People's habitus typically bears the marks of their country's history and government, of the state under which they live: ‘In the conduct of workers in England, for example, one can still see traces of the manners of the landed noblemen and gentry and of merchants within a large trade network, in France the airs of courtiers and a bourgeoisie brought to power by revolution' (Elias 2000: 384). Or in The Netherlands, one can see the effects of the long dominance of Regenten class, the merchant patricians of the cities.

In this essay, I want to argue that the equivalent central historic experience shaping American national character is of their country constantly becoming more powerful relative to its neighbours. This has had long-term and all-per-vasive effects on the way they see themselves, on how they perceive the rest of the world, and how others see them. Let me now illustrate this argument in relation to: American manners; the incidence of violence in American society; and the development of the American state and empire.