The American identity is deeply rooted in the country’s history, from the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. And individualism is practically embedded in this common idea of what it means to be an American, to be a citizen of the Land of The Free, the right for people to live the way they wish to, for everyone was created equal upon birth, and thus are obligated to pursue their own motivations and desires, regardless of race, religion or even social standing. The belief that their ancestors courageously fought for their independence from their oppressive colonizers and sacrificially succeeded to award the subsequent generations with access to individualistic rights, and it was the enshrining and upholding of this ideology that allowed the country to continue growing to become the global superpower it is today. Ironic, considering the historic inequalities that minorities endured in America (and still do today), but more on that later.
Image Credit: Princeton University Press
This idea, almost obsession with freedom and placing one’s own rights above all else can be seen throughout the American people’s decision making. It is partially responsible for the continuous and ongoing argument on gun rights, even despite the widespread damage reckless individuals have wreaked in recent years. It played a direct role in the resistance to Covid-19 measures by citizens, even as medical professionals fought desperately to stem the ever-growing number of victims. It runs within the very soul of an American – liberty, freedom, to defend your own rights.
If you understand how exactly individualistic people might respond, their beliefs and how these ideas guide their actions, it would be no surprise to learn of their disdain, or at least opposition to bodies of power. And in America, this is highlighted through the constant contention between citizens and their leaders, the very government that should be devoted to protecting them in the first place. There is a deep distrust among Americans towards any sort of organized governmental system, which then naturally leads to a sort of skepticism towards government action, whether it be due to a lack of faith in their ability to carry out these policies or a concern over the policies not being targeted at protecting the people.
That being said, the distrust in authority can also be attributed to a series of scandals that rocked America in recent years. Revelations that the US security apparatus ran a covert internet surveillance program on Americans that monitored scores of telephone records and Internet traffic for years only further decimated what trust Americans had in their own government. Trump’s repeated touting of misinformation concerning the 2020 Presidential Elections coupled with outlandish claims that a “Deep State” was actively working against him played its part in discrediting political office as well. A healthy distrust in the government is not an issue, mind you (and sometimes it might even help to keep governments in check), but stray too far in the wrong direction and you get a collective of individuals willing to disregard the social contract due to any perceived violation or infringement on their rights. Funnily enough, this very concept has been used to drum up political support.
With the common consensus among all Americans, regardless of their Democratic or Republican stance, being that a government must comply with the demands of the people (or at least stay far away from any decisions that would go against the people), both Democrats and Republicans have frequently used individualistic ideals as a basis for drumming up political support. Not exactly the most logical of reasoning, but it has been working so far. At the same time, one should note the distinct difference between individualism (the ideology) and American individualism (the culture). While individualism argues for the freedom to live one’s life free of whatever societal chains we regularly subscribe ourselves to (which is why anarchism falls under its banner), individualism within America seems to take all the parts involving a rejection of the government – with deep-rooted systems beginning with the Constitution. From the hotly-debated Second Amendment in the Constitution, American citizens are “endowed” the “inalienable right” to “keep and bear Arms”, with the main purpose of defending the “security of a free State”. “Free”, today, is often defined by the citizens’ freedom from the culturally predetermined tyrannical nature of the government.
The concept of American individualism has also played a central role in the tragedy of the Waco Siege. Suspecting that the base of the apocalyptic Branch Davidians cult in Texas was host to an illicit stockpile of firearms, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) attempted to execute a search warrant – when all hell broke loose. A protracted 51-day negotiation period ensued after the deaths of 4 ATF agents from Branch Davidian gunfire. Fueled by the group’s distrust of the federal agents, communications soon broke down especially after the introduction of the FBI’s involvement in spearheading negotiations. Yet, government negotiators were unwilling to use force (and hence the long wait), fearing that another exchange of violence would be disastrous for both parties. Nevertheless, the siege ended in a fire that gutted the compound, leaving 76 Branch Davidians dead. Individualism and liberty, so deeply ingrained in the minds of Americans, was the main culprit for the situation spiraling out of control. Branch Davidians used the excuse of preserving their civil liberties to conduct their own activities within their own private property as an excuse for their violent defensive responses. The Waco Siege serves as a painful reminder of the consequences when liberty is taken to the extreme.
Image Credit: TIME
Another prime example of individualism in recent years would be the notably unorthodox reaction of the American public to the Covid-19 pandemic. Mask wearing; vaccinations; safe-distancing measures – all of which were adhered to rather voluntarily in most developed countries – were largely opposed in American society. Before Biden’s presidential victory and subsequent enactment of mask mandates on the federal and state level, American society ranked among the most hesitant and unwilling to wear masks and prevent the spread. The key reason? Individualism and the broader concepts of liberty and the right to their own bodies. The individualistic mindset is extremely deep rooted in American culture, with many holding strong views about their own rights as an American citizen. When people were asked to wear a mask, many Americans ignored these pleas and went on open tirades about their civil liberties. Videos of Americans doing so are sprawled all over the internet, much to the disbelief of those around the world doing their best to contain the virus. Even when mask mandates were implemented, people still chose to ignore it, promising violence to anyone who questioned them. The huge importance placed on individualism signals the growing apathy in society where the individual’s own rights are more important than that of those around them, even if it comes at a cost for others, and in this case, the cost was particularly heavy.
References
Ananthaswamy, A. (2020, January 12). American individualism and our collective crisis. https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/society/2020/american-individualism-and-our-collective-crisis
Velasquez, M., & Andre, C. (1992). Creating the Good Society. American society and individualism. https://www.scu.edu/mcae/publications/iie/v5n1.1.html
Weissbourd, R., & Murphy, C. (2023, April 11). How government can help Americans find the common good again. Time. https://time.com/6269091/individualism-ahead-of-the-common-good-for-too-long/
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