King George: What Was His Problem?

The American Revolution tested the emerging nation with challenges of leadership and governance, and it was imperative that Americans strategically united in such a perilous time. The Continental Congress, as the de facto national government, had to forge a united front, secure necessary resources amidst financial turmoil, and gain international allies in a world dominated by European power politics. This organization and governance played a major part in the result of independence after the American Revolutionary War.

Uniting the 13 colonies, each with distinct identities and interests, posed significant challenges for leadership and governance of the early United States. The Continental Congress, the central governing body, had to navigate these differences to formulate a unified strategy against British rule. John Hancock’s sentiment, “The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more […] ‘I am not Virginian I am American’” reproduces the mindset shift toward national unity necessary for the American Revolution’s success (17). Leaders like John Adams, John Hancock, and Benjamin Franklin were instrumental in bridging colonial divides, emphasizing unity against the common enemy. However, fostering a collective American identity over regional loyalties was challenging.