American Identity

It is a difficult task I believe to try and pinpoint the most predominate factors in shaping and molding the American identity. For from its beginning and throughout every period of its conception the united state had been a mural of different cultures, values and people. Unlike the Romans or the Greek before them who were made of cohesively connected people, in that they were all Greek or all Romans. In the united state no such factor existed.
Colonies established by the Spanish were loyal to Spain and held to Spanish values. Similarly those colonies established by Britain or Holland swore their allegiance to their respective countries. It was perhaps not until the revolution that such boundaries were demolished allowing the free exchange of ideas and values. Allowing a citizen to move form one city to another without having to worry about changing sides since now everyone was on the same side. Such exchange of location brought with it exchanges in values and culture. Still however the people remained different.
Of different ethnic background and of possessing different sets of beliefs, which is where the difficulty lies. Were those of British decent more influential in shaping the identity of the U.S or was it a different ethnic group? Was it perhaps the efforts of individuals that had contributed the most as might be suggested by the founding fathers? However even an individual had to have been influenced by the ethnic group that had sprang him.
If so was it the people then who were most influential in shaping of the American identity. To assume so does not take into account the nature of the land, a great expanse of it uncharted and occupied by indomitable or not yet pacified natives. Or take account of the time, which was one of great turmoil. War was common, with the natives or among the colonizing countries of the time. So was it war and conflict that had most influenced the formation of the American identity? But even war had to have been influenced.