The United States’ identity was shaped by its opposition of British policies, politics and interactions. After the French and Indian War, America was riddled with debt and revealed the effects of salutary neglect. Both the British Parliament and officials panicked and implemented trade restrictions and taxes. Raising revenue to pay off debts fell into the hands of George Grenville who passed the Currency Act of 1764, the Sugar Act of 1764, the Stamp Act of 1765, and the Quartering Act of 1765. These laws resurrected the previous horror of the Dominion of New England in 1686. The colonists, who were left to govern themselves for years, fought against these laws and the oppressive governors who enforced them. Between 1730 and 1820, America developed a unique identity through wars of Independence, patriotic actions of ordinary citizens coming together for a common cause, and the creation of a centralized government based on Enlightenment principles, all of which helped the young nation advance its interests in foreign affairs based on constitutional liberties which allowed military alliances to defend national borders and provide relief to suffering nations.
The wars of Independence fought by the patriotic citizens of the American colonies contributed to the development of the American Identity. The implementation of the Stamp Act of 1765 ignited an imperial crisis. The Stamp Act placed a tax on all paper goods and it was estimated to have eventually covered their war debt, but instead it went to the cost of keeping British soldiers in the colonies. Colonists believed they were being stripped of their basic rights; therefore, the Stamp Act Congress met to discuss the issue. Congress protested the loss of American liberties and challenged its constitutionality. This meeting initiated the unification of the colonies because it joined them together to fight for a common cause. Radical groups such as the “Sons of Liberty” burned effigies of tax collectors and later the “Boston Tea Party”. In 1770, violence broke out between the colonists and the stationed British troops. No one knows who fired the first shot, but the killing of five townspeople inspired imperial reform. In response to the “Boston Massacre”, Paul Revere published a rather propagandistic engraving which depicts the horrors of the event. It illustrates a line of British soldiers ready to fire and a commander in the background, but in actuality it is unknown who shot first and the colonists provoked the situation. Furthermore, the colonists’ attire was elevated to demonstrate status and wealth, as well as terrified women alluding to the medieval concept of chivalry. Overall, labeling the event a “massacre” was used to band the colonists together to resist imperial power. The dog, pictured at the bottom, symbolizes loyalty and fidelity in the American colonies. In other words, the spirit of patriotism is what will bring the colonists together to fight for their independence and unique identity (Doc 2). After the “Boston Tea Party” in 1773, in response to the Tea Act of May 1773, and King George III was furious and enacted the Coercive Acts on Massachusetts to punish the colonists. Massachusetts was in dire need of aid, so the colonies rallied together against the deemed “intolerable” acts. They created a committee of correspondence which established a strong sense of patriotism and unity, foreshadowing the creation of the minutemen in 1774. Dunmore’s War, reviving backcountry patriotism, resulted in the Second Virginia Convention. Here, Patrick Henry addressed the convention by claiming that they are slaves of England and prophesied war. He believed that they should have a militia because it could potentially prevent Britain from maintaining a standing army. He also addressed his hatred towards royal government for ignoring the letter sent from the First Continental Congress concerning the issues of the Intolerable Acts. This letter was the beginning of foreign negotiations and affairs, and suggested potential compromise. Patrick explained he was willing to die to achieve liberty for his country, and his cry for liberty became an inspiration for a new American identity (Doc 3). Leading up to the American Revolution, Committees of Correspondence created an inter-colonial system which allowed leaders to secretly communicate about constitutional threats. In comparison, minutemen were essential to warn the colonies about potential British advance. At this time women were not involved in many patriotic activities, but a young Sybil Ludington was an exception. Inspired by her father, who served in the French and Indian War, she volunteered to alert the countryside of British attack. This account was the beginning of the advancement women’s rights and kindling a patriotic fire in a separate and unique demographic (Doc 4). The war for independence was fought over 7 years, and it was conceived by the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Gaining a French alliance, the strengthening of a rag-tag American army Baron von Steuben, encouragement and passion expressed by General George Washington, and the by determination by American troops, all contributed to the patriotic spirit of the American Identity.
The creation of a centralized government built on Enlightenment ideas created an exclusive identity which influenced America’s foreign affairs because it protected the nation’s borders and provided relief to suffering nations. Tensions were rising before the American Revolution, and the Enlightenment thinker, John Adams, suggested the idea of a government run by the people. He believed that the people should be in charge of electing their rulers, or at least their opinions should be considered. The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement which encouraged political and social reform. The Enlightenment was known for sparking the Haitian Revolution in 1791, which was a battle against slavery and colonial supremacy (Doc 1). The perils of the Revolutionary War concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, and left the Americans free of Great Britain. However, the politicians in America were left wondering what their new government was going to look like. The previously established Articles of Confederation was written to give the colonies a limited central government, but it had many flaws. It had the ability to make foreign treaties, settle land disputes, borrow and print money, but it did not have the power to enforce foreign treaties or effectively tax the states because of their sovereignty. The desire for a central government run by the people and for the people, inspired a new Constitution in 1787. In order to ratify (vote) for the Constitution, the Federalists and Anti-Federalists needed to be in agreement. The Federalists believed in a federal union where the Anti-Federalists feared the loss of popular opinion. Vocal Federalists such as Alexander Hamilton, promised a union reserved for the people that would establish a good government. His opinions were consolidated into a collection of five essays which also included works of James Madison and John Jay. These writings became essential to the future American democracy because of its emphasis on “practical republicanism” and their promise of a centralized government that would not lead to tyrannical rule (Doc 5). In order to ease the worries of the opposing side, the ratification of the Constitution came with the Bill of Rights. This new Constitution was supported by France and Germany demonstrating future allies and international support. For years to follow, a new government was shaped under President George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. In each of these presidencies, especially Jefferson and Madison, they encountered different international problems. Under Jefferson, Jay’s Treaty was in response to economic threats and Madison became involved in clandestine affairs such as the XYZ Affair and citizenship restrictions through the Alien and Sedition Acts. George Washington previously warned the young nation that it should remain neutral and not have any permanent foreign alliances in his Farewell Address in 1796. He wanted to ensure that the United States borders and interests were protected. Washington was concerned that the accumulation of debt would be too difficult to pay back and result in economic decline (Doc 6). America and France have been loose allies since the French and Indian war, but after the French Revolution they were in need of financial aid. French support can be seen in paintings and writings and it was suggested in the painting, “Signing of Treaty of Ghent”, because it was created by Amédée Forestier, an Anglo-French painter. The War of 1812 was a conflict between Great Britain and America due to trade restrictions, the seizing of American ships, and British support of Native Americans in Ohio. The end of the war was marked by the Battle of New Orleans and the Treaty of Ghent. The Anglo-French glorified the end of the war demonstrating European support and future peaceful affairs (Doc 7).
The development of America’s unique identity was through wars of independence fought by patriotic citizens. These citizens came together for a common cause creating unity in a divided world. The creation of a centralized government based on Enlightenment principles, encouraged the young nation to advance its interests in foreign affairs based on constitutional liberties. This allowed military alliances to defend national borders and provide relief to suffering nations. As a result, the United States was able to create an identity of patriotism, democracy, and liberty.