Scholars typically think of the United States as an example of civic nationalism, a
relatively inclusive nation that is held together by a shared commitment to the civic
principles of freedom, equality and toleration. I argue to the contrary, that the American
nation is a culturally particular nation whose citizens must conform to more than belief in
those principles. To make this case, I examine the process by which non-Americans are
assimilated and educated for citizenship, reviewing citizenship education materials—
manuals, handbooks and textbooks—from three periods of particularly intense nationalism
from the early twentieth century to today. Through this review, I show that citizenship in the
United States has historically meant assuming a much more comprehensive identity than the
one a civic nationalist account of the American nation might suggest.