Final answer:
Between 1763 and 1776, various factors contributed to the strengthening and deepening of colonists' sense of common cause in British North America, leading to their readiness to unite in a Declaration of Independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The American colonies developed a sense of common cause and unity between 1763 and 1776, leading to their readiness to unite in a Declaration of Independence. Several factors contributed to this strengthening and deepening of colonists' sense of common cause:
- The imposition of various acts by the British government, such as the Sugar and Stamp Acts, the Declaratory Act, and the Intolerable Acts, which restricted the colonies' rights and autonomy and increased tensions between the colonies and the mother country.
- The development of inter-colony cooperation through the formation of Committees of Correspondence and the convening of the First and Second Continental Congresses, which provided platforms for colonists to discuss their grievances and coordinate resistance against British authority.
- The publication of influential works, such as Thomas Paine's "Common Sense," which argued for independence and rallied support for the American cause.
These political and cultural resources, combined with the shared experiences and aspirations of the colonists, laid the groundwork for their eventual declaration of independence.