What is the true identity of the United States? To answer, we must evaluate popular perceptions of America through the lens of its founders’ ideals, as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, and its role in the free world.

Democracies thrive on diverse perspectives, but they are vulnerable to infiltration by undemocratic forces — communism, leftism, colonialism, globalism, wokeism, liberalism and Islamic radicalism — that exploit free speech and elections in democracies to erode national and cultural identities.

By examining America’s perceived identities—first those misaligned with the founders’ vision, then those reflecting it — we can discern its true essence, assess its erosion, and explore how Americans and like-minded allies can restore and relate to it.

America Through the Founders’ Prism

The United States was founded on principles of liberty, merit, equality, and freedom, as envisioned by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, and codified in the U.S. Constitution. The founders sought to create a nation prioritising individual liberty, limited government, and justice, distinct from European monarchies and colonial empires. The Constitution, ratified in 1788, reflects these values through tenets such as the protection of inalienable rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, echoed from the Declaration of Independence), separation of powers with checks and balances (Articles I-III) to prevent tyranny, a federal system balancing state and national authority (Tenth Amendment), and guarantees of free speech, religion, and assembly (First Amendment).

The Preamble’s emphasis on “securing the Blessings of Liberty” and promoting the general welfare underscores a commitment to a free, merit-based society. Article I, Section 8, promotes progress by protecting patents and fostering innovation. The Constitution ensures government serves the people, fostering a nation where talent, not birthright, determines success. This vision, synthesising Judeo-Christian ethics with universal principles, remains America’s bedrock.

Negative Perceptions: Identities That Misrepresent America

Is America the “West”?

Often grouped with Europe as the “West,” America’s identity is distinct. Its founders revolted against British colonial rule, waging a war of independence to establish a nation of merit and liberty. Unlike Commonwealth nations like Canada, America rejected colonial vestiges, including the monarchy and the Commonwealth. American English, leaner than British English, reflects a pragmatic, non-royal ethos. America shunned colonial sports like cricket, favouring baseball’s egalitarian spirit. Its foreign policy diverges: it fought alongside Russia in both World Wars against colonial powers and, under nationalist leadership like the Trump administration, has distanced itself from Russophobic European agendas in Ukraine, recognising Ukraine’s strategic importance to Russia, akin to Tibet’s to India and unlike European colonial warmongering tied to the military-industrial complex, the founders, per Jefferson, envisioned a nation free of entanglements, as reflected in the Constitution’s limited federal powers over foreign affairs (Article II). America is not the “West” in the colonial sense.

Is America the Deep State?

No. The deep state — a network of unelected elites — opposes the founders’ vision of transparent governance, as enshrined in the Constitution’s checks and balances and vesting of legislative power in an elected Congress as per Article I. Any deep state with a clandestine agenda of a few elites undermines democratic ideals; it does not define them.

Is America a Colonialist or Globalist?

America rejected British colonialism through its Revolutionary War and remains outside the Commonwealth. Its constitutional principles, like state sovereignty (Tenth Amendment), oppose colonialism and globalism, which erode autonomy. Nationalist roots resist globalist agendas, prioritising interconnectedness over self-determination.

Is America the Supercop?

The notion of America as the world’s policeman is an aberrant construct, not a founding ideal. Jefferson cautioned against entangling alliances, and Article II limits executive war powers, requiring congressional approval, suggesting America is to lead by example, not by policing the globe.

Is America NATO?

No. The founders, particularly Jefferson, opposed entangling alliances, as reflected in the Constitution’s constraints on foreign commitments. NATO, a post-World War II construct, does not define America’s core identity.

Is America White Supremacist?

Absolutely not. The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees equal protection, and the founders’ commitment to equality rejects racial supremacy. Such claims and occasional utterances by certain individuals or entities contradict meritocratic ideals.

Is America WASP?

The White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) label is outdated. The First Amendment’s religious freedom and America’s diversity transcend this narrow identity, aligning with the founders’ meritocratic vision.

Positive Perceptions: Identities That Reflect America’s Founding Vision

Is America Uncle Sam?

Yes. Uncle Sam, a symbol of patriotic virtue, captures America’s spirit, though maligned and misused as satire by critics. It aligns with the Constitution’s call for civic duty and national unity.

Is America a Land of Immigrants or a Nation of Nations?

