Prelude to a Revolution: Beginnings of American Unity

When Europeans began populating the continent of North America in the early sixteen hundreds, they probably had no idea that what they had begun would evolve into a bustling society with a complex economy and a massive population. The colonies were an important asset to the English crown, as its valuable resources boosted the economy, and inhibited the economic and territorial growth of its rivals. An analysis of the culture, trade patterns, infrastructure, governments, and economies of the individual colonies in the late 17th century will reveal that they are made of several distinct societies. However, by the mid 18th century, the colonies are beginning to show signs of unity that will eventually push them towards a revolt against their English lords. "As the colonies grew closer together, they began to drift away from Great Britain"(wikipedia).

A look at the American colonies in the mid 1700s will reveal a vast mosaic of localized cultures.

English:

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English: Map of American colonies

Indeed, the rituals, beliefs, and etiquette were far from uniform. There were two main barriers that separated the cultures of the colonists. The first exists in almost all societies. It is the difference between high culture and the culture of the middle and lower classes. The high culture by the 1750s was almost the same throughout the colonies. This can be attributed to the fact the upper class attempted to mimic the culture of their counterparts in Europe. The second, and perhaps largest barrier that separated the cultures of the colonies was geography. Because the North American colonies were such a vast land, it was impossible for the residents to create a common culture in such a short period of time. Another important factor in the lack of convergence of American culture is that all the original cultures were so vastly different to begin with. Almost...