When you come right down to it, this is the most important group to settle in this Country. Our institutions are generally English and we all carry the Rights of Englishmen. That is why we broke away from Britain. Our ancient English Rights were being trampled upon by the Crown.

This group has given America its legal system and language. This legal system has provided a solid foundation for the development of American society. In addition, it was this ethnic group’s connections with British capital that funded our industrialization in the 1800s. To this day the financial markets of New York and London are closely intertwined. My only complaint with this group is the moral imperialism of the Puritans. The descendants of this group have championed alcohol prohibition, the drug war, and our current crusade of spreading democracy around the world. On the other hand, they did fight to end slavery. The English have contributed heavily to the gene pool. Influence grade of 5 stars.

Everybody gets a 3. Obviously this is a foundational, widespread group that varies widely. It includes some of the poorest people in the land ( in Appalachia and the South, and some of the richest- the more or less stereotypical Brahmins and blueblood elite) and many in between, in New England the 'in betweens' are somewhat derisively known as 'Swamp Yankees.' Some of the nicest folks, and frankly more than their fair share of the snobbiest- when one considers the stereotypical Brahmin sorts, who often have no love, or at best condescension, for ethnic Catholics and other working to middle class ethnic sorts of other faiths in my experience. I don't like the concept of 'rating' groups, but will admit that the structure of the government and judicial matters, plus a lot of cultural stuff comes from this bunch.

I'd like to think we made some contribution!