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Great Awakening
This was a movement in both Great Britain and the colonies. This would give the colonists a shared identity as well as give rise of new denominations, those that hadn’t initiated from Great Britain showing a start of a separate identity being created by the colonists. -
Jonathan Edwards "Some Thoughts Concerning the Present Revival of Religion in New England"
Jonathan Edward wrote, “The old continent has been the source and original of mankind…and it is probably that, in some measure to balance these things, the most glorious renovation of the world shall originate from the new continent”. -
French and Indian War aka The Seven Years War
This war would strengthen the identity the colonists as British subjects. Working together with professional British troops gave the colonists a larger sense of bond between them and the colonists. There were two fronts fought on the war, and the war has separate names. The separate names shows that the same war was being seen as having different areas and differentiated between the colonists war and the European war. -
Proclamation Line
The Proclamation Line was created to help prevent further conflict between the colonists and the Indians, preventing the further expansion of the colonies. The colonists felt the point of the war was to be able to expand territories. This shows a divide in the perceptions of the colonists and the British in that their aims and views are different. -
The Sugar Act
Under the Sugar Act, the colonists became subject to courts without juries and taxation without representation in Parliament. These are fundamental parts of their identity as British subjects. -
The Stamp Act
More taxes levied onto the colonists by British Parliament. As a result of this act, none of the colonies would join together against this act. Due to this act the colonists would continue to question their identity as Englishmen. The uniting against this Act would be a foundation that would eventually lead to their their unification and eventual formation of their own identity. -
The Massachusetts Circular
This was written in the aftermath of the Restraining Act and gained popularity only after the British sent troops as a result of it. The bringing in of the troops would be a reminder of how the British are able to overpower them, making the colonists unequal. The identity as being full English subjects that the colonists had of themselves would continue to be challenged by these actions. -
Boston Committee of Correspondence
The Boston Committee of Correspondence was created in order to address the concerns of the British overreaching its power in the colonies and was a form of government. Other towns in Massachusetts, and eventually the other colonies, began forming their own committees. The forming of their own forms of government shows that there was now a shift, that they felt that they needed their own groups to look out for their own interests. -
The First Continental Cognress
The First Continental Congress was created to be a governing body, an umbrella group for the multiple committees among the different colonies. In correspondence to the British government, they still referred to themselves as being part of British America, not as American citizens. This creation of their own type of governing body shows a move away from British authority and a shift in their identity from being British Americans to having their own authority and their own identity. -
Declaration of Independence
"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America…solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are,…that they are Absolved from all Allegience to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved.” This was the moment when the decision was made to finally separate their identity. Their identity was no longer as Englishmen or British subjects. -
Articles of Confederation
“Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by the Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.” Though they identified themselves as separate from Great Britain, their identity now was as members of their state, not necessarily to the greater whole. -
the Constitution of the United States
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the untied States of America.” Previously, the people identified closer with their state. This Constitution created a common identity for those in this new nation, uniting their identity. -
the War of 1812
In response to the British supporting Indian resistance in their new country as well as the seizure of American ships and sailors by the British would cause many to call for war against Great Britain. Those who fervently supported going to war were those who would perceived the acts to be the British placing insults on American honor. Now the identity was not only as Americans, but having a shared honor and therefore pride in this new identity.
