"America for Americans!" The Typical American, Thanksgiving Sermon

"America for Americans!" by John Philip Newman is a snapshot of late 19th-century America, capturing a Thanksgiving sermon given in Washington, D.C., that explores what it truly means to be an American. Thinking about American identity, the sermon lays out what the author believes are the core qualities of a "Typical American," stressing things like moral values, the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions, the distinction between church and government, and the central role of Christianity in the country. While acknowledging the contributions of immigrants to the US, the piece voices worries about the types of people immigrating, calling for stricter rules and a renewed focus on American values to protect the nation's future. In that time, many people felt uneasy about immigration and the author reflects on assimilation and nationalism within a changing society.