I was talking about the American Revolution with some non-Americans and I kept referring to the American side as "we". I thought about it a bit afterwards and realize that it might not be appropriate to do so since my ancestors would have been in several different European countries at the time of the Revolution.
My ancestors on both sides of my family didn't migrate to the US until the very early 1900s, so before that my "we" would have been Italy or Latvia or one of the numerous other countries my family came from. But then again, I have no real connection to those countries other than them being part of my background and ethnicity.
So do you say "we" for Americans historical events that happened before your family arrived to the US?
23 comments
I personally don’t.
Not because I’ve deliberately made that decision, but it’s just a habit not to.
Oddly I do use “we” when I refer to the sports teams I follow though.
If you are an American, American history is your history.
I had colonist ancestors here as early as 1650. I think I may have had an ancestor on the Mayflower. Now, my latest immigrant ancestors came here around 1900 (my dad’s side are all relatively recent), but I’ve got ancestors in the US from just about the start of British colonization.
Same reason we say we when talking about the history of sports teams we follow regardless if the event in question was before I was born. Once you’re part of the team you adopt the history of the team
Yes, I’m American. It’s history it my history.
Also my family first came over in the 1660’s so I guess we’ve been here for pretty much the whole show and then some, so yea lol
I have documented evidence of my family being in the US (and within 10 miles of my current home) since at least 1776, so it’s a bit different for me. But if you’re American, regardless of when your family arrived, you can say “we” when referring to the US at any stage.
I don’t usually talk about historical events like this at all
Yes. I don’t know about yours, but my ancestors are all dead and don’t give a shit about what is “appropriate”. Life is for the living, I’m an American national, that’s about it.
Do I say “we” when referring to the Mongol Empire since there’s a slim chance I am related to Genghis Khan?
Most definitely.
Doesn’t matter when my family got here, we are Americans.
My ancestors have been here since ~1612. I don’t say “we” when talking about things that happened here before Jamestown was established.
Yeah it’s the history of my country
Feel you. I noticed this awhile ago and it sparked some serious questions for me around “American” identity and race, in particular. Would it be “we” if I was Asian-American, if none of the people mentioned looked like me? For example. What about if I were Black, or Native?
Yes. I am an American talking about the history of my country, therefore “we.”
Yes, because American history is my history.
Also, I have a many times great grandfather who fought in the revolutionary war and was literally at Valley Forge.
Yes, I’m still culturally descendant from early US history.
I also say things like “the city burned down but WE rebuilt it” when talking about Chicago even though I wasn’t born here and my family immigrated to the US *after* the Great Fire. Same reason.
Yeah totally. We kicked their evil British asses right back to their frozen little island. Doesn’t matter that it wasn’t any of my personal ancestors. It was Americans who did it.
I cannot say I’ve ever thought about this. Nor have any sort of rule about it. I can’t even tell you what I *would* say.
My earliest ancestor in the US came in like 1860s.
I wouldn’t even say “we” came here in the 1860s. I’d say “they” did.
My ancestor moved here in 1750. I am American.
For the good things, yes. We won the revolution! We beat the Nazis!
For the bad things, nope. That was all them.
My family came in the 50s and 70s for reference.
I don’t but it’s wasn’t an active decision. I actually never thought about it until you asked. But all four of my grandparents’ families came here within about 20 years of each other, the earliest around 1890, so anything American before that is not ‘my’ history because they were all still over in Poland/Italy.
Some of my current family members are big on tracking genealogy/ancestry and I know a decent amount about their lives before coming here so I consider that to be ‘my’ history. I wouldn’t say ‘we’ in regards to Polish wars either but prior to ~1900 I would just say the name of the country instead.
I’ve never thought about it before. My family didn’t get here until around 1915. I always say “we” as well.
Mom’s dad’s side has a 12th great grandfather Native American who met the pilgrims, mom’s mom side has the captain of the Mayflower. I always say we, cause we’ve been here since the start
Usually, “we” is inclusive of the speaker in the context of their identity as an American.