The colonists were losing their English identity by the eve of the American Revolution. Decades of domestic conflict and neglect by the British government forced the colonists to develop strategies for self government. The long distances and lack of communication between the colonies contributed to the development of separate identities. The uniqueness of the American frontier also encouraged the the development of an independent spirit; men and women wanted to be free of English regulations so they could devote more time to the improvement of their farms and businesses. Finally, the arrival of increasing numbers of immigrants from Scotland, Ireland, Holland, and Germany helped reduce the influence of the British government on the colonies just prior to the war.

On the eve of the American Revolution, a majority of the colonists considered themselves to be English. In fact, the colonists accepted and used English laws, followed the forms and procedures of the British government when creating their own local legislatures, and shared the same religious beliefs and social practices as their English counterparts. Although the American frontier offered new experiences and challenges to those people living in the colonies, there was a basic unity that linked the English and the Americans.