Reproducing patriotism: An exploration of ‘freedom’ in US history textbooks

Abstract

This is an exploratory study investigating the production of the meaning of ‘freedom’ in US history textbooks used in high schools across America. Responding to current ideological division, this article investigates the production of American patriotism and identity. This study uses methods from critical discourse analysis to dissect how the language used in the textbooks produces a meaning of ‘freedom’. It then explores the production of patriotic citizens through history/civic education and questions the meaning of ‘freedom’ as a value that sits at the heart of American identity and rhetoric. The quantitative and qualitative results show that the story of ‘freedom’ in the textbooks aims to pacify the violent ruptures of history while instilling in students a sense of duty to ‘freedom’ as a cause and value worth furthering – even if its meaning is not fully explained.