Ancient history

Why did the colonies and Great Britain begin to grow apart?

There were a number of factors that led to the colonies and Great Britain growing apart, including:

* Economic differences: The colonies were primarily agricultural, while Great Britain was a manufacturing power. This led to different economic interests and priorities. The colonies wanted to export their goods to Great Britain, while Great Britain wanted to protect its own industries.

* Political differences: The colonies had a greater degree of self-government than Great Britain. This led to different political cultures and traditions. The colonies were more democratic, while Great Britain was more aristocratic.

* Social differences: The colonies were more diverse than Great Britain. They had a larger population of immigrants, and they were more tolerant of different religions and cultures. This led to different social values and norms.

* Geographic differences: The colonies were located a great distance from Great Britain. This made communication and transportation difficult. It also made it difficult for the British government to control the colonies.

These factors all contributed to the growing estrangement between the colonies and Great Britain. By the late 1700s, the two sides were on the brink of war.