Unity and Identity in the Colonies free essay sample

Many such as Benjamin Franklin urged colonial alliance. During the wars first year, Franklin published his famous Join or Die cartoon in Philadelphia, which strongly urged unity amongst the colonies. Due to poor battle tactics, Britain suffered early losses. The losses deteriorated the image of the British as an invincible force in the eyes of the colonists. It showed an underlying layer of weakness, which distanced the colonists from their mother country, Britain.While the actual war served as a tally for the unification of the colonies, the results of the war also had large effects on their identity as a new nation. The victory increased colonial self-esteem, and helped the colonists to perceive themselves as independent people who could defend themselves. Like the French and Indian War, The Proclamation of 1763 was a cardinal event In the development of the colonists sense of identity and unity. The Proclamation declared that settling west of the Appalachians was illegal to colonists. We will write a custom essay sample on Unity and Identity in the Colonies or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The land was declared off limits because it was Indian land, and the King did not want to cause any more dispute between Britain and the Indians. The colonists found this law to be unacceptable. Colonies had already begun planning on settling west, and found that giving land to the Indians was defeating the purpose of the French and Indian War which they had just fought In. Colonies had come to realize their Independence and self-sufficiency. They rebelled against the law, and proceeded In settling westward.Thomas Pains Common Sense is arguably one of the greatest influences on the unity and identity of the colonists. Thomas Pains pamphlet brought the possibility of Revolution Into full focus for the colonists. The writings placed blame for the suffering of the colonies solely on King George Ill, the current British ruler. Paine beseeches the Idea of an Immediate declaration of Independence, Implying that America had a moral obligation to secede from the corrupt nation. Common Sense rather inspired colonists to initiate secession from Britain, and lead to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.