Date: October 3, 2017

To: Smithsonian
From: Andrew Liu
Subject: Apple Pie is as American as it gets
Reference: Apple Pie Is Not All That American
Distribution List: Smithsonian, Kat Eschner

Introduction
The origins of the phrase As American as Apple Pie is a bit of a mystery, but it has been in
circulation since 1860s. Then during World War II many American soldiers said they were
fighting for, Their mothers and Apple Pie. (6) Ever since, apple pie has become an American
icon. However, it has been pointed out that the history of apple pie is not all that American and
that it should not be hailed as a cultural icon (3). Though both pies and apples may not originate
from North America, apple pie is American.

Summary
Pies were not always a delicious pastry. The original pie was a carrying case to keep the
contents of the pie fresh. Overtime, chefs found ways to turn the pie crust into a pastry leading
to the development of the modern pie. Crab apples were the only apples native to North
America. These apples were sour and not ideal for baking pie. Johnny Appleseed was an
American nurseryman who spread apple seeds across North America. These seeds were
mostly crab apple seeds however, Appleseed did not practice grafting which lead to many of his
trees mutating. Some of these apple trees would have sweeter apples. In the early 1900s
Disney would make a short film about Johnny Appleseed. This film would mislead audiences by
portraying the apples Johnny used as the red delicious apples which come from Asia. While
neither pie nor apples are native to America, apple pie has become an American icon. Apple
pies popularity came from a mixture of nostalgia and pop culture. The New York time wrote
several articles about why pie culture is important. This was reinforced by several artists
depicting pro American propaganda with apple pie as a symbol of family. As times got worse
with the great depression, people would look back at these paintings and think of better times.
As the United States began involving itself with the second world war, many soldiers would say
that they were fighting for, Their mothers and Apple Pie. (6). This cemented the idea of apple
pie as a symbol of family and nostalgia.

Discussion
History of Pie
Anything that was baked in an oven that was not bread was a pie (2). Any grain that wasnt
wheat would be used to cook bread around a piece of meat to preserve it. However, this state of
pie did not last, and soon it became a dish hailed for its diversity. For years pie would be mostly
considered as a savory dish, because sugar was considered a spice used to add a little
sweetness. This would change as Britain began opening their own sugar refineries in the mid-
sixteenth century and development of the East Indian Trade in the seventeenth century. With
the increase of sugar, the development of the truly sweet apple pie could begin. The first apple
pie existed before this influx of sugar and was made using apples, figs, raisins, and pears. This
apple pie recipe and many others were brought to America by British, Dutch, and Swedish
colonists. Even though the recipes had arrived, it would still be a while until the apple pie
flourished because, the apples we know today are not native and the orchards needed to be
grown.

History of Apples
Apples are often considered to be native to North America, however this is not entirely true. The
only apple's native to North America is the crab apple, which is very sour and tart. These crab
apples were often used for either jam or cider. The sweet apples we think of today come from
Central Asia. The idea that sweet apples are native to North America is a combination of Johnny
Appleseed and modern misconception. During the early 1800s private companies were buying
up large amounts of land in the Northwest Territory, to sell to settlers. In 1792, the Ohio
Company of Associates made a deal with potential settlers. Any settler who wanted to make a
permanent homestead beyond Ohios first settlement would be granted 100 acres, but they
would have to plant 50 apple trees. Johnny Appleseed decided to take advantage of this
opportunity. He realized if he planted all the trees, he could then sell the land to settlers.
Appleseed would advance just ahead of settlers, planting apple trees and selling the land to
settlers when they arrived. Johnny Appleseed traveled 100,000 square miles planting seeds
until he died on March 11, 1845. Appleseeds intentions were to plant large orchards of crab
apples to make into hard cider. However, because Appleseed and many of the settlers did not
practice grafting. Grafting is the act of inserting part of a tree into another tree. It is an integral
part of cultivating apples, because apple trees are very inconsistent. Without grafting some
apples became more edible than the sour crab apple. Sweet apples in the United States are
attributed to Johnny Appleseed, because of a Disney cartoon. In this cartoon Johnny Appleseed
was shown working with the sweet apple instead of the crab apple. In fact, one of the dishes
shown to be made with these apples was apple pie.

Why Apple pie is American

Even though pies came from Europe and Apples from Asia, apple pie is American. Apple pie
has become a symbol of prosperity and national pride. Apple pie came from immigrants coming
to America searching for a better life. The Smell and Taste Treatment Research Foundation in
Chicago performed a test to see what kind of emotional responses smell can trigger. For people
with European ancestries the smell of baked dishes such as pie triggered nostalgia. Craig
Claiborne of the New York Times said, I have learned nothing can equal the universal appeal of
the food of one's childhood and early youth. It is the food that looks backwards through our
shared family memories. (2). This pro pie mentality only increased when the New York Times
released a piece in 1902 that claimed, [Eating pie twice per week] is utterly insufficient, as
anyone who knows the secret of our strength as a nation and the foundation of our industrial
supremacy must admit. Pie is the American synonym of prosperity, and its varying contents the
calendar of changing seasons. Pie is the food of the heroic. No pie-eating people can be
permanently vanquished. Pie, specifically apple pie, was becoming more and more American
by the slice (7). Around the same time Norman Rockwell, an American painter, was growing in
popularity. Norman Rockwell was known for his pro American art, several of his pieces feature
pie as a symbol of family. With a pro pie culture leading into the great depression, pie came to
be a symbol of happier times. James Montgomery Flagg, another artist who designed the
famous Uncle Sam poster, was known for painting women baking apple pies. As America began
involving itself with the second world war, many soldiers would say that they were fighting for,
Their mothers and Apple Pie. (6). This motto would become the phrase American as apple
pie.

Conclusion
While the apple pies origins are not strictly American, it is a symbol of American values and
represents something beyond a simple dessert. America was a country founded by immigrants
and all those cultures blended creating something unique. While many American icons do not
originate from America, they represent an idea of peace and freedom. Apple pie is one of these
American symbols. Apple pie represents a simple time and resonates with many Americans as
a symbol of family and independence.

Recommendations
Apple pie is an important American icon that can be seen in American media today. Pay closer
to attention to American media and see how it perpetuates apple pie as a symbol of family.
Apple pie is only one of many non-American symbols, pay attention in your daily life and see
what other American symbols that do not originate from America.

Sources
(1)Statue History - The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island. Accessed October 03, 2017.
https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/statue-history.

(2)Clarkson, Janet. Pie: a global history. London: Reakton Books, 2009.

(3)Eschner, Kat. "Apple Pie Is Not All That American." Smithsonian.com. May 12, 2017.
Accessed October 03, 2017. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-
apple-pie-linked-america-180963157/.

(4)Geiling, Natasha. "The Real Johnny Appleseed Brought Apples-and Booze-to the
American Frontier." Smithsonian.com. November 10, 2014. Accessed October 03,
2017. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/real-johnny-appleseed-
brought-applesand-booze-american-frontier-180953263/.

(5)Synan, Mariel. "All About Apples." History.com. September 13, 2013. Accessed
October 03, 2017. http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/all-about-apples.

(6)Menuism. "Why Are We 'As American As Apple Pie'?" The Huffington Post.
November 26, 2014. Accessed October 03, 2017.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/Menuism/why-are-we-as-american-as_b_6227462.html.

(7)Santan, Fabina ."The Story of 'American as Apple Pie': What Apple Pie Means to
America." Wide Open Eats. November 07, 2016. Accessed December 14, 2017.
http://www.wideopeneats.com/american-apple-pie-history/.