Colonial Era

Colonial Era

Sometimes when you are in control of lot a people it's good to limit your demand for the people to do. In the late seventeenth century a predominant European settlement in the new world they were mainly British colonists. The colonist went from considering themselves "British Subjects" to identifying themselves as American because of the impact of social and cultural maturation of the American colonies. A unique American culture gradually took shape, especially with the dimension of government, religion and economics imposed by both the colonist and the mother country. These cultural are helped force the American colonist in the direction of independent and help point the colonist toward a sense of American individuality. Altogether, innovation in both politics and religion in the colonies encouraged the development of a distinguish American identity.

Governmental wise, colonist executed the power in their charter and exceeded them, and also they have obstructed the execution of the acts of Trade and Navigation to obstruct officers in the discharge of their duty and set up their own naval office. In addition, Penn's plan for union (1697) expressed, "That the several colonies meet once a year and appointed duties, to debate and resolve of such measure as are most advisable for their understanding and the public tranquility and safety of these against the public enemies" (123.com). In the Massachusetts Body of Liberties (1641) describes the liberties which Massachusetts colonist were under such as "No mans life shall be taken away. No mans cattel or goods of what kinde soever shall be pressed or taken for any publique use or service. No mans person shall be restrained or imprisoned by any authority whatsoever (Document D). The Rights of the British Colonies and Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress also argue. " The "Right of the British colonies" can be summed as, "that civil government is of God every man in the dominions is a free man no parts of His Majesty's dominions can be taxed without their consent every parts has a right to be represented in the supreme or some subordinate legislature ...the colonies are subordinate dominions and are now in such a state as to make it best for the good of the whole that they should not only be continued in the enjoyment of subordinate legislation but be also represented in some proportion to their number and estates in the grand legislature of the nation...and that this would firmly unite all pats of the British empire in the greater peace and prosperity and render it invulnerable and perpetual." The Resolution of the Stamp of Act congress (1765) document, states similar ideals," That it is inseparably essential to the freedom of a people to, and the undoubted right of English men, that no taxes be imposed on them, but with their own consent, given personally, or by their representatives (Document I). On the other hand, "The Declaratory Act", by the British Parliament of 1766, states that, "An act for the better securing the dependency of his majesty's dominions in American ...his Majesty's colonies and plantations in America, have...claimed to themselves the sole and exclusive right of imposing duties and taxes upon his majesty's subjects in the said colonies and plantations; and have in pursuance of such claim, passed certain votes, resolutions, and orders, and proceedings, in any of the said colonies or plantations...to make laws and statues as aforesaid, is denied"(Document G). From this attack on Americans, one can infer that Americans were winning the battle on the governmental issues because of the serious demands of his majesty. These issues were just one step in forging an American identity.

Religiously, most New England colonies were established by Puritan/Calvinist minister who were dissenter of the Church of England. Colonists were religiously oppressed in England and wanted to practice their religion without the fear of persecution. With the freedom of religion, colonists had a common interest that united the American cause: become an independent people by sanctifying themselves from Great Britain. The Mayflower Compact has proof of this "Having undertaken for the Glory of God and Advancement of the Christian Faith..." The advancement of the Christian faith was in reference to relieving themselves of religious oppression by "... a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia (Document A). Having achieved religious freedom, Americans had motivation to work for a uniqueness that at that time was unheard of.

Economically, the series of disagreement with Britain that began in the 1760s brought a gradual transfer of power from the king's government to the colonists. This "transfer of authority" from England to America was led by Samuel Adams, who was a Massachusetts politician who as