Surname: 1
Name:
Course instructor:
Course:
Institution:
Date:
American Identity
Introduction
American identity is a concept that did not develop until the 19th century. Before that, America was
still a colony of Britain and shared in its imperial identity. Development of this American identity was
, Surname: 2
witnessed in various sectors of society. Through sports we see the American culture trying to define its
leisure activities to drinking parlors where the society sought some recreation time and the literature
through which the emerging American sought to shape his identity. These pillars of the American way
of life greatly influenced its emergent identity in the 19th century and ultimately helped to create the
American identity that we are familiar with today.
1. How and why Americans continue to appropriate British customs and culture
After the war of independence between America and Britain, America was left as a new world. In its
infancy, it did not have a cultural identity. However, as the former colonizers, Britain had influenced
many aspects of American life. For example, horse racing was a sport of the aristocratic class in
Britain. The elite of America however decided to adopt horse racing to bring a feeling of these royal
life to the new republic. Also, writers of these times had to write their works following a European
style or risk having no audience to read the works.
Therefore, in order to make its own culture, America had to base its new identity on something. The
British culture and identity was used because of its familiarity with the American populace. Over time,
American culture has slowly evolved. The culture is now more modern with a rich mix of various
cultures and social classes. The American culture borrows heavily on the British culture, this is because
of the past connection that the two cultures share. American culture being the child of the British
culture, it occasionally borrows things from the British culture to make it even more divergent and rich.
Name:
Course instructor:
Course:
Institution:
Date:
American Identity
Introduction
American identity is a concept that did not develop until the 19th century. Before that, America was
still a colony of Britain and shared in its imperial identity. Development of this American identity was
, Surname: 2
witnessed in various sectors of society. Through sports we see the American culture trying to define its
leisure activities to drinking parlors where the society sought some recreation time and the literature
through which the emerging American sought to shape his identity. These pillars of the American way
of life greatly influenced its emergent identity in the 19th century and ultimately helped to create the
American identity that we are familiar with today.
1. How and why Americans continue to appropriate British customs and culture
After the war of independence between America and Britain, America was left as a new world. In its
infancy, it did not have a cultural identity. However, as the former colonizers, Britain had influenced
many aspects of American life. For example, horse racing was a sport of the aristocratic class in
Britain. The elite of America however decided to adopt horse racing to bring a feeling of these royal
life to the new republic. Also, writers of these times had to write their works following a European
style or risk having no audience to read the works.
Therefore, in order to make its own culture, America had to base its new identity on something. The
British culture and identity was used because of its familiarity with the American populace. Over time,
American culture has slowly evolved. The culture is now more modern with a rich mix of various
cultures and social classes. The American culture borrows heavily on the British culture, this is because
of the past connection that the two cultures share. American culture being the child of the British
culture, it occasionally borrows things from the British culture to make it even more divergent and rich.
