ABSTRACT
The social origins of the conventional notion of ‘American’ identity can be traced back to the eighteenth century and the period of Independence, where a single hegemonic ‘American’ ideal was created. Between 1820 and 1927, some 37 million immigrants entered the United States. One significant area of American life which has served as a flagship for Anglo-Saxon values, is the American educational system. With the end of Second World War and the subsequent macro-changes in the global geopolitical situation of the United States, it has become increasingly difficult to ascertain the exact nature of this ‘American’ identity. The public policy domain has also provided fertile ground for the development of stereotypical instances of ‘Americaness’. The development of a stable sense of identity is one of the central processes of childhood and adolescence.
