Changes

===Ties to the British Empire===

===Ties to the British Empire===

Although the colonies were very different from one another, they were still a part of the [[British empire]] in more than just name.

Although the colonies were very different from one another, they were still a part of the [[British Empire]] and each looked to London for leadership. military protection, and trade.  

Socially, the colonial elite of [[Boston]], New York, Charleston, and [[Philadelphia]] saw their identity as British.  Although many had never been to England, they imitated British styles of luxurious consumption, dress, dance, and etiquette.  This social upper echelon built its mansions in the Georgian style (named after King George), copied the furniture designs of [[Thomas Chippendale]], and participated in the intellectual currents of Europe, such as [[Enlightenment]].  To many of their inhabitants, the seaport cities of colonial America were truly British cities.

The political institutions of the colonies were originally patterned after English models, but by the 1760s there was a very different tone. Americans ignored the Royal Court and paid attention to the "country" party in Britain which was opposed to the Court; this was the origin of [[republicanism]] which increasingly dominated American political values.  

All of the [political structures of the colonies drew upon various English political traditions, most notably the [[republicanism]] and the [[Whig]] traditions.  Many Americans at the time saw the colonies' systems of governance as modeled after the [[British constitution]] of the time, with the king corresponding to the governor, the [[House of Commons]] to the colonial assembly, and the [[House of Lords]] to the governor's council.  The codes of law of the colonies were often drawn directly from English law (Scotland had a different legal system which did not carry over to the colonies); indeed, English [[common law]] survives not only in Canada, but also in the modern United States. Eventually, it was a dispute over the meaning of some of these political ideals, especially political representation, and a growing unity among the new generations that led to the [[American Revolution]].

The codes of law of the colonies were drawn directly from English common law, which was carefully studied by the hundreds of lawyers in the colonies.<ref>Scotland had a different legal system which did not carry over to the colonies.</ref> Eventually, it was a dispute over the meaning of the English Constitution and the rights of Englishmen that animated a new generation after 1760 to demand respect for their historic rights as Englishmen.  

Another point on which the colonies found themselves more similar than different was the booming import of British goods by international merchants based in American seaports.  The British economy had begun to grow rapidly at the end of the 17th century, and by the mid-18th century, small factories in Britain were producing much more than the nation could consume.  Finding a market for their goods in the British colonies of North America, Britain increased her exports to that region by 360% between 1740 and 1770.  Because British merchants offered generous credit to their customers, Americans began buying staggering amounts of English goods. From [[Nova Scotia]] to [[Florida]], including all thre 13 colonies, all British subjects bought similar products, creating and Anglicanizing a sort of common identity.

Another point on which the colonies found themselves more similar than different was the booming import of British goods by international merchants based in American seaports.  Socially, the colonial elite imitated British styles of luxurious consumption, dress, dance, and etiquette.  This social upper echelon built its mansions in the Georgian style (named after King George), copied the furniture designs of [[Thomas Chippendale]], and participated in the intellectual currents of Europe, such as [[Enlightenment]].  To many of their inhabitants, the seaport cities of colonial America were truly British cities. The British economy had begun to grow rapidly at the end of the 17th century, and by the mid-18th century, small factories in Britain were producing much more than the nation could consume.  Finding a market for their goods in the British colonies of North America, Britain increased her exports to that region by 360% between 1740 and 1770.  Because British merchants offered generous credit to their customers, Americans began buying staggering amounts of English goods. Economic integration across the Atlantic was more and more a reality, as the economy of each colony matured and was more involved in oceanic trade.

==From unity to revolution==

==From unity to revolution==