This map was "engraved for the Rudiments of national knowledge" by Isaac W. Moore and published by Carey & Hart of Philadelphia.  It measures 41 x 52 cm, and it is owned by the Library of Congress.  A student of American Studies might research and analyze a map like this, guided by such questions as these:  What was involved in the process of engraving and producing this map?  When and how did the eagle become a national symbol, and why?  Did the "meaning" of the eagle resonate differently with Americans of 1832 than it does with Americans of today?  Who would have been likely to see this map in the 1830s, and where?  Does the eagle map suggest or promote a vision of America's future?

Link here to the page of the Library of Congress website that features this map.

Another point of discussion might be the use of a U. S. map on an American Studies home page.  Historically, the field of American Studies has dealt primarily with United States culture(s), but almost no one uses the term "United States Studies" (or "United States Literature," for that matter).  The common practice of  saying "America" to mean "United States" seems harmless to some, inaccurate and arrogant to others.  It is worth noting that the geographic range of American Studies has expanded well beyond the U. S. in recent years, although most courses under the heading of American Studies still deal primarily with the United States.
 
Return to American Studies home page