Us History

Even before the eve of the Revolution, the colonists constantly had the image of independence lingering in the back of their heads. The colonists felt that they were first on a loose leash, and as that leash tightened over the years, the colonists began to understand their true culture and identity. As time passed, the colonists developed a greater sense of their identity and unity as Americans and by the eve of the Revolution, even though at first the colonists were unorganized and had problems with being united, they remained determined to gain their identity and unity as Americans.

The most significant factor in that time period was unity. The wrath of intercolonial disunity slowly dissolved as time went on. Enormous distances between colonies, geographical barriers like rivers, conflicting religions, varied nationalities, different types of governments, boundary disputes, and resentment amongst themselves were the factors involving disunity. However, the colonists over time started to understand that they were all fellow Americans who shared common ideals.

In 1754, the Pennsylvania Gazette showed the colonists an image that would show that unification was essential for independence. It was a picture of a snake that was cut into little parts and each part was a place. The snake depicts the image of independence, and without the unification of all its parts, it will not be complete. The title "JOIN, or DIE" of this drawing is demanding. The author of this drawing wanted to say that if the colonists wanted to achieve independence, they must unite and fight together for their common cause (A).

In regards to unity, during 1774 and 1775, there were 17 contributors of Donations for the Relief of Boston. This astonishing number of contributors reflects the desire and willingness for unification. It shows that from anywhere as north as Massachusetts and as south as South Carolina, the colonies wanted to help each other out when another was in need. This fact is clearly evident that indeed America was slowly but surely trying to unite and fight as one (G).

Another piece of evidence, which was composed in the 1770's, can be seen in the Letters from an American Farmer by Hector St. John CrÐ"Ёvecoeur. The narrator in this letter says that he "could point out to you a family whose grandfather was an Englishman, whose wife was Dutch, whose son married a French woman" (H). This quote shows that people were creating a new race, which in return, brings unification amongst different nationalities in colonial America. I thought the quote following that quote was even more significant in the establishment of unification. "He is an American, who leaving behind all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced" (H). It clearly states in this quote that he is "leaving behind all his ancient prejudices and manners" and that he, along with other Americans, are uniting as one and slowly gaining their independence.

The lack of organization between colonies is another significant factor that was holding the Americans back from independence. In The Famous Math Byles: The Noted Boston Tory Preacher, Poet, and Wit, 1707-1788, the author asks an interesting question. He asks, "but tell me, my young friend, which is better, to be ruled by one tyrant three thousand miles away, or by three thousand tyrants not a mile away". Although this quote may seem like one tyrant three thousand miles away does seem "better", the three thousand tyrants a mile away were not tyrants at all. Instead, they were colonists who were acting legitimately upon the scenario they were put in. The one tyrant three thousand miles away was using the "three thousand tyrants" in a way that to the colonists was simply inexcusable. They felt used, and merely acted in a way that any other human being would have acted (D).

Also, one may argue that the beliefs of the colonists were unorganized