Defining when a distinctive American nation emerged is more difficult than it might seem. Some might argue that a distinctive American society emerged by the end of the 1600s. Others might say it was not created until the outbreak of the War for Independence in 1775. Still more might point to the end of the Civil War as the moment a true American nation was created, or to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, which ensured minorities a place in the nation. Finally, some might say the American nation remains a work in progress today. Was there a distinct American culture, society, or people in 1750? In answering this question, consider the following: a. What was unique about the American colonies that differentiated them from England and other places? b. Citing specific examples from at least three different colonies, how similar were the politics, societies, and cultures of the various colonies? Did South Carolina, for instance, have the same culture and society as Massachusetts? c. Did Whites, Blacks, and Native Americans together form a single nation in 1750, or did each constitute a distinct nation (or nations)?
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