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Founding of Jamestown
The founding of Jamestown essentially created the idea of this place where someone can escape and be free. Back then, Jamestown was considered to be the "Colonial America". Freedom and Liberty are still a huge part of American Identity today. -
Middle Passage
The Middle Passage was part of an international network known as the "triangular trade", where slaves were moved to the Americas. Millions of Africans were enslaved and killed. However, the triangular trade was immensely profitable to merchants and to industries such as shipbuilding, fishing, tobacco growing, and sugar cane growing. But just as the ancient identity and beliefs of the Mexican people prove themselves, these slaves had the strong will of those who struggle for freedom and identity. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was an important document because it was written down and then signed by every adult male thus confirming that they agreed to it voluntarily, not because of any legal or political pressure or political issue. It set equality among the citizens. -
The Great Awakening
The First Great Awakening was significant to shaping the American Identity because religion during the 18th century contained a series of emotional religious revivals that spread across the American colonies in the late 1730s and 1740s. It broke down the social barriers, and new faiths were more democratic. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence helped to promote the American Identity through certain ideals that the colonists believed were important for man to have, such as liberty and equality. We became a role model for other countries who were experiencing things similar to what the colonists were suffering with England at the time, thanks to our Founding Fathers bravery and liberty. -
The Ratification of the Constitution
The American Identity began when the United States ratified the Constitution. It set up the system, rules and regulations for the United States that we are still operating under today. -
President George Washington
When George Washington became President, it allowed for more opportunity and home for the country. It was a big step when America separated from England's control, and having George as our first leader helped the states ease into the new rules. He believed it was necessary to strike a balance between making the presidency powerful enough to function effectively in a national government, but while also avoiding any image of establishing a monarchy or dictatorship along the way. -
Lewis & Clark Expedition
To the Native Americans, the Lewis and Clark expedition was the beginning of an end. Their lives were to be changed forever by their contact with the traders, soldiers, and missionaries that follow in the wake of this expedition. But over everything else, it's an American story. An adventure every American can share. -
Civil War Amendments
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were also known as the Civil War Amendments. The 13th initially created the idea of equality in the United States. The 14th originally meant to protect the rights of freed slaves. And the 15th Amendment stated that no person shall be denied the right to vote because of their race. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act was the first significant law that restricted immigration into the United States of an ethnic working group. This Act was also the first in a series of executive, legislative, and judicial acts by the United States Government in the late 19th and early 20th century setting official immigration policies that many historians, scholars, and average citizens consider as racist. -
Americanization Movement
The Americanization Movement (aka naturalization) provided foreign-born residents of the United States with training in American history, the English language and American customs to facilitate job placement and cultural assimilation. This allowed liberty to spread throughout America, as well as hope and some sense of safety and belonging for those who were foreigners. -
Lost Generation
The Lost Generation was said to be disillusioned by the senseless slaughter of WWI. Like most attempts to put aside an entire generation, this is true for some individuals of the generation and not true of others. Nevertheless, this period saw an explosion in American literature and art, which now is often considered to include some of the greatest literary classics produced by American writers. This generation also produced the first distinctly American art form- jazz music. -
Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” Speech
When Franklin D. Roosevelt gave his speech in 1941, the United States was once again on the brink of a world war. His speech has been primarily remembered for his idea of the four freedoms every person is entitled to: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. -
9/11
After 9/11, the national confidence changed. Now that we felt fear, something had to be done. When George Bush had announced the plans to invade Afghanistan and then later Iraq, the United States citizens understood and accepted. -
President Barack Obama
The election of the nation’s first black president raised hopes that race relations in the U.S. would improve, especially among black voters. Shortly after Barack Obama took office, residents in many countries expressed a sharp increase in confidence in the ability of the United States president to do the right thing in international affairs.
