American identity

Question 1

1.What happened that caused the shaping of an American identity ?

Answer 1

The war of Independence, America was declared independent in 1776

Question 2

2. What role did Puritanism play in the shaping of the American mind?

Answer 2

Puritanism was the religion of the Pilgrim fathers and it believed that a man could shape his future through hard work and also encouraged the spirit of adventure. ( aka your future is in your hands son) .

Question 3

3. What was the “melting pot”?

Answer 3

It was a phenomenon that happened when immigrants started coming to America and different races and cultures started living together in the same space.

Question 4

4. What were the key elements of the so called American dream?

Answer 4

• idea that hard work pays off
• faith in reason and human progress
  -idea of democracy, equality and justice

Question 5

5.What were the main influences that shaped the American mind?

Answer 5

• East Coast: Academic influences from Harvard and Yale and NYC

-west Coast: still undeveloped compared to east coast, but characterized by endless possibilities and pioneer spirit

Question 6

6. What was the genre that affirmed American literature?

Answer 6

prosee ( E.A. Poe) and later Epic ( Cooper)