The unification of the thirteen colonies into one nation was a slow gradual process. It took many years and attempts by the patriots to unify the colonies. By the eve of the revolution the colonists had to a great extent developed a sense of their identity and unity as Americans.
Many attempts at unification were made even before the idea of rebelling against England came about. Benjamin Franklin tried to unify the colonies as early as 1754 under the Albany Plan of Union. He wanted the colonies to be ready with one strong army to defend themselves against the enemy. Though his plan was never carried out, the idea was reflected in later activity. From one of his cartoons published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, as shown in document A, it is evident that Franklin did not believe that the colonies were unified.
The reason the colonies united was because of England's tyranny and unfair ruling of the colonies. As shown in document b, Edmund Burke believed that the reason the colonies should unite was to fight off the British. He believed that it was unfair for a nation so far away and different to rule them. Many colonists were angered by many of the acts and taxes that were set by Parliament and the king. They thought that they were violations of their human rights. This was a stimulus to pursue the idea of unity. .
By 1774 there was a greater sense of unity than before. The British forced Boston to pay for all the damaged tea and to close its ports after the Boston Tea Party. There was a sense of responsibility among some of the colonies to help Boston. Colonies as far south as South Carolina sent aid to Boston. It was evident, as shown in document g, that not all the colonies had still been united because not all the colonies felt that they had to send aid to Boston. .
However, by 1775 more colonists were united. As written by Richard Henry Lee in document c, " all North America is now most firmly united to defend their liberties.
