Shaping American Identity

The Mosaic

Essential Questions

What/who is an American ? How is identity shaped? What factors unify? Divide? Colonists are increasingly

different from England ----but also different from one another.

“American” “As they became more English

– they also became more American”

Political, commercial and military ties resulted in closer ties with England

Greater awareness of other colonists and colonial status/similarities.

America from 1700 – 1763

Demographics – great increase 250,000 – 2.5 million Constantly more dispersed and

heterogeneous Moving frontier line Mostly natural increase Also immigration

Ethnic Settlements

Backcountry Characteristics

Egalitarian and mobile Complex and fluid interactions Middle Ground – trade and

equality Isolated Heterogeneous -prejudices

push west Scot Irish – challenged authority Germans – more communal Religious pluralism and division

Areas of settlement

Bingham – Daniel Boone Escorting Settlers

Forts

Iroquois Lands & European Trade Iroquois Lands & European Trade CentersCenters

Iroquois Lands & European Trade Iroquois Lands & European Trade CentersCenters

Colonial Power Struggles Tidewater v. frontier needs

Paxton Boys Regulation Movement

Boundary disputes Green Mountain Boys

Tenant rent wars

Paxton Revolt

Cities and Seaports

Vibrant – cultural centers Arts, fashion, education, Negro

Election Day Much opportunity

Lower classes, women, Africans Exchange of ideas and information

Newspapers, journals Merchant economic and social

power Greater class awareness and

diversity

Trade Patterns

England – 50%, majority of imports Debt increased Lack of specie for Americans

“Anglicized” material culture West Indies – 27%

Critical to American credit & specie access

Intercoastal and overland trade increased

Impact = increased shared identity

Trade Patterns

Mercantilism:

Navigation Acts – control trade and profit Shipping on English ships –

English captain and crew Import through English ports Enumerated items – trade only w.

E.

Benefits and Disadvantages

BenefitsSystem of credit NE shipbuilding Market for staple

crops Protection –

navy/army Can evade

Disadvantageslack of hard specie Not “rationalized”

systemLower prices for

staple crops Higher prices for

manufactured items

Political Experience

Crown governs - limited oversight

Benign Neglect (salutary) Goal = profit Americans develop autonomous

and responsive governments Colonial governors – power in

theory, not much in reality

Colonial Structure

Governor = executive Legislature =

Council – 6-8 elite advisors Assembly – Protects Liberty

-“power of the purse” Taxation and Spending Representative, not democratic Dominated by the elite Journals and newspapers give

information

Contrast with England

Americans perceive selves as English -rights of Englishmen are critical

Some ambiguity – English system

America – more middle class, more political participation, less corrupt Zenger Case 1735 – role of press

America – far greater sense of opportunity and social mobility

Cultural and Social/Intellectual Events

Enlightenment appeals to intellectuals Rational ChristianityEmphasis on natural law DeismFranklin, Jefferson

Great Awakening

religious revival 1730-1760semotional appeal personal connection with God emphasis on laity Whitefield, Edwards

Franklin and Whitefield

Impact of Enlightenment and Great Awakening

Religious divisions “old” v “new” lights

New centers of higher education Challenges to authority – clergy and

institution – “rehearsal” for revolution

Emphasis on individualism and minority rights

Created a shared colonial experience Equality before God - appeals to

African Americans and Indians

Slave Cultures Culture emerged, but was

fragile – possible due to Population increase – 250,000 by

1760 Larger number American born Population density - allows

separateness Sexual balance – families are

created Shared language Emerging religious ties

Colonial Images of Slavery

Slave Quarters

Contrast - Chesapeake & Carolinas

Chesapeake – slower to develop, less density, less interaction

Task v Gang system French Louisiana – earned

freedom “internal enemy” – greater

density, greater fears

Slave Resistance

Negotiation – control over certain areas

Running and escape Swamps, North, West

Annoyance, subversion Revolts -consequences

Stono 1739; NY 1712 Creation of sustaining culture

and institution

Stono Rebellion 1739

American Identity by 1754 Forces of Division

economic and regional division ethnicity race social class religion geography and distance

Forces of Unity Anglicized material and

non material culture political institutions and experience frontier experience sense of opportunity religious/intellectual events trade among colonies postal system/newspapersimperial wars – common enemies ideas of rights

Competition for Empire Four Imperial wars 1689-1763 Issue = World Balance of

Power (BOP) Competition France v. Britain French and Indian War starts

in colonies Issue = control of Ohio River

Valley; all of North America Washington – Fort Necessity

French and Indian War 1754-1763

Albany Plan – Franklin League of the Iroquois Treaty of Paris 1763

Britain controls all of N. America Contrasting perceptions and post

war goals True losers = League of Iroquois

and Indian tribes – lost ability to control BOP on the frontier