what kind of cultural ties does America and Britain have?

Question

This is for my project of WWI, one of the reasons why America joined WWI was because the cultural ties that America had with Britain, and I suppose to explain deeper about that cultural ties. thank you.

Answer 1

You premise is false. Cultural ties do not explain anything. As close as cultural ties are between, for example, Germany and Austria (including common language), the two countries spent about as much time being enemies as they did being allies; for example, Germany and Austria were allies in World War I, but Germany annexed Austria in the wake of World War II.

Different cantons of Switzerland have close cultural ties to Germany, France, and Italy (which fron time to time fought wars against each other), yet Switzerland remains an independent (and neutral) nation.

Also, however close cultural ties between Britain and America can be, America's closest family ties are in fact with Germany; in today's U.S., there are about two persons of German descent for every person of English descent...

The most important "cultural" tie between America and Britain (and France, its other ally in WWI) is democracy. Germany and Austria at the time both were nearly-absolute monarchies; France, a republic; Britain, a de-facto republic with a largely ceremonial monarchy (very much like today). In fact, the slogan Wilson's administration used to get the U.S. into the war was exactly that, "make the world safe for democracy"...

Answer 2

Although the American revolution is sometimes portrayed as a revolt against 'foreign rule', it was largely a revolt against a political and social system. This was common on both sides of the Atlantic, and also was part of a greater 'pandemic' of eighteenth century revolts across Europe, in France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and other countries. There was and is therefore a section of British society which saw the United States as part of a desired 'Enlightnment Culture', and identified with it more than with the traditional order. The industrial traditions of areas like Pennsylvania were strongly connected to similar traditions in Britain, and there was a lot of emigration both permanent and temporary across the Atlantic. This was not even always one-way: there was emigration to the South Wales coalfields from America at the time of the big money in the anthracite fields prior to the First World war.

Answer 3

Our roots are the same. First, of course, our actual history, in that it was British settlers who came to what became the US. We have a common language, at least for a little while longer. The US government, while not patterned on that of the UK, thought about it at every step of the way, so even in the ways in which we differ, it is because of the way theirs is. And despite the split, our educational system continued in much the same pattern. A difference, though, is the American premise of the elimination of the monarchy and class differentiation. Here we have it, but it's unspoken and all has to do with money.

By the way, America is very large: North America, South America, Central America. You DID mean the US, didn't you?

Answer 4

Okay - let's start at the beginning. In 1607 the English founded their first colony in America at "Jamestown Virginia". The new settlers brought with them to America everything they understood and knew of English culture, law and practise etc.

The basics of such as, trial by jury, freedom of speech etc were already in the minds and hearts of the new settlers. Within ten months, the new settlers had established their own 'parliament' [council] for debating the issues of the day. Votes were cast and decisions taken following the counting of the votes etc.

The United States of America, is very much founded upon English ideas concerning freedom, liberty and democracy. Of course much of this was still in it's infancy, but the core values were already in place, put there in America by the first English settlers.

At the core root of American thinking, there rests the heart and soul of English Protestant Puritanism.

Following the English Civil War of the 1640s., more Puritans found their way to the shores of America and more colonies were established. These Puritan English folk kept alive their belief in Freedom Liberty and Democracy. It was their descendants about 100 years later, starting in 1776 to rose up against a tyrannical English King and finally won their Independence.

The State of Virginia is named after Queen Elzabeth I of England, the Virgin Queen. Jamestown is named after King James 1st of England, King of England when the colony was established. King James, Protestant King of England was responsible with his committee for the creation of the Protestant English Bible, better known perhaps as the King James Bible.

God save the King.

Answer 5

We are two people divided by a common language - George Patton

Britain has a 1000+ year history, the US has barely 200 years. So we like to feel like we are still attached to the mother country, as do Canada, India, Australia, etc.

Answer 6

All you need to know is we kicked the brits ***, and got the USA... the only problem is we stopped with Canada and Mexico... (but we would have kicked the French and the Mexicans asses too).

And America fucked up when they let China turn commi....

And we should have taken China... and stayed out of Iraq and Vietnam... and we should have rescued Africa and Bosnia and Serbia before Milosivic slaughtered those people... and you know what...? Why don't Europe ever help out, like Italy across from Bosnia? They don't care, that's why.

Answer 7

they speak the same lanuge, same religion, and same race

Answer 8

http://www.1st-rate-papers.com/term-papers/848183/why-america-got-involved-in-wwi.html

http://www.aplustermpapers.com/term-papers/848186/why-america-joined-wwi.html

I hope this helps