Partly. America welcomes talent and merit, as embodied in the American Dream and Article I, Section 8’s openness to naturalised citizens. However, illegal immigration contradicts sovereignty, as upheld by Article IV’s territorial integrity. Leftist agendas in the U.S. and India exploit immigration for votes, distorting this identity. America is a nation of merit, not unchecked immigration.

Is America represented by the Cowboy?

Partly. The cowboy — rugged and independent — reflects the heartland and the constitutional value of individual liberty. America is rustic, though not uniformly unpolished.

Is America the Midland Heartland?

To an extent. The hardworking white working class in the midlands embodies the work ethic central to the Constitution’s promotion of general welfare, though this is one facet out of many others.

Is America the Statue of Liberty?

Yes. The Statue of Liberty symbolises America’s commitment to freedom, as enshrined in the Preamble and First Amendment.

Is America Meritocracy?

Absolutely. Meritocracy is the cornerstone of the American Dream, where talent, not race, gender, or creed, determines success, per the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause.

Is America Shark Tank or Silicon Valley?

Yes. Entrepreneurship and innovation, as seen in Silicon Valley and Shark Tank, reflect the Constitution’s encouragement of progress through patent protections (Article I, Section 8).

Is America NASA and Apple?

Yes. These institutions embody leadership in research, technology, and exploration, aligning with Article I’s mandate to promote science and the useful arts.

Is America its Military?

Partly. The formidable military reflects strength, as authorised by Article I’s defence provisions, though it is not the sole identity.

The concept of America is a wonderful, integrative, beautiful idea and has been under execution to a great extent. Let us further dive into it.

America’s Values: A Synthesis of East and West

The founders synthesised universal values into a new nation. Rooted in Judeo-Christian principles — belief in God, moral law, non-violence, justice, compassion, family-centred life, and community respect — they also drew values from Eastern philosophies.

John Adams studied Oriental, Vedic, and Indic scriptures, even while lamenting scarce translations. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walt Whitman, and Henry David Thoreau integrated Eastern thought with Judeo-Christian values. Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu monk from India, bridged East and West, investing divine energy in America’s spiritual growth. Aldous Huxley, Christopher Isherwood, Huston Smith, Joseph Campbell, and J.D. Salinger, influenced by Vivekananda’s Ramakrishna Order, enriched America’s cultural fabric. Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. advanced the core values of American vision, championing equality and justice, as embodied in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. The American Dream—merit, not race, gender, or creed—remained its guiding light to a great extent.

Global Role and Alliances

America’s alliances reflect its values. Its partnership with Israel and India, fellow democracies, is strengthened by shared commitments to meritocracy, free speech (First Amendment), and innovation. These and such nations face threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), radical jihadis, and European colonial remnants.

America’s leadership in the Artemis Accords, including India but excluding the CCP, underscores its free-world role. As the largest foreign direct investment (FDI) destination, America prioritises allies like India while restricting CCP investments.

Do Americans realise this Vision of America even now?

Many Americans, especially in the heartland, remain connected to the founders’ vision of a meritocratic, free, and innovative nation, as seen in the enduring appeal of the American Dream and pride in NASA and Silicon Valley. However, polarisation and media narratives obscure this for some. Urban elites, swayed by leftist, wokeist and globalist ideologies, equate America with the “West” or deep state, while heartland communities uphold liberty, faith, and hard work, as reflected in the Constitution’s emphasis on individual rights. A 2023 Gallup poll shows 65% of Americans value individual freedom and opportunity, though younger generations lean toward wokeism.

How Much Erosion or Deviation Has Occurred?

Significant erosion has occurred due to undemocratic forces infiltrating institutions. The deep state, globalism, and wokeism promote parochial identity politics over merit, challenging the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection. Affirmative action and unchecked immigration contradict sovereignty and meritocracy, as upheld by Article IV and the Tenth Amendment. A 2024 Pew Research study indicates 80% of Americans view polarisation as a major threat to unity. Communism, globalism, and radical ideologies have fueled an identity crisis, while misrepresenting America as colonialist or supremacist — labels the founders rejected.

Who Tries to Restore the Originality of America?

Efforts to restore America’s original identity, rooted in the Constitution’s principles of liberty, merit, and limited government, have spanned history and continue today:

Historical Efforts:

1. Abraham Lincoln’s Preservation of the Union (1861–1865): Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War upheld the Constitution’s unity and abolished slavery via the Thirteenth Amendment, reinforcing equality and national integrity against divisive forces.

