Final answer:
Benjamin Franklin would have described the American identity as grounded in Enlightenment ideals, personal virtues, and the belief in social mobility. Upholding Enlightenment principles of democracy and separation of powers was central to the young nation's identity. Furthermore, the population's diversity contributed to a shared vision of foundational values like liberty and equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Benjamin Franklin might have described the American identity during the late 18th century as an embodiment of Enlightenment ideals, civic virtues, and a firm belief in upward social mobility. His own 'rags to riches' tale in his Memoir resonated with the American Dream, fostering the belief in the possibility of bettering one's station through hard work and virtuous living. Franklin's focus on the importance of individual character strength, such as his Thirteen Virtues, was intended to guide citizens of the new nation. The spirit of collective effort and self-improvement was further exemplified by his choice of thirteen virtues aligning with the thirteen new American republics.
System of self-governance based on the general will of the people, as stated by Rousseau, and the separation of powers advocated by Montesquieu, were principles from European Enlightenment philosophers integrated into the U.S. Constitution. These ideas were put into practice in the United States before they were fully realized in Europe. Franklin, along with colonial leaders, was inspired by examples of union and democracy, such as those of the Iroquois Confederacy, and his famous 'Join or Die' slogan reflects this inspiration for American unity.
The widely varied population of the founding era, comprising Europeans, enslaved Africans, and Indigenous Peoples, was united under these shared ideals that upheld values such as life, liberty, property, the pursuit of happiness, and equality. This unity amidst diversity laid the groundwork for the evolving American identity, which was also influenced by the practical experiences of the Frontier Thesis as proposed by historian Frederick Jackson Turner and the self-reliant, community-driven observations noted by Alexis de Tocqueville in 'Democracy in America'.