Jingoism
From Wikinfo
Jingoism is a term describing chauvinistic patriotism, especially with regard to a warmongering political stance.
The term originated in Britain in the 1870s, at the time of a conflict between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli counseled neutrality in the conflict, to the consternation of many in Britain. The chorus of a song commonly sung in pubs at the time gave birth to the term:
- We don't want to fight
- But, by jingo, if we do,
- We've got the ships,
- We've got the men,
- We've got the money, too.
- Attributed to G.H. MacDermott
During the 19th century in the United States, this attitude was called spread-eagleism. This patriotic belligerence was intensified by the sinking of the Maine and led to the Spanish-American War. "Jingoism" did not enter the U.S. vernacular until the twentieth century.
External link
References
- Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Jingoism" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingoism, used under the GNU Free Documentation License
