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In 1492, Christopher Columbus made the voyage to the Americas, beginning the European exploration and colonization of the New World. For the Colonial Era, this event marks the first encounter between the Old and New World (Phillips,1992). A year later, in 1493, the Doctrine of Discovery legitimized this colonial expansion (Miller, 2010). With this, Columbus’ voyage is considered to have influenced the American identity since it brought diversity to America.
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Sources:
“---.” Google Books, books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=GtnJiZIjsDIC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=Doctrine+of+Discovery&ots=U4JgCAM4A7&sig=kC6kzGWV9G2QyIh49Z1ixvlUmLg#v=onepage&q=Doctrine%20of%20Discovery&f=false. “The Worlds of Christopher Columbus.” Google Books, books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=8jhtmzLlX70C&oi=fnd&pg=PP11&dq=Christopher+Columbus&ots=C2RsRA1xaR&sig=ALwwrASnQzqIxb1wDmLVEQETsn4#v=onepage&q=Christopher%20Columbus&f=false. -
During the Revolution & Constitution era, the signers of the Declaration of Independence insisted on “No taxation without representation,” which began the idea of the American dream for independence. During this time, the Continental Congress and the Sons of Liberty fought for colonial rights (Middlekauff, 2007). From that came the Declaration’s idea of “All men [being] created equal (Middlekauff, 2007),” which built the foundation for a democratic government within the American identity.
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Source:
“The Glorious Cause.” Google Books, books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=nya0ODz-B-cC&oi=fnd&pg=PT9&dq=american+revolution&ots=Y2TR1tV-OL&sig=UN8FM4NU6tkMaFwYO3wJanulO_w#v=onepage&q=american%20revolution&f=false. -
The Early Republic Era consisted of many groups, events, and ideas. Two crucial groups during this time were the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, who argued the strength of the central government. With Washington’s Farewell Address of 1796, he emphasized the importance of unity within the country (Avlon, 2019). The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 then expanded American Land (Kastor, 2008). In turn, these events influenced the American identity by creating unity and growing moral within the country.
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“Washington’s Farewell Address to the People of the United States.” Google Books, books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Jnk9AAAAYAAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=washington%27s+farewell+address&ots=95m4N3dj8P&sig=CwDS1LkHw3KIR6FzLWL7xhuQpLY#v=onepage&q=washington's%20farewell%20address&f=false. “The Nation’s Crucible.” Google Books, books.google.com/books hl=en&lr=&id=C5L4KQmLK50C&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=louisiana+purchase&ots=NK1G5H_rIL&sig=SC4ya2KlXnHgpMA6gtoQ4QlD_Ps#v=onepage&q=louisiana%20purchase&f=false. -
Frederick Douglass and Grimke Sisters were abolitionists who fought against slavery during the Antebellum era. Douglass, once enslaved, was a national leader of the abolitionist movement, while the Grimke Sisters were female advocates for the abolition of slavery (Rawley, 1979). During this period, “Bleeding Kansas” occurred, a violent conflict that brought out divisions over slavery in 1854 (Rawley, 1979). These events would change the conversation of slavery within the American identity.
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Source:
“---.” Google Books, books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=k5OkYwX_QyoC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=bleeding+kansas&ots=-VzBZn9EIM&sig=mEUyYtfGhaGxioUq3-PKMxxVueo#v=onepage&q=bleeding%20kansas&f=false. -
1863, Abraham Lincoln enacted his Emancipation Proclamation, stating that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories were to be freed (Guelzo, 2005). This critical point in American history paved the way for a more inclusive American identity and, in turn, began the creation of more constitutional amendments that would secure the rights of all Americans (Guelzo, 2005). Lincoln’s legacy would, in turn, change the American identity to be one that strives for justice and equality for all.
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Sources:
“Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.” Google Books, books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=fT7v1zHHvAQC&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=Abraham+Lincoln%3B+Emancipation+Proclamation&ots=1X1Obuu6Ia&sig=wvjzkAqVrJWeYQSh776EkWGeKX0#v=onepage&q=Abraham%20Lincoln%3B%20Emancipation%20Proclamation&f=false.