American history from 1750-1776?

Question

To what extent had the colonists developed a sense of their identity and unity as Americans by the eve of the Revolution?

Answer 1

This is an AP History question isn't it? It sounds so familiar.

Basically, Americans established their sense of unity and identity when Parlaiment kept taxing them w/o American input. That is the most important factor. I wouldn't say that Americans felt a strong sense of unity or seperate identity prior to the taxation instances. (By the way, to all the ppl talking about instances of unifiction before 1750, ur answer does not pertain to the question since the question is about the tiem period from 1750 TO 1776). In response to someone else's answer, the Great Awakening helped establish them as more religious, but I don't think that fueled the desire to be an independent entity.

Well most of them felt that taxation without representation was unfair and displayed many instances of UNITY to combat unfair taxation. For example, in respose to the Stamp Act of 1765 (this was the first direct tax on Americans, who were forced to pay taxes on paper goods such as newspapers), New York and eventually other states, organized a boycott of British goods. In addition, Massachusettes' Samuel Adams formed the Sons of Liberty, an organization that constantly harassed British soldiers. Delegates of colonies also organized into the Stamp Act Congress and wrote resolutions denouncing the British parlaiment for taxing them without proper representation. This resulted in the Prime Minister, Lord Rockingham, to repeal the Stamp Act, proving that the united Americans were victorious in their resistance.

However, soon afterwards/in another instance, Americans had to unite again against the Townshend Acts of 1766. The Massachusettes Legislature passed a Circular Letter to other state legislatures, which again were about unfair taxation w/o representation. Parlaiment responded by threatening to dissolve the Massachusettes legislature, deploying more British troops in America, and told the other colonial legislatures not to act. America responded by boycotting British goods again. The Sons of Liberty continued to harass British soldiers (Ain't it great? An American group uniting to harass others.). This finally resulted in the new Prime Minister (Lord North) repealing all taxes except that on tea. Americans rejoiced.

In response to the Tea Act, many Americans ignored this by smuggling the cheaper Dutch tea. The British West Indies company responded by offering their tea at a lower rate, even with the taxes. Americans refused to buy this cheaper taxed tea (again citing unfair taxation w/o representation). Pro-British Governor Hutchinson dealt with this issue by ordering the Royal Navy to not let tea ships leave (b/c according to law, after 20 days, the tea would have to be unloaded and auctioned off to pay for the costs of the tax). Bostonians united by sneaking on the ships as Indians and dumping the tea.

In the third instance of American display of strong unity, British King George III responded with the Intolerable Acts, which basically closed the Boston port until the Bostonians agreed to pay for the lost tea (which they never did pay for) and increased power for the pro-British governor. Americans united by forming the first Continental Congress and passed the Suffolk Resolves (boycott of British goods and they started forming and American militia).

In a final fourth instance of unification agianst the British, Gov. Hutchinson heard of an arms supply in Concord and ordered British troops to be sent there. On their journey, Paul Revere and his friend spotted the Brits and warned Lexington. Minutemen started showing up from all over America to fight the British while others covertly moved the supply of arms to another location. The British were unable to find the arms and had to retreat.

In an instance of identity, the second continental Congress met in 1775 and there were 2 factions. One group identified as wanting to be independent of British control while the group was hesitant. Both groups eventually decided to have John Dickinson write up a framework for American gov while Thomas Jefferson was responsible for writing the Declaration of Independence. The Americans had just established themselves as a seperate nation from Britain.

Answer 2

1750 American History

Answer 3

By 1750, at least 90% of the colonists had been born in America. Therefore, although they understood themselves to be subjects to England, they considered themselves Americans, or more specifically, Virginians, Pennsylvanians, etc. Their identity to their individual states was much more acute than their identity as "Americans."

Answer 4

In 1776, the declaration of independence was created and enforced... it gave Americans freedom. Therefore, the colonists developed a big sense of their identity by earning freedom and independence.

Answer 5

It think they had already developed their sense of identity long before then. I really do believe that they had it in mind since the early 1700s or possibly before then. But I don't believe they really had a sense of unity until after the revolution.

Answer 6

We just went over this question in Ap US History. It was the Great Awakening. This was the first Spontanious Mass that aroused the fervid sense of that they had of themselves as a single people, united by a common history and shared experinces. I believe it began in 1738.

Answer 7

Well, they had the Boston Tea Party. They realized that they were in this country to gain their independence, and they were going to fight for it. They knew that they all had to work together to fight off the British.

Answer 8

Nah, none of that. It was a very quiet few years. A couple of raccoons got shot. That's about it.

Answer 9

Big time.