Question

British North America and the Atlantic World, 1660–1763 The British North American colonies diversified in this period, and they also become more uniformly and distinctively Anglo-American. Using evidence, explain the factors that promoted the development of a unified identity despite growth and diversification.

Answer 1

During the early years of the colonies, the population of the British North American colonies was very diverse. People came from all over Europe in order to settle in the United States. Despite this variety, the colonies became, at the same time, more Anglo-American. The colonists began to share characteristics that made them distinctly belong to this particular group.

One of the main reasons for this was the fact that the colonists shared a series of values that had spread throughout the colonies. For example, the colonists came to appreciate freedom of religion, as many of them were escaping from the religious persecution that existed in Europe. Another characteristic that brought the colonies together was the fact that the first settlers were usually self-reliant. This instilled a pride in them that became part of the culture of New England.