Early American Culture

Definition

The collective beliefs, customs, traditions, arts, and social norms that developed within colonial America before its independence from Great Britain. Early American culture was heavily influenced by European traditions brought by settlers but also shaped by unique circumstances in the New World.

Related terms

Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country or territory. It shaped early American culture through British colonization efforts.

Native Americans: Indigenous peoples inhabiting North America before European contact whose cultures had a significant impact on early American society.

Enlightenment: An intellectual movement in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries that advocated reason, science, skepticism towards authority, and individual rights. Its ideas influenced early American thinkers such as Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.