GENEALOGY AND HISTORY

Fitting Into American History

For many students, one of the most troubling parts of writing a family history is the requirement to explain how their family fits into the larger fabric of American society.  “Mine is just an ordinary family” is the lament of many students who do not stumble across a passenger on the Mayflower or a defender of the Alamo or some other “famous ancestor.”   The fact is, there are many ways in which all of our families can be placed into an American context; it just takes a little thinking! 

The following are obvious themes in American history one or more of which will almost certainly affect your ancestors: 

• European Immigration to the New World, either at an early or later date, and the reasons for coming
• Immigration of African-American ancestors due to the African slave trade
• Military service in one or several American wars (Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, World Wars I and II, etc.)
• Participation in the westward movement and settlement of new lands (including Texas)
• Membership in or interaction with the Native American population
• The part played in building the social and economic foundations of the United States
• Involvement in American politics
• Involvement with American education
• Role in constructing or inventing things
• (For more recent generations) surviving critical events of the twentieth century (World War I, the Depression, World War II, the Cold War, America’s century of Imperialism, etc.)

Look at the different branches of your family and see which of these (or any other) American categories they fit into.