The Struggle to Be UniqueAre you alone as a unique and special individual? Since the beginning of American history, struggles for individualism have taken place. The American Revolution, the American Civil War, and the separation of family life are all examples of individualism in American history. Individualism is an American paradigm designed by modern societal structure that is a modified idea from the founding by immigrants. In today's society, the struggle for individualism is more personal and reflects the evolution of American values ​​since the beginning of American history. Individualism in today's society is the "belief that each person is unique, special, and a 'basic unit of nature'." The concept of individualism places an "emphasis on individual initiative" in which people act independently of others and use personal motivation to prosper. Individualists “value privacy” rather than community, the individual flourishes to advance in life (American values). The current idea of ​​individualism is derived from the progressive idea that separating from one's home country to a new country would make life better. Economic and religious reasons triggered the colonization push in the New World. Decades after Columbus discovered America in 1492, people finally began to settle the New World. In 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh founded the Roanoke Colony, the first colony in the New World which, as history documents, "disappeared without a trace" (American Colonies). During the colonization of America, individualism was the main driving force behind the creation of new colonies. After the discovery of the “New World,” new colonies were established for many different religious purposes. Plymouth Colony was founded in 1620 with the aim of obtaining "religious liberty for... middle of paper... the seat of financial stability." As the economy begins to improve, more and more people are able to move out of their parents' homes and create their own lives as individuals. Since the beginning of time, people have tried to become individuals and stand out as unique beings. When the colonies were founded, individuals strove to preserve their religious beliefs. As slavery became more prevalent, the Civil War fought to restore black people's identity. In the 1800s and 1900s, individual initiative shifted from assigning an identity to a group of people to individuals fighting for their own personal beliefs. In today's society, individualism has been weakened by the collapse of the economy, forcing people to live with their parents for longer periods of time. As the economy continues to grow, individualism is moving in a positive direction..