U-S-A!

"U-S-A!" is a chant of the United States of America's initials popular in expressing American pride and supporting American national sports teams. It is also used in other community events, such as at political rallies.

For other uses, see USA (disambiguation).

Steel plant origin

The first documented usage of a U-S-A chant was in 1918 at a Bethlehem Steel plant in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.[1]

Sports

The film Olympia: Festival of Nations, documenting the 1936 Summer Olympics, includes the chant during the finals of the 1,500 meter event and the long jump.[2] It was also documented at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, during the basketball tournament final between the United States and the Soviet Union.[3] In 1979, the chant was used in Budapest when the national men's teams of Hungary and the United States played against each other.[4]

The chant was popularized in the context of ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics.[5] During the U.S.' 7–3 win over Czechoslovakia in the second game, the crowd began chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" in support of the U.S. hockey team as the U.S. scored a decisive win over one of the best teams in the world. The chant became a fixture of the team's remaining games and gained national attention after the U.S. defeated the Soviet Union in what became known as the "Miracle on Ice", later moving on to beat Finland for the gold medal.[6]

Professional wrestling

In professional wrestling, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan was popularly known for making the cheer during his wrestling matches and inciting the crowd to repeat it after him. The chant has also been used by fans to taunt characters who dislike the U.S., such as Canadian star Bret Hart, who was beloved in the United States but turned his back on the country during an infamous 1997 storyline; the Bulgarian-born Rusev, who was portrayed as hailing from Russia and pledged his allegiance to Russia and its president Vladimir Putin throughout 2014/2015, all while bashing the United States alongside his manager Lana; and most recently, Kevin Owens, who, ever since capturing the United States Championship at WrestleMania 33 against Chris Jericho, proclaimed himself as "The Face of America" despite hailing from a small town near Montreal, and would constantly remind the WWE Universe that Canada is better than the United States. He would also sometimes speak in his native French during his promos in order to draw further heel heat.[7] It has also been used to support wrestlers with pro-U.S. gimmicks, like Hulk Hogan, regardless of the nationality of their opponents.

Politics

Pre-9/11

In May 1969, it was used in Plzeň, Czechoslovakia to commemorate the city's liberation by American and Polish forces at the end of World War II.[1] During the 1984 United States presidential election, the chant "U.S.A.!" was heard at numerous campaign rallies for incumbent President Ronald Reagan;[8] it was also heard at events throughout his presidency, including a visit to Port Washington, Wisconsin.[9]

Post-9/11
Original caption of this photograph read: "Standing upon the ashes of the worst terrorist attack on American soil, Sept. 14, 2001, President Bush pledges that the voices calling for justice from across the country will be heard. Responding to the Presidents' [sic] words, rescue workers cheer and chant, "U.S.A, U.S.A." "

The September 11 attacks of 2001 found a revival in the chant during patriotic ceremonies at sporting events; the chant was also heard when U.S. President George W. Bush visited the ruins at the World Trade Center site in the week following the 2001 attacks.[10] Following the throwing of the first pitch during the 2001 World Series, the crowd chanted "U-S-A", when the pitch was a strike.[11]

Celebratory crowd at Ground Zero following the announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden.

Crowds gathered outside of the White House on May 1, 2011 could be heard chanting "U-S-A!" after President Barack Obama announced that al-Qaeda co-founder Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan.[12] Minutes before the announcement, crowds with plates and U.S flags in New York had gathered at Times Square and Ground Zero (where the towers were located) for celebrating the successful operation, chanting "U-S-A!" repeatedly. The cheer was also chanted that Sunday evening at the only MLB baseball game being held while the news was breaking, between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets.[13] At the 2011 WWE Extreme Rules event in Tampa, Florida on the same date, the arena erupted in U-S-A chants as the death of Osama bin Laden was announced by then WWE Champion, John Cena.[14]

Use of the chant at a sporting event in 2013 at Adolfo Camarillo High School caused some controversy due to alleged "racist overtones".[15]

Several participants in the 2021 United States Capitol attack were shown chanting "U-S-A!" in police bodycam footage.[16]

Satire

The "U-S-A" chant has been adopted by English football supporters during matches against Manchester United, who have U.S. owners unpopular with the club's supporters due to the club's being saddled by massive debt. Opposing supporters remind the United supporters of this with the "U-S-A" chant;[17] this was also true of Liverpool, until the RBS takeover. It is also chanted non-sarcastically by British supporters to celebrate achievements of U.S. players such as Tim Howard at Everton and Christian Pulisic at Chelsea.

