Most colonists came to America to gain land and political rights, although many had to first give up nearly all of their freedoms as indentured servants to gain passage to 'abroad. As England began to oppress the rights promised to the colonists, Americans began to formulate an independent identity based on the ideals of the Enlightenment. As England tightened its control over American rights, colonists began to actively protest British rule. Eventually, American colonists adopted the ideals of the Enlightenment and began to realize the need for a revolution to protect their rights. The ideals of the Enlightenment emphasized the rights of the individual that strengthened the independent American identity and inspired American colonists to oppose the British monarchy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Many colonists came to America as indentured servants seeking an opportunity to become landowners and gain political rights. Indentured servitude was a contract that forced a man or woman to serve a family for a certain number of years, usually 3-7, in exchange for passage abroad. Life as an indentured servant was full of hardship and misery, this line from a folk ballad, about a young woman describing her life as an indentured servant in America, describes how many indentured servants felt: “A thousand woes besides what I remain here, in the land of Virginny, O; In misery I spend my time that has no end” Despite the hardships and poor quality of life faced by an indentured servant, many men and women came to America under this indentured servant with the desire to exchange constraints in Europe for opportunities in America . These men and women were willing to risk death and years of hard work to obtain land, which in return would give them political rights. The possibility of gaining higher social and political status and the right to self-government was very attractive to those in England who were stuck at the bottom of the social ladder. Therefore, after the English Civil War, when the English tried to remove America's freedoms, the colonists began to search for a new independent identity. Enlightenment ideals provided a basis for Americans to begin to formulate an independent identity away from Great Britain. In the 17th century, a movement known as the Enlightenment began in France and Britain, a philosophical movement that emphasized reason and logic to discover universal truths. John Locke, an English philosopher, argued that governments must protect the individual's right to pursue life, liberty, and property. Locke also argued that all men are created equal, so “no man can be excluded from this state, and subjected to the political power of another, without his consent.” Throughout the colonial period, American colonists considered themselves British, were loyal to the British monarchy, and believed it to be the embodiment of freedom. The Enlightenment initially strengthened this view, however Americans soon realized that England had begun to strangle their liberties and the ideals of the Enlightenment began to shape their views in a new way. American colonists began to consider challenging the monarchy's sovereignty. As England began to tighten its hold on America, the colonists began to resist British rule. During the English Civil War, America began to develop a more diverse and independent economy, actually producing products instead of.