It’s well-known that England became increasingly bitter and temperamental
post the American Revolutionary War. The grudge resided deep, and he turned to criticizing
America as an outlet for his anger.

What I haven’t seen talked about is that America also held
quite a considerable grudge over this conflict. Instead what I often see is
that America’s portrayed as obliviously cheerful, as if the Revolution didn’t affect
him at all and that he didn’t suffer.

That’s simply not true. America’s more than capable of
holding grudges. What you’ll see, however, is that his grudges aren’t openly
displayed. He doesn’t express his anger directly. He’s either passive-aggressive
and petty, behaviours that are often mistaken as thoughtless rather than tactful
and deliberate.

Ex: America’s grudge over Alamo is revealed when he purposefully
does a poor job of drawing Mexico on a map [x]. 

That said, what this post aims to do is prove the emotional
consequences that America bore after his independence – note that this doesn’t
cover their present relations. I will also debunk the misconception that America
acted selfishly toward England. This is a slippery slope conception that assumes that
America doesn’t/ didn’t care about England, which couldn’t be any farther from the
truth.

America cares about England:

When England falls sick after the Revolution and despite
their volatile political relations, America goes to Canada’s house and demands to
see England. He claims that he’s unable to sleep due to how poorly things ended
and later attempts to force his way into the house. After refusing America
entry and America’s own refusal to leave, Canada is left with no other choice
but to force the door shut [x].

Once again, the difference between personal and political
relations is highlighted in this strip. Why else would America go to Canada’s
house having just fought against England, his previous guardian, for his
independence?

In an old WW2 strip that was later redrawn by Hima, America
panics when England falls ill and faints [x].

He cares about what England thinks of him: 

As stated in earlier posts [x] [x], America’s a very insecure
individual. Having spent a long period in isolation, America was left in a
place where he only had to look after himself, hence why he comes off as so egotistical
when he immerses himself in world politics again. It wasn’t that he was
purposefully selfish. He had merely grown accustomed to putting himself first
and the adjustment toward working with others didn’t come naturally.

This is likely why he’s sensitive to criticism. Not only did
he lack validation, but the fact that he presumably hadn’t been criticized very
often contributed to his fragile sense of self-worth.

Ex: In Volume 2, America’s stated
to avoid showing England his movies because of the criticisms they receive.

Although we later learn that he’s gotten over this fear of
showing England his movies and openly shows and lets the latter criticize them
in present times [x].

While America’s political dependence was severed from
England, his emotional dependence arguably still remained.

Ex: On one Valentine’s day, America grumbles after England doesn’t give him any chocolates.

He’s later found stuffing his face with a bucket full of
chocolates when England finds him. If anything, this comes off as spiteful to
me.

Translation: England won’t give me chocolates, so I’ll show
him that I don’t need him by eating as many as I can possibly find.

If you unpack this further by linking it to a strip in
volume 5, America’s gluttony is a reflection of how empty, lonely, and unfulfilled
he feels.

He consumes and overproduces to fill the emotional gap and
lack of company that he’s historically and personally experienced. Those who
are materialistic tend to be the loneliest and unhappiest people. Humans are
social creatures; they need interaction and stimulation. Those who turn to
material possessions may be stimulated, but it doesn’t last, nor does it
fulfill them.

Ex: England observes that America’s overconsumption and
overproduction may, in fact, stem from how he possessed little belongings when
he advanced settlements in his country. Notice the link with the chocolates too [x].

This is something that I’ve always admired about Himaruya’s characterizations.
He takes historical events, humanizes its psychological effects, and embeds it into the
nation’s personality.

He’s bitter:

As mentioned above, when America’s bitter over a grudge, he’s
often petty about it. On the other hand, just because he expresses his grudges
in a comical way, doesn’t mean that he’s incapable of being emotionally damaged.

Ex: America starts drinking coffee in spite of England [x].

In another strip, America is shown to have conflicted and melancholic
feelings about his past with England as he finds items that he had previously
stored away in his storage closet – a symbol for how he’s hidden from his past [x].

We learn that even though America’s finally gained the
courage to confront his past, he still hasn’t gotten over it. His grudge is
subtly there, as Himaruya ends the strip by having America drink coffee.

Ex: America practices making friends with whales when he
visits Japan for the first time [x].

When England offers to be his friend, America laughs,
refuses, and runs away.

Ex: When he and England get shipwrecked, the prospect of
them having to share a sleeping bag comes up. America watches England shiver
and deliberately decides not to sleep closer to him [x].

I’d like to end this by stating that regardless of their
grudges and the mixed feelings they felt after the Revolution, America and England
were still happy to see each other and joke around.

Ex: When he arrives in Africa, America’s happy to see
England.

Ex: England’s so worried about America and his reckless
behaviour that he has a nightmare about it.

Ex: America jokes with England during a spy mission.

In sum, while America’s emotional display can come off as
oblivious and cheerful, it’s a carefully calculated mask that hides his deep-set
resentment and hurt. By declaring his independence, America lost his best
friend and emotional support and vice-versa with England. The consequences of this loss are seen in how
insecure, lonely, and materialistic he is.