William Penn, in organizing his colony as a place of refuge, believed that he was planting “the seed of a nation.” He built upon a landscape that already had enjoyed decades of fruitful partnerships between the indigenous peoples and the Swedish, Dutch, French, and English peoples forging a new society. Becoming America introduces readers to this diverse population and its unique heritage, along with numerous influential yet largely overlooked personalities who helped to shape, stabilize, and expand its compelling vision. Viewed through the lens of Pennsylvania’s Ross family, and accenting the distinct influence of their relational circle in preparation for independence, this book traces the century and a half leading up to the birth of the American Republic. It illuminates the stories of those early generations who cherished and invested in American liberties, who helped the colonies together to navigate the many tensions and challenges threatening them, and who would lay the foundation for a government “of the people” that served as a beacon of hope throughout the world.