Problem
For most of the period of colonial objections to England's policies from 1763 through 1775, colonists insisted that they were just defending their traditional "Rights as Englishmen" against resort British violations of them. Explain how Americans, in declaring independence in 1776, radically redefined the source of the rights they now claimed.
How revolutionary and drastic (or not) was the impact of independence on American society? Describe both some important areas of social-political change AND areas of substantial continuity and stability in American society before and following the revolution