’s recognition of God’s role in our Nation, Manifest Destiny motivated Americans to pursue their dreams and seek adventure, and the abolition of slavery enhanced the national belief in equality -- reminding us that no one person is better than any other person, the times that we are going through right now may be changing the way people, in one hundred years, will view America’s identity. America’s decisions do not only affect us in the here and now, but will affect the future citizens of America. That is why it is so important for Christians to vote and express their opinions. If we are to maintain our national Identity, we need leaders who value it, honor it, and have the integrity to protect it.

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