American History

Colonization has had a great impact on civilization in America. The American colonists had a Congregationalist type of religion while the transplanted Europeans were majorly Anglicans. As the transplanted Europeans were far from the intervention of their mother country in matters of religion, the American colonists easily swayed them to varying religions. Through an economic revolution, the American colonies went beyond the mercantile relationship that existed between them and the transplanted Europeans thus promoting the expansion of a capitalist structure within the colonies (Middleton, 1992). The notion of self government and liberty was far more advanced among the American colonies than among the transplanted Europeans. The American colonists were based on a fluid structure of classes which provided an avenue for the citizens to climb up the social ladder and hence the eventual power that enabled the American colonies to influence the manner in which the transplanted Europeans ruled. These developents were also very essential in the advancement of national identity.

Middleton (1992), notes that the printing press and the Reformation were very instrumental in promoting nationalism. He notes that this enhanced nationalism more than the emergence of industrialization. Centralization of the state also contributed greatly to nationalism. The royal support for literature, historical writing and art promoted the culture of the colonies and these were key elements of their civilization. This enhanced the perception of distinctiveness among the American colonies which in turn promoted the sense of national identity. Political revolt and religion also played a core role in promoting national identity. For instance, Protestantism promoted widespread literacy in vernacular which was very essential in the growth of a national community based on a common religion. This promoted homogeneity in religion within the nations and hence instilling a sense of belonging in the wider national community.  The structure of the local political structure was very influential to the advancement of national identity. Mixed feelings among some populations such as the urban and rural, different orders and classes were a major drawback to national identity among the European colonies.

The concept of nationalism emerged in the late eighteenth century within Central America and Europe. Nationalism is associated with the rise of the modern day state and the ideology of popular sovereignty. Nationalism developed as a move to buy and bring together the people to pursue a common goal(s) such as independence, self government and liberty as it sought to unite the people of a common language or ethnicity. This enabled them to set up their own nation states which were very essential lately in the revolution that occurred among the various colonies.