2. Civil Rights Movement (1950s–1960s): Led by Martin Luther King Jr., this movement advanced the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments’ promises of equal protection and voting rights, combating racial injustice and reaffirming meritocracy over discrimination.

3. Reagan’s Economic and Cultural Renewal (1981–1989): President Ronald Reagan’s policies emphasised limited government (Tenth Amendment), free-market principles, and traditional values, countering leftist expansion of federal power and restoring confidence in the American Dream.

4. Post-War Cultural Revival: Intellectuals like William F. Buckley Jr. and the conservative movement of the mid-20th century defended Judeo-Christian values and constitutional liberties against communism and collectivism, echoing the founders’ vision.

Current Efforts:

1. Nationalist Leadership: The Trump administration (2017–2021, with ongoing influence in 2025) prioritises sovereignty, merit, and freedom, countering globalist and leftist agendas through policies like immigration reform, trade protectionism, and withdrawal from entangling alliances, aligning with Jefferson’s vision and Article II’s limited war powers.

2. Entrepreneurial Revival: Entrepreneurs and scientists embody the Constitution’s mandate to promote science (Article I, Section 8), driving innovation and reinforcing America’s meritocratic identity against bureaucratic overreach.

3. Grassroots Movements: Organisations like Turning Point USA and faith-based communities champion Judeo-Christian values, family, and constitutional liberties, mobilising citizens to resist wokeism and globalism.

4. Cultural and Intellectual Initiatives: Thinkers inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Swami Vivekananda, along with modern conservative intellectuals, advocate universal values through media, literature, and education, countering narratives that distort the founders’ vision. Edmund Burke Foundation, founded in 2019 by Yoram Hazony and David Brog, promotes national conservatism, emphasising national independence, limited government, and Judeo-Christian values, aligning with the Constitution’s principles (e.g., Tenth Amendment, First Amendment). Through its National Conservatism Conferences (NatCon, held in Washington, Orlando, Miami, and London from 2019 to 2025), the Foundation brings together conservative leaders to advocate for restoring America’s founding principles against globalism and “progressive” ideologies. Its 2022 Statement of Principles calls for a “strong but limited state” and rejects imperialism, reinforcing the founders’ vision of sovereignty and meritocracy.

These efforts face resistance from the deep state, media, and academia aligned with globalist and woke ideologies, but they reflect a persistent commitment to the Constitution’s principles.

How Can the World, Particularly India, Relate to the Original America?

India, as the flag bearer of Eastern philosophy, shares America’s commitment to democracy, merit, and spiritual values.

To relate to the original America, India can:

Strengthen Bilateral Ties: Deepen collaboration in technology, space (e.g., Artemis Accords), and defence, aligning with America’s meritocratic spirit and Article I’s promotion of progress. U.S.-India FDI projects reinforce shared economic goals.

Promote Cultural Exchange: Share Vedic and philosophical heritage, as Vivekananda did, through programs and academic exchanges, highlighting shared values like non-violence and compassion, resonant with the First Amendment’s religious freedom.

Counter Common Threats: Collaborate against the CCP, jihadis, and colonial remnants. India’s Global South leadership complements America’s free-world role, fostering a multipolar order.

Engage Nationalist America: Build ties with leaders and communities prioritising the founders’ vision, such as conservative and faith-based groups, bypassing globalist distortions.

Amplify Meritocracy: Encourage Indian diaspora contributions in Silicon Valley and academia, reinforcing America’s merit-based identity and the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection.

Conclusion: The True America

America is not the “West,” deep state, globalism, colonialism, NATO, WASP, or white supremacism. It is:

A meritocracy, where talent reigns supreme, per the Fourteenth Amendment.

A beacon of liberty and democracy, symbolised by the Statue of Liberty and the First Amendment.

A hub of innovation, driving progress through NASA and the likes of Apple, per Article I.

A pro-faith, pro-family, pro-life nation, grounded in Judeo-Christian values: belief in God, moral law, non-violence, justice, and community.

A free-world leader, allied with India, Israel, and other nations under nationalist leadership, opposing communists, jihadis, colonialists, leftists, liberals, globalists, and deep state actors.

The American Dream — merit, freedom, and opportunity — remains its core, as envisioned by Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Lincoln, and King, enriched by Emerson, Whitman, Thoreau, Huxley, Isherwood, Smith, Campbell, and Salinger, and codified in the Constitution.

Despite erosion, historical and current efforts alongside allies can restore and relate to this vision, strengthening a free world.