Analysis:
The Salutary Neglect toward the American colonies by the British allowed the colonists to develop
their own form of government, which contributed to the separation of views between England and the colonies. Forms of government and its institutions established in the colonies and by the colonists
(House of Burgesses in Virginia, Town meetings) provided a sense of national identity among the
colonists, despite the fact that they were still ruled by England and not yet a nation.
The Stamp Act Congress united many of the colonies to protest against their lack of natural rights
given by England. This set a precedent for the identities of the nation to stand up for their rights and
not always follow British orders. This gave the colonies an identity that they are united, and in the
future could be independent from England.
The views of the federalists and the antifederalists showed the emergence of the competing views on
the identity of the nation’s politics post War of Independence. The antifederalists believed that the
national and political identity should have more emphasis on states-rights, whereas the federalist
vision of the nation’s politics emphasized more federal power and the supreme law. These differing
conceptions of the political identity of the United States led to certain compromises such as the bill of
rights and checks and balances.
Thomas Jefferson’s vision of the economic identity of the United States shows one of the different
views among the people during the time period. His vision of national identity consisted of a small,
agriculturally based economy with local officials and independent yeomen farmers who sustained
themselves through their own farms, which in turn would benefit the economy, however, others had
much different visions of the national and economic identity of the United States
Hamilton’s vision for America was one based on a stronger federal government. Hamilton believed
that the country’s individuals should be governed through elected officials. Furthermore, Hamilton
was in favor of federal over states’ rights. This vision is far different from Jefferson’s vision,
exemplifying the competing conceptions of national identity and what it means to be a part of the United States.
The Interpretation of the Constitution is important because it is an example of competing
conceptions of national and political identity. Much of a country’s national identity is determined by
how they are governed, therefore the interpretation of the constitution significantly contributes to
national identity. When Alexander Hamilton wanted to create the first Bank of the United States,
there was a dispute over the interpretation of the Necessary and Proper Clause (elastic clause).
Evidence:
Salutary Neglect: This refers to a time period during
the late colonial era when England practiced loose
political control over the colonies, thus allowing the
colonies to begin to self-govern and slowly break
away from England.
Stamp Act Congress: Consisted of 9 delegates from
different colonies, in opposition to the Sugar and
Stamp Acts passed by George Grenville, where
they discussed and moderately protested the lack and
loss of rights of the colonists, in hopes of
compromise.
Federalists vs. Antifederalists: after the war of
Independence, the Articles of Confederations
loosely held the states together. During the
Philadelphia Convention the “framers” established
the Constitution. The Federalists supported the
constitutions and the idea of a centralized national
government. The anti-federalists were skeptical of the
constitution and feared that the growth of a
centralized government would become tyrannical and
corrupt.
Jefferson’s vision of Society: Jefferson envisioned a
society with a weak central government giving more
power to state legislatures while creating an agrarian
republic. He opposed taxes on agrarian farmers, and
contested the industrializing plans of Alexander
Hamilton such as the first bank of the United States.
