Early American Identity

The American identity resulted from America’s early British roots and the separation that America experienced from its colonial roots as it emerged as a young nation. The events leading up to the revolution illustrate how deeply America was intertwined with Britain and the rapid escalation of tension between the two, comparatively post-revolutionary America is when America began to truly develop a unique and personalized identity that separated America from from its original British roots.
In 1607 the British established their first successful colony in North America, which they christened Jamestown in honor of King James I of England. The newly established colony relied heavily on the British motherland as the colonists were unaccustomed to

The massacre leads to propaganda against the British in order to vilify England’s rule in the public eye and sparks thoughts of freedom throughout the colonies. The Sons of Liberty, a secret society of colonists, took an active part in the opposition of British taxes and rule, as well as rallying the people against the British. The British repeal the Townshend Duties several weeks after the massacre in an effort to maintain good relations with the colonies. However, this attempt fails as the colonists begin to rebel more and more openly against British rule. In 1773, the British establish the Tea Act in order to support the ailing East India Company, the same year, colonists dressed as Native Americans infiltrate a ship which carried tea from the East India Company and tossed the entire shipment of tea into the harbor, ruining it. However, though the colonists were protesting the British taxes, they did not yet seek independence and still viewed themselves as subjects of the British crown. This deep attachment to being a part of the empire was the most difficult challenge in working towards separation from England. Eventually, America declared independence from its motherland and sparked the Revolutionary war.
During the Revolutionary war, colonists began to identify more with each other thanks to their new found common enemy. Anti British

The Federalists were more Britain oriented than the Democrat-Republicans, they wished for a strong, centered government with strong economic ties to Britain, whether as the Democrat-Republicans wished for a limited government and strong political ties to France. This separation between political parties would become a major factor of American politics, even after the fall of the Federalist party after the war of 1812, new political ideas kept on emerging and contending with each other. When the Constitution was eventually ratified, the Democrat-Republicans were still skeptical and called for a Bill of Rights that would protect the rights of the people. This strong accentuation of personal rights and individual thought would become a key aspect of the American identity. Although the separation of political parties did set a precedent for future American politics, it also ostracized Americans and reversed the feeling of national unity that emerged from the war.
The freedoms given to citizens molded America by giving the people a voice and created a government that was upheld by the people, for the