American Identity part 2

War, ethnic background, location and time all without a doubt have had a role in the formation of the American identity. However it was in my opinion a set of shared values that has most influenced the formation of the American identity. On studying the history of the united state one get a sense of deep-rooted sense of arrogance that was common among all the colonists.
A strong held belief that they were better then their follows; in all aspect of life, religion, education, economics and government. All colonists believed themselves better then the native with whom they shared the land. They looked down upon the native as savages and themselves as their saviors. The Spanish were cruel, the French sly and the English civil, in their efforts. No one would contest the cruelty of the Spanish or the underhanded dealings of the French (except maybe the people of the two nations) but many would the so-called English civility.
It is in examining the English settlers dealings with the native in particular their behavior in the events of King Philip’s war that one see how arrogance played a role in defining the American identity. There is however another factor, which I also believe, helped in defining the American identity, fear. From its beginning America was shaped by fear real and imagined. Combined with arrogance it was a strong force. King Philip’s war illustrates this perfectly.