The chant, led by Woody Boyd, was used in the Cheers episode "A Fine French Whine" upon hearing the news that a French citizen with eyes on Boyd's girlfriend has overstayed his visa and would soon be deported. It has shown up on The Jerry Springer Show, where it may spontaneously and without apparent reason follow the show's standard cheer of "Jer-ry, Jer-ry!" and is also often delivered by Homer Simpson on The Simpsons as a celebration of almost anything, often accompanied by honking of his car's horn and flashing of its headlights. The chant is also used on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia when the gang come up with a plan.

See also

References
  1. Zimmer, Ben (8 February 2019). "How the 'U-S-A' Chant Became a Political Weapon". The Atlantic. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  2. cityguy2129 (26 July 2012). "Olympia Part 1 Fest der Völker 1938 with English Subs". Archived from the original on 2013-07-25 – via YouTube.
  3. "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14.
  4. Fromson, Daniel (2 May 2011). "A Brief History of the U-S-A Chant, From Reagan to Osama". The Atlantic. The Atlantic Monthly Group. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  5. Bump, Philip (14 July 2015). "When did the 'U-S-A, U-S-A' chant come to politics? Thank Reagan". Washington Post. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  6. Pitt, William Rivers (2005-03-01). "The Third Stage of American Empire". truthout.org.
  7. Vermillion, James. "Their Dark Dads: How can you be so Hart-less?". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
  8. Stanley B. Greenberg (June 2005). The Two Americas: Our Current Political Deadlock and How to Break It. St. Martin's Press. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-312-31839-0.
    Erica J. Seifert (10 January 2014). The Politics of Authenticity in Presidential Campaigns, 1976-2008. McFarland. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-7864-9109-4.
    Robert X. Browning (2014). The C-SPAN Archives: An Interdisciplinary Resource for Discovery, Learning, and Engagement. Purdue University Press. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-55753-695-2.
  9. Jacob Weisberg (5 January 2016). Ronald Reagan: The American Presidents Series: The 40th President, 1981-1989. Henry Holt and Company. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-8050-9727-6.
    Sandler, Norman D. (19 June 1985). "President Reagan warned Wednesday 'We will not cave in'..." UPI. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  10. "President Bush Salutes Heroes in New York". 2001-09-14.
    McCaleb, Ian Christopher (14 September 2001). "Bush tours ground zero in lower Manhattan". CNN. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
    Walsh, Kenneth T. (25 April 2013). "George W. Bush's 'Bullhorn' Moment". U.S. News & World Report. Washington, D.C.: U.S. News & World Report L.P. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  11. Michael Gavin (6 December 2012). Sports in the Aftermath of Tragedy: From Kennedy to Katrina. Scarecrow Press. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-8108-8701-5.
    Gordon, Aaron (27 October 2016). "Throwback Thursday: President Bush's First Pitch, Fear, and the New Normalcy". Vice Sports. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  12. "Crowds Gather at White House to Cheer Bin Laden's Death". WRC-TV. Washington, D.C. Associated Press. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
    "White House crowds celebrate Bin Laden's death - in pictures". The Guardian. United Kingdom. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  13. "5 years ago: Mets, Phillies fans learn of bin Laden's death". WABC-TV. New York, New York. ESPN. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
    Scarborough, Joe (3 May 2011). "A time to say thanks". Politico. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  14. Kevin Powers (30 April 2012). "One year later: Cena reflects on announcing bin Laden's demise". WWE. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
    "John Cena Announces Osama Bin Laden's Death To WWE Fans (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  15. "'USA' chants spell trouble for Calif. students". KTAR. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
    Jeffrey Dransfeldt (7 February 2013). "Chanting at Camarillo High basketball game sparks rally, racism concerns". Ventura County Star. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
    Todd Starnes (13 February 2013). "Students Told to Remove Patriotic Bandanas". Fox News Radio. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
    "Camarillo High School Students Punished For 'U.S.A.' Chant Viewed As Offensive To Latinos (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  16. Mishra, Stuti (June 24, 2021). "New video shows Capitol rioter attacking police officers as crowd chant 'U-S-A! U-S-A!'". The Independent. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  17. "U-S-A Chants At Premier League Matches Are Insulting - World Soccer Talk". 4 April 2010.
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