Final answer:
Colonial attitudes toward government and the individual evolved due to disputes over taxation, trade restrictions, westward expansion, and Enlightenment ideals, leading to a united push for autonomy and the establishment of new political structures during the Revolutionary War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transformation of colonial attitudes towards government and the individual leading up to the Revolutionary War was multifaceted, involving a range of economic, political, and ideological factors. The colonists' increasing dissatisfaction stemmed from British efforts to consolidate control and impose taxes, which were perceived as a violation of their rights to self-governance and economic freedom. Influenced by Enlightenment ideals, colonial elites, merchants, and frontier settlers alike sought autonomy in taxation, trade, and westward expansion, but had different visions for their future. The resistance they mounted against British impositions led to rebellions and ultimately coalesced into a broader movement for independence.
Throughout the war, the need for a political framework became apparent, as patriotism was insufficient for governance. This period served as an opportunity to implement the ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence. By the end of the war, revolutionary leaders, inspired by Enlightenment principles, had begun to lay the groundwork for new state governments and the eventual creation of a national government. These developments laid the foundation for American constitutional government and the protection of natural rights.