From Loyal Subjects to Independent Citizens: How Independence Transformed America
[Blog post by ChatGPT following a conversation] Every Fourth of July, Americans celebrate their independence from British rule—a turning point in history that reshaped the lives of not only the Founding Fathers but also the everyday people living in the colonies. While we often focus on the heroes of the revolution, it’s worth exploring how independence affected society at large and why the colonies turned to armed conflict instead of peaceful negotiation. Who Were the Founding Fathers? The Founding Fathers were a small, politically powerful group of men—lawyers, merchants, landowners, and intellectuals—who had the education, influence, and means to lead the colonies toward independence. Unlike the average colonist, these men had both access to political discourse and the ability to shape it. Figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin played vital roles in crafting the Declaration of Independence and laying the foundation for the new nation. Why Arm...