“Can anyone tell me when and how the differences between US and UK spelling began?

Answer 1

When Webster prepared the second edition of his American dictionary he wanted to ensure that American usage was different from that in the UK so he changed some of the more illogical spellings such as colour

Answer 2

The differences began to accumulate as soon as the first Englishmen put 3000 miles of ocean between themselves and the island of Britain. Spelling differences were formalized with the dictionaries produced by Noah Webster at the beginning of the 19th century.

Answer 3

Looks like it's all Ben Franklin's fault. I personally like the differences in spelling. It makes us unique and yet the same as it's a common language between both. Not many have this you know.

Also for the grey/gray conflict here.
American Heritage Dictionary states:
grey (grā) Pronunciation Key
adj., n. & v.
Variant of gray.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/grey

So in the American Heritage Dictionary they can mean the same. I suppose that's another item you can call us lazy about.

Answer 4

Early 1800's, I believe. The early Americans were eager to put a little distance, culturally, between themselves and the former motherland. Noah Webster was one of those advocates. It was kind of a fad... that never got much beyond dropping the "u" out of words like flavour and colour. Gray and grey.

Answer 5

Happened gradually but started on the Mayflower.
1760 onward. First pilgrims probably had idiosyncratic language . Passed down the generations. enshrined by early lexocographers.

Answer 6

Shortly after the American Revolution.

You know, the war we kicked the British off our Continent.

Answer 7

When the yanks lost the plot.

Answer 8

we gave the Americans the language, they just cannibalised it!

Answer 9

Americans are just lazy, thats all.

Answer 10

geek