DBQ it was the prompt from the summer essay; access why over the course of the 17th and 18th centuries colonists went from considering themselves British subjects to indentifying themselves as Americans During the 17th century, colonies along the east coast were being created. Some of these colonies include New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The people living in those colonies were known as, colonists.The majority of the colonists were from Great Britain, and were still British subjects since Britain still owned the colonies. Since almost everyone was a first generation colonists, they still had their respect and honor to where they were originally from, which was Great Britain, so they did not care, at first, being subjects of British rule.
As the population of colonist began to grow, and generations of American born children began to be born, the more thoughts there were on creating a new country.There were taxes placed on the colonies by King George III, and Parliament, and colonists were starting to become enraged. Some felt they should start to go against these new taxes and rules. These people were called the Patriots. Others were supporters of Great Britain more and they were known as Loyalist.
Lastly, the people who were neutral were called, the Neutralist. Eventually war broke out, and the American Revolution began. Gladly, the Americans won, they earned their independence, and stated it in the Declaration of Independence.Once the Constitution was created, the government of the United States was being improved, and people from many places migrated to America.
Over the course of the 17th and 18th century, British subjects started to identify themselves as Americans once taxes were created, rules were established, and once they just wanted to have freedom. British colonists, who were living in the colonies, understood their position as being under Great Britain’s rule. They respected King George and Parliament, for the most part.
