Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, European settlers flocked to America looking for religious tolerance, economic opportunity, and a way to escape the seemingly endless wars that plagued Europe. This melting pot of different people and cultures created the new colony that had a unique identity; a distinct American identity. In 1776, America declared its independence from England because they had irreconcilable difference with England due to an evolving American identity that clashed with England’s foreign policy on matters of economic ideologies, ethnic backgrounds, and lifestyle. A combination of these factors and England’s underestimation of the strength of the American identity, led to America gaining its independence in 1776, and
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The economic rifts between England and the colonists between 1607 and 1775 led to a major changes in the economic identity of Americans, as America began to favor a new economic ideology: capitalism. This new economic theory thrived in America, and centered around the concept that a country 's trade and industry were controlled only by private owners for profit. Between 1607 and 1696, England exhibited salutary neglect, the notion that England gave the colonies the chance to flourish economically with little to no restrictions by British laws and Parliament. This was due to England lacking any incentive to strictly control the trade in its colonies as they were flourishing without the regulations and restrictions of England, yet remained entrenched in Mercantilist economics that benefitted England. Mercantilism was an economic ideology adopted by England that stated the colonies should be a source of profit for the mother nation as both a new market for English goods and a source of raw materials. This led to American colonists having their first experiences as a “sovereign nation”, as the colonists were allowed to govern economic policies by themselves for the first time. Between …show more content…
This American identity has had a great influence on world politics and affairs, as over the years immigrants from different parts of the world have allowed America’s identity to evolve and become more diverse and inclusive. Even though the American identity has evolved with the times, some ideals like America’s love of freedom and liberty have not gone away and likely never will. Similar to 17th and 18th century immigrants, today 's immigrants flock to America looking for religious tolerance, economic opportunity, and
The economic rifts between England and the colonists between 1607 and 1775 led to a major changes in the economic identity of Americans, as America began to favor a new economic ideology: capitalism. This new economic theory thrived in America, and centered around the concept that a country 's trade and industry were controlled only by private owners for profit. Between 1607 and 1696, England exhibited salutary neglect, the notion that England gave the colonies the chance to flourish economically with little to no restrictions by British laws and Parliament. This was due to England lacking any incentive to strictly control the trade in its colonies as they were flourishing without the regulations and restrictions of England, yet remained entrenched in Mercantilist economics that benefitted England. Mercantilism was an economic ideology adopted by England that stated the colonies should be a source of profit for the mother nation as both a new market for English goods and a source of raw materials. This led to American colonists having their first experiences as a “sovereign nation”, as the colonists were allowed to govern economic policies by themselves for the first time. Between …show more content…
This American identity has had a great influence on world politics and affairs, as over the years immigrants from different parts of the world have allowed America’s identity to evolve and become more diverse and inclusive. Even though the American identity has evolved with the times, some ideals like America’s love of freedom and liberty have not gone away and likely never will. Similar to 17th and 18th century immigrants, today 's immigrants flock to America looking for religious tolerance, economic opportunity, and