What caused the rise of nationalism in early 1800s?

Answer 1

Prior to the 1760s, the British more-or-less ignored the American colonies, allowing them (1) to engage in large-scale smuggling trade with other colonies and foreign powers, (2) deal with the Native Americans as they saw fit (usually violently), and (3) with minimal taxation.

However, the 1760s served as a watershed moment. The British were forced to fight the Seven Years War (called the French and Indian War in America) on American soil in order to protect American lives and territory. Whilst fighting the war, the British became aware of the extent of the smuggling operations in the colonies and the conflagrations between colonists and Native Americans all along the Appalachian Mountains. As to be expected from a far-off power, the British responses to discovering the extent of the smuggling and amount of violence on the Western frontier led to the British harshly curbing both.

Additionally, as a result of the vast expenses incurred by the British in the Seven Years, they imposed light taxes on the American colonies to vitiate the debts they owed. Even though these taxes were the lightest in the entire British Empire, the imposition of these new taxes was enough to begin a general trend to towards desiring American independence.

So, the three major factors that led to a surge in American nationalism in the 1760s were (1) the British enforcement of restrictions on trade, (2) the British restriction of settlement and limiting of colonist-native wars, and (3) the imposition of taxes to cover war debts.

Answer 2

The colonists began to get angered by how England called them English citizens but they received no representation in Parliament. The increase in taxes and forcing colonists house the soldiers put them over the edge. They felt united because it was a problem they all faced and they were separated from the motherland by an entire ocean.

Answer 3

People were very white, and white people get stuff done!