Final answer:
Colonists' identity in British North America evolved from seeing themselves as British subjects to developing a unique 'American' identity, influenced by economic autonomy, religious and intellectual movements, and the collective experiences of imperial wars, which contributed to the spirit of the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Colonists' Identity Evolution from the 1600s to the 1700s
Throughout the 1600s and 1700s, the identity of the colonists in British North America underwent significant changes. Initially, colonists continued to think of themselves as British subjects, respecting the mercantilist system and the British political system which offered them rights and an 'enlightened' governance. However, as the colonies matured economically, politically, and socially, a collective 'American' identity began to take shape. Economic self-sufficiency, intellectual and religious developments, and the strains of imperial wars highlighted their unique circumstances and differentiated their experiences from those living in Britain. The shift towards an American identity was gradual but persistent, as the colonists faced challenges that bound them together and distanced them from their mother country, eventually contributing to the revolutionary sentiment that led to the birth of the United States.
Evidence of British identity included adherence to British laws and trade regulations, as well as participation in Britain's wars against France and Spain. Evidence of a burgeoning American identity was found in the growing economic independence, the spread of religious and intellectual movements unique to the colonies, and the collective experiences that were divergent from those in Britain, all of which fostered a sense of a distinct community. This transition was rooted in the complex interplay between the colonies' evolution and the British Crown's attempts to exert control.