Why isn't there more anti-British sentiment involved in Independence Day and American nationalism in general?

Question

On Independence day, I noticed that I had never seen any anti-British sentiment displayed on July 4th. I thought about it some more and realized that I'd never really encountered anti-British sentiment on any level in America. It's odd because 230 years isn't really a substantial amount of time following a country's independence. Typically, relations between countries following revolution are strained for several centuries before they are put to rest and even longer before they are forgotten. Any thoughts on why the actual gaining of independence from England plays such a miniscule role in typical American celebration of the Fourth of July?

Don't Tread On Me!

Answer 1

We became allies during WWI and WWII. I assume that's when things changed.

I think anti-anything celebrations are negative anyway.

Answer 2

It's a matter of common culture, really. Americans have more in common with the english than they have separating them.

And on what basis do you suggest that relations are typically strained following a secession? Before the american revolution, such things were not particularly common. There's little historical basis to go by on the matter.

While 230 years isn't a long time, historically speaking, it's a very long time in terms of a human life span. It's practically 10 generations. Anyone harboring anti-british sentiment has been dead for a very, very long time.

Moreover, negative feelings during the revolution were not a matter of dislike for the british themselves. It was a matter of dislike of british occupation of the former british colonies.
You can easily find examples of individuals who, immediately after the revolution, desired amicable relations with england. I believe Alexander Hamilton is one such person.

Answer 3

You have to look at the history and causes of our revolution--it was not a revolt of poor versus rich like the French Revolution was, some of the wealthiest people in north america lead the revolution. Ours was a political revolution but not an economic one. After the revolution was over the US still did 83% of its trade with Britain. Most US citizens were British originally and it is alleged that perhaps 1/3 of them remained loyal to Britain during the revolution. So even after the revolution the US remained British in outlook. On top of that our legal system is taken directly from Britain in fact British cases are still good precedent here if they pre-date the Revolution and have not been overruled or altered by statute. We share the same language and our form of government is also remarkably like the British as well. After the War of 1812 the British and US have steadily gotten closer first by normalizing relations and then as allies in the two World Wars.

Our revolution was more like a child growing up an leaving the parents' home than a complete revolt. When you grew up and left your parent's you didn't spend the rest of your days hating them did you? Even if you couldn't wait to get out on your own....

Our celebration is more that of the independence of this nation, the birth of a new nation than in the defeat and shedding of its parent. It was more an evolution than a revolution.

Answer 4

I am pretty sure that it isn't about being "proud" to be an American. Most Americans think that freedom is free. The companies have it figured out that holidays are perfect grounds for making the dollar.

It comes down to marketing...Christmas wouldn't be **** without having the day after thanksgiving to drop a few months pay check on the family. Easter would barely exist in this country if we couldn't sell chocolate covered eggs.

Lets face it, 4th of July and New Years are great days for an average person to take a load off drop a ton of money on booze, hot dogs, and apple pie...not to mention some fire works.

Answer 5

I think this is because we have so much in common with Briton. Among other things the colonists that rebled against Briton, for the most part, thought of themselevs as brithish untill they were, from their perspective, forced to rebel. So because of this when they won the war they still felt ties to Briton.

I think we would actually see more anti-British sentiment if we'd lost the revolution. If you think of it like two rival basketball teams, the winners are much more likely to be gracious to the loosers then the other way around.

The other fact is we have very simliar forms of govrnment and values systems. This has created a situation where they have been our allies in every war ( as far as i know) but the revlutionary war and the War of 1812.

On a side note, I also find it ironic that there is a lot of anti-french sentiment but they tottally bailed us out in the revolutionary war. I guess it's because they've been a bunch of wimps sense then.

Answer 6

Since that time, the United States and United Kingdom have become great allies. They have stood by us since WWI, and on through today. Even though popular support for their efforts in Iraq have waned, they have still been by our side.

Also, the Independence Day holiday has evolved. It has become less about celebrating the Declaration of Independence, and has become more about just being proud to be American.

Answer 7

I believe there was some anti-British sentiment in the U.S. before World War I and World War II. But since then we're more of Allies

Answer 8

It's because you love us really...

No, the major reasons are those of alliance through two world wars, Britain now is very different to Britain then, we speak the same language (even if you guys continue to mis-spell aluminium), and because we have a lot of common cultural and political ground. Over and above all that, we're a great market for American goods, movies & music.

Answer 9

The British are our allies. Moreover, many of us are descendants of the British and much of our culture and heritage is British. To hate the British would be to hate ourselves. What Americans disliked was the monarchy and "taxation without representation". Neither of these still exist, so what exactly do we have to hate?

Answer 10

Are you ready for the truth
Can you accept the truth
The truth is so impossible
You won't beleive me
And I will tell you anyway
cuz I can
History is of the past and wut ? did you do yesterday at 12.58 pm
Wut were you thinking at 12.58 pm
I can't tell you cuz I don't remember wut I was thinkling at 12.58pm yesterday
In my Quantum world, the past only exist on paper and thru the media
this past is a shadow to our reality in 2006
it only exist in the books and only exist as an opposite to our 2006 reality
Written by men for men
As a woman I get to choose wut perspective I wish to look at
Hillary Clinton only exist on TV and on paper
If I fly to Washington DC I can then holographically with my mind create her so I can shake her hand
I will have someone take a picture so when I go home my picture of paper will convinced my friends that she is real
The story we were told of 230 years ago is our story in 2006
The story is a carbon copy of our now, an evolution of a thought created holographically with our brains in 2006
A bunch of us gods and goddesses were the programmer of this matrix we live in and we wanted to experience how it felt to be a human. Can we transform the human body to be a perfect slave to the lower cerebellum in your brain. The doorway to the mind of God.
Britain is the Patriach of America, and France got a shuink too.
I grew up speaking French Canadian only
Britain is a corporation that owns America
The British Queen is a drone
She is lazy and will die one day
In her death she will end the curse
And we will gain full Independance from her claws
America is a slave nation to Britain, hence still dependant of Britain
hence America can not tell its people