A slight disagreement that we were never one nation.
When I was in grade school in the 30’s every day began with - ‘I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all’.
At other times we also sang - ‘My country, ‘tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty Of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims pride, From every mountainside Let Freedom ring’.
It is my opinion that at that time we were ‘One Nation’ or very close to it. And had that Pledge and Song continued to be recited we would be in much better shape today.
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“It is my opinion that at that time we were ‘One Nation’ or very close to it. And had that Pledge and Song continued to be recited we would be in much better shape today.”
I would add after Pledge and Song “and Prayer” continued . . . .”
I would make the case that many provisions of the U.S. Constitution -- the Bill of Rights in particular -- seem to suggest that a "unified" nation is something of a misnomer as it would apply to the U.S. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and a general "hands-off" approach for the Federal government as envisioned by the country's founders, seriously diminish the opportunities for a common culture.
I also believe that with several notable exceptions this was rarely a serious problem until two trends unfolded: (1) urbanization (which made it more difficult for people to live without interference from others) and (2) the establishment of public education. Item (2) is particularly important because public schools are really the only places where something like the Pledge of Allegiance would ever be a contentious issue. I'd suggest that public education has no place in a free society, period -- even though it has become an accepted feature of a unified country in the modern world.