Final answer:
The intellectual and social culture of British colonial America began closely aligned with England but evolved over time to forge a distinct American identity due to economic self-sufficiency, political enlightenment ideas, and social changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks us to evaluate whether the intellectual and social culture of British colonial America closely mirrored that of England, or if it diverged to form a distinct American identity. The evidence suggests a complex relationship between the colonies and Britain. Initially, colonists did indeed consider themselves British subjects, adhering to English customs, political systems, and mercantilist economic policies. This was reinforced by shared intellectual and religious developments, and unified reactions to imperial wars.
However, the American colonies began to forge a separate identity as economic, political, and social circumstances evolved. The self-sufficient nature of many colonists blunted the impact of mercantilism, leading to a disjunction between colonial interests and British policies. This, coupled with the ideas of enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, and the resultant class tensions, contributed to the Revolutionary sentiment. Thus, while early colonial culture was aligned with England, a distinct American identity was gradually taking shape, particularly by the onset of the Revolutionary War.
Given this evidence, one could modify the original statement to reflect that while the intellectual and social culture of colonial America started in close alignment with England, over time, clear distinctions developed, leading to the formation of a unique American identity.