In chapter six of Samuel Huntington’s ‘Who Are We?’ there is an emphasis on creating an American identity. I found the example of Benjamin Franklin that he used to be quite fascinating. Given his reputation and historical background, it could be inferred that he was a pure American. Despite this though, the text revealed that Franklin’s identity transformation was quite rapid in the late eighteenth century. Initially proclaiming that he was a ‘Briton’, Franklin signed the Declaration in July of 1776 renouncing his affiliation with the British. Like many others between 1740 and 1770, Franklin changed his identity from British to American. There are various explanations as to why this took place, but there were several influential events that take the responsibilities of this transformation. First, the Great Awakening brought together a diverse set of individuals who were able to indulge in new experiences. Second, the Americans were allied with the British during this era and had fought in many wars against the French and Indians; thus creating a sense of mutuality between the two powers. Third, the vast area of land, large population growth, and emerging trade markets created a heavy sense of opportunity from a financial standpoint. The desire of wanting to have an American identity was significantly high at the time due to the many relationships and opportunities that were viable. Nonetheless, these progressions stimulated that of American identity. I found Benjamin Franklin’s personal experience in regards to this to be particularly interesting due to the lack of my previous knowledge about him in relation to identity.
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