Out of the state-forming theories proposed by Dickovic and Eastood (2019), I believe two can specifically apply to the United States forming as a country. The first is the conflict theory, taking into consideration Hobbes’ premise that a strong state is manifested in the sovereign. Furthermore, the concept of the bellicist theory, which suggests that states are created by war comes into place. The conflict being referred to is the American Revolutionary War which began almost simultaneously with the Declaration of Independence by the 13 British colonies which named themselves the United States of America. It was a war between two factions of the same nation (although other actors were involved, the principal conflict remained between the colonists and the British monarchy forces). It was a long war, lasting more than 8 years. After the colonists won, they began the nation-building exercise to create the foundations of the United States known today, by drafting the Constitution, creating the representative bicameral form of government, and other means to establish itself as a democracy, a direct counter to the monarchy the population had just experienced. The nation emerged as a new state and government out of war for its sovereign rule.
The second relevant theory is the cultural one regarding nationalism. Once again referring back to the conflict between the colonists and the British, by that point in time these were radically different cultures despite the large majority of colonists having direct British roots. However, at that point, the colonies had existed for nearly a century and a half, having adapted to living in the New World, with their unique mixture of heritage, traditions, and beliefs. Therefore, when the British attempted to impose political and economic rule and will upon the colonies, without even prior consultation or providing their citizens representations, nationalist tensions began to erupt. The colonists sought rights, freedoms, and representations as other core British citizens, but were rejected as secondary class only to serve resources to the mainland. Nationalist tensions partially led to the beginning of the American Revolution with events such as the Boston Tea Party, standing up to soldiers at the Boston Massacre, and politically, the Continental Congress.
The foundations of the United States certainly had heavy Judeo-Christian influences. It is well known that Christian ideas had key intellectual influences on the Founding Fathers. Although the US was created as a secular state with religious freedoms and no official state-sanctioned church, the foundations of the government, rights, and democracy were deeply shaped by Christian moral truths. The Founding Fathers were all deeply religious Christians and often referred to the religion and Scripture in answering political questions. As written in the preamble to the Constitution, “that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights” (Hall, 2011).
The origins of American government and legal system is complex, but it is without a doubt based on these theological principles that are converted into secular jargon. The whole idea of democracy that the colonists sought to pursue in the name of ideas such as freedom and choice are emphasized in the scriptures, as God gives man free will but also provides the commandments and rules that mankind should follow for salvation. Similarly, the American system was built off that, freedom of choice but laws following Biblical standards which should be followed in order to have the possibility of a free and prosperous life in the United States.
References
Dickovick, J. Tyler, and Jonathan Eastwood. 2019. Comparative Politics (3rd ed.). New York, NY.: Oxford University Press Academic US.
Hall, Mark D. 2011. “Did America Have a Christian Founding?” Web.