... of power and freedom changed1. These revolutionary changes in the minds of colonists were clearly a result of the Enlightenment ideology and the Great Awakening. The American colonists came to see the necessity of 'dissolving the bands'2 that held them to England as they observed policies being implemented that threatened their liberty3. To the American colonists these policies represented clear evidence of tyranny and a conspiracy to 'enslave'4 the colonies. As a result of revolutionary changes in the mind colonists were transformed from loyal subjects in 1763 to revolutionaries' intent on independence in 1776. Pre-revolution America espoused England's system as they saw it as a protection of liberty as it had many checks in place to prevent despotic rule. The government was separated into three independent branches which created a balance of power. Despite being a patriarchal society that had a very defined view of descending powers, government institutions represented ...

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