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American Migrations: Colonial Era
This era of migration was the first in American history; it began with the colonization of Jamestown in 1607. This migration was characterized by peoples from England, Gernmany and the Dutch. This type of migration, with this type of people, ended around the start of the American Revolution. There were also colonies formed in the 'New World' by the French and Spanish; these colonies were filled with French and Spanish migrants. There were African slaves, but not many until the early 1700's. -
American Migrations: Pre-Revolution
After the initial wave of British, French and Spanish, the colonies witness a massive influx of African slave labor. Also during this time, pre-revolution, there was an increase of French in the colonies of New Orleans. -
American Nationalism: The Albany Plan
During the French And Indian War many colonies began to feel threatened. This spurred the idea of possibly joining together in some way. The Albany Plan was proposed; Benjamin Franklin suggested a unified government for the 13 Colonies. While this plan ultimately failed it does demonstrate the growing movement of American unity or nationalism. -
American Nationalism: Taxation Without Representation
All througout the history of the colonies, colonists had laws imposed upon them. However, it seemed many British officials turned a blind eye towards the illegality of some things occuring in the colonies. Britain was in debt from the Seven Years War, which played out in the colonies as the French and Indian War, and so the king and parliament began issuing taxes on many commonly bought goods. Colonists became furious with this. As the anger grew so did a sort of anti-monarchy sentiment. -
American Nationalism: The American Revolution
The American Revolution was a time of heightened Nationalism. The idea of a unified nation was coming futher into fruition, and with it came the ideals of those who would inhabit it. Pride in the nation would lead to it's own freedom. -
American Nationalism: The Declaration of Independence
The ideals of the anti-monarchy sect in the colonies had grown to the point where the colonists had decided to declare independence from Britain. The very same ideals that pushed them away from Britian also stirred a new proudness of this staggering new nation. Nationalism increased greatly, especially heading into the American Revolution. -
American Migration: Post Revolution
In the years after the revolution and before the 1790's there was still an increasing number of Africans being brought to the country. Along with that immigration also came some Irish, German and Scotish immigrants. -
What It Means to Be An American
In the 1700's being an American meant a number of things. It meant suffering through high infant mortality rates. It meant boys had education whereas girls may have a little but not much. Women spent more time at home doing domestic duties. White, landowning men were allowed to vote. -
What it Means to Be an American
We'd just won our independence so this time period was full of fulfillment of the American ideals of independence and individualism. Life was still based mostly in the country, a very rural time. Industry was beginning to build up though. -
American Nationalism: Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was an American idea rapidly growing during the mid-1800's. Many people believed democracy and other American goals should be spread between both the oceans. This encouraged American nationalism because Manifest Destiny was a sense of American pride and duty to the world. -
American Migration: Germans and Irish
Between 1850 and 1930 almost 6 million German people and 5 million Irish immigrated to the United States. The Irish came mostly due to the Great Famine. These specific groups of people usually came with very little, and ended up living in very ethnically based neighborhoods. -
American Migration: Chinese
There was a signifigant movement of Chinese into the United States around the time that the transcontinental railroad was being built. At first they were admired for their work ethnic, but soon they found themselves being prejudiced against. This lead to things like the Chinese Exclusion Act. -
What it Means To Be An American
During this time the definition of American was clouded. Soon there would be things like the emancipation proclamation and the amendments to voting laws. White men were still the voting power, and women and salves/ex-slaves were not granted the same rights. Industrialization and economic powers were starting to build up in the U.S. Also, there was a question about the validity of Chinese immigrants and Native Americans as citizens. -
American Nationalism: The Civil War
This era was a time of split nationalism. Ideals between issues like states' rights and rights of African Americans differed between the northern and southern regions of the union. Each area starts building up these sets of ideals until the south succeeds. Once this happen the separate regions build up their own sets of ideals, thus leading to separate nationalist movements; these movements lead to a Civil War. -
American Nationalism: Imperialism
Imperialism was a sort of revival of Manifest Destiny. The goal this time being to spread American ideals beyond the borders created by the oceans. America was looking elsewhere. Much like Manifest Destiny, this was an era of high pride in American, causing nationalism to rise. -
American Migration: "New Immigration"
The New Immigration is referring to the immigration wave of the late 1800's where America saw a rise in immigrants from Eastern Europe and Russia. -
American Nationalism: World War I
Americans, though prideful of America, were hesitant to involve themselves in the war effort. We were very much an isolationist nation. However, after the sinking of numerous American ships and well as the publication of the Zimmerman Telegram the American mindset changed. Nationalism rose, as did enlistments to the army and we engaged in the war. This is an example of a rise of nationalism due to fear of a threat to America. -
What It Means To Be An American
It was in this year that women in America were finally granted the right to vote. This changed the definition of America because fifty percent of America's population was finally granted the right to vote. -
American Nationalism: World War II
World War II was much like the first. We became involved after the attack on Pearl Harbor. This through the security of America into question and once more we became involved. There was also a sense of doing good for the world; not a rebirth of Manifest Destiny but the idea that it was our job to protect soveriegnty of the world. -
American Migration: Internal Security Act
The 1950 Internal Security Act barred communists from entering this country. -
American Migration: Post Cold War
Since the 1990's we've seen an influx of migrations from Mexico. This wave of immigration is still occuring today. -
American Nationalism: Terror in New York
After the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash in Pennsylvania, America experienced a massive boom in Nationalism. When events occur which threaten the nation or put into question a value which Americans pride themselves on we always see a rise in nationalism.
