How did the Declaration of Independence affect the Americans way of thinking?

Answer 1

It made them stop thinking of themselves a British subjects and start thinking of themselves as Americans. For some, this change had already taken place, and that was why they joined the Continental Congress that signed the Declaration. But for others, it was not until the Declaration was signed and published that they realized there was no going back: we were committed to a break with England.

The other effect was to stop thinking of themselves as Pennsylvanians or Virginians, but as Americans. We were forming the United States of America. Look at each word there: United: one country. States: retain the individual characters of the states. America: this is the location where we were forming a new country. That is to say, there was no intention to try to get all the British colonies everywhere involved in a general uprising against England. It was specifically because these 13 colonies had enough in common, and shared borders, that it seemed sensible to unite into one country.