Land of the Free

March 2022

By Tingyo Chang

The founding of America was based on individualist values of pursuing one’s own passions over a sense of responsibility towards the greater good, such as their communities. Since then, individualism has continually evolved and still defines the way that Americans view modern-day politics.

The first arrivals to America came in pursuit of freedom of religion, and although they were successful in their plight, the pursuit to freely practice religion has since evolved, transforming into a broader pursuit of any passion. The pilgrims’ actions established a precedent for the pursuit of passion over responsibility and have had lasting effects on Americans’ priorities. Eric C. Mount of Centre College commented in the Review of Religious Research, a journal that regularly reviews and analyzes religion-related studies, that individualism is a defining feature of American culture. In the article, “American Individualism Reconsidered,” Mount stated that “individualism is a distinctively American ideology or myth.” American individualism has always been an impactful feature of American culture, and was present even during the nation’s founding, evident in the actions and beliefs of prominent figures such as John Locke and Thomas Jefferson. Throughout the nation’s history, American citizens’ tendency towards individualistic policies and morals has only increased, as shown by the data referenced in Mount’s article. The data, which was cited from a survey done by Daniel Yankelovich, a social scientist and former professor of psychology at New York University, shows an increase in the number of people that identify strongly with individualistic values in America as compared to the nineteenth century. 

The nature of the nation’s establishing morals and policies has continued to play a principal role in the American political sphere. Doctor Gary C. Roberts, the current Dean of Arts and Sciences at Lake Michigan University, even argued in his dissertation that the Supreme Court has “an underlying predisposition toward [. . .] the value of individualism.” These legal actions actively protect Americans’ sense of independence and with these policies in place, Americans are guaranteed the ability to pursue their personal passions, uninhibited by others. With both the moral and legal reinforcement of the individualistic philosophy, the American idea of valuing one’s own interests over others has become even further ingrained in American society. Since then, the idea of individualism has continued to flourish beyond colonial America, and now, so ingrained is the idea of individualism, that it has persisted even beyond the first founding of the nation, to have a significant influence on modern-day America. 
 

Even contemporary American political debates are colored by the concept of individualism. Americans overwhelmingly value the importance of personal liberty over all else, which affects their choices concerning political policies. Debates have sparked in America over whether or not certain policies impinge on personal freedom, while collectivist countries have had no issue with the same policies. A notable example of the distinctly American debate over personal freedom is the current “mask debate” during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the article, “The Radical Individualism Raging Throughout America,” published on the liberal news site, Shondaland, the prioritization of individualism in America has drawn a line between two kinds of people: those who are willing to wear masks, reflecting collectivist philosophy, versus those who are unwilling to wear masks, reflecting individualistic philosophy. Where there are pockets of pro-mask people, the individuals are usually of Chicano, Mexican-American, or Chinese descent. These cultures have always valued collectivism, and as a result, are more willing to wear masks for a common cause. The idea of “rugged individualism,” creates an environment where Americans believe the well-being of each person rests solely on the individual, and therefore individuals should not rely on others. Being asked to wear a mask for the safety of others goes against the idea of “rugged individualism” that Americans have learned to embrace, creating the unique mask debate in America. The American mask debate is starkly contrasted by collectivist countries, which see wearing masks as a moral rather than a political act. Similar to the differing opinions on mask-wearing, Americans are equally divided when discussing gun control laws. In the research article, “Individualism and Collectivism in America: The Case of Gun Ownership and Attitudes Toward Gun Control,” published by a public research university, Rutgers University, gun ownership and individualist philosophies are closely linked. Not only are the characteristics most commonly associated with gun ownership identical to the characteristics most commonly associated with citizens with individualistic beliefs, but gun owners are also more likely to subscribe to right-leaning ideas, such as opposition to “expansive, intrusive government.” The opposition to “expansive, intrusive government” further aligns with individualistic priorities, as it favors self-government and self-reliance. 
 

The tradition of individualism that helped the beginnings of America has now transformed into a defining factor of American interactions today, whether it be social or political. And although the defining trait of individualism has rapidly transformed the US from a new, fledgling nation to an international powerhouse, propelling the country’s social and economic facets to new levels, the trait has also had an immense effect on the political unrest of the country. 

​

​

Sources

Celinska, Katarzyna. “Individualism and Collectivism in America: The Case of Gun Ownership and Attitudes toward Gun Control.” Sociological Perspectives, vol. 50, no. 2, 2007, pp. 229–247., doi:10.1525/sop.2007.50.2.229.

Miller, Matthew M.F. “The Radical Individualism Raging Throughout America.” Shondaland, A Part of Hearst Digital Media, 20 Nov. 2020, www.shondaland.com/act/news-politics/a34729330/the-radical-individualism-raging-throughout-america/. 

Mount, C. Eric. “American Individualism Reconsidered.” Review of Religious Research, vol. 22, no. 4, 1981, pp. 362–376. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3509768. Accessed 9 Mar. 2021.
 

Roberts, Gary C. “The United States Supreme Court and American Individualism.” Western Michigan University, Scholar Works, 2004, pp. 1–4.