Ap U.S History: America's Unity and Identity

AP U.S History

Unity and Identity

Jordan Classen

Unity and Identity

Throughout the mid 1700’s, the British colonies in North America were beginning to develop a sense of unity, bound together by their new identity as independent from Britain. With this they adopted this ideal in which they would give each person a voice and the atmosphere that it created with the new ideas fostered the growing of American identity. Over time they began to outgrow their English roots. This helped fuel their emotional resistance towards Britain. They loyalists believed that the government system they had was the only way to achieve a successful community and stood directly by the crown whereas the patriots were ready to raise arms against the King, but didn’t want to have to use military force unless they absolutely had to.

By the eve of the revolution the colonists began to embrace a new identity, which was a small change that didn’t expand as much as unity; however there were many disagreements and discouragement that beamed out of the Loyalist population. When Benjamin Franklin devised the slogan, “JOIN OR DIE” he successfully tried to bring the colonies together to defend themselves against the Indian and the french threats. Although his original intent was to unify the colonies under a single cause, he unknowingly established a new sense of identity for the colonists. The American and British victory during the seven years war brought identity towards the colonists and a sense of freedom that overpowered them. They felt this sense of overpowerment because they achieved the victory of the war and it helped them to become stronger and more dependent on one another. The victory increased patriotism throughout the countries. Parliament attempted to tighten the control over the colonies to help pay for the war fees and the colonists felt as if their freedom was being attacked. Parliament then passed the Stamp Act which brought drastic changes to the triumph of the colonists. The colonists viewed this act as direct attempt by England to raise money in the colonies without the approval of the colonial legislatures. England wanted more authority over the colonies, they viewed the colonies as a personal bank primarily because they had many debts that needed to be payed off. In the, Letters from an American Farmer, quoting, “Individuals of all nations are melted into the race of new men,” this made the identity aspect of America almost uncertain. They were taking races from all over and meshing them into to something new. Identity struggles to remain