I think this is an excellent question. The answer, in my opinion, rests on which type of American in question. For many, part of the Revolutionary cause came about as their attempt to gain the status of Englishmen. While legally, they were subjects of Britain, many colonists did not enjoy the benefits of legal participation in Parliament. Jack Greene’s “The Constitutional Origins of the American Revolution” makes the compelling case that part of the reason this integration never happened and colonies developed their own local legal centers was due to England’s lack of an imperial constitution or mechanism to bind the peoples politically together.

In this instance, many would see themselves as politically different and not truly English very early on in the colonial experience.

However, culturally, many continued to view themselves as English even upon the Eve and aftermath of the Revolution. Julie Flavell’s “When London was Capital of America” goes through several individuals who continued to view London as the true head of America despite seeing themselves as “American” by origin of birth. While distinctly American, Flavell describes that these people often visited and took upon English cultural identities and social norms.

Another great read would be Maya Jasanoff’s “Liberty’s Exiles” which describes the loyalist experience during and after the revolutionary war. For these individuals and families, they always saw themselves as Englishmen or having the full rights of the English.

While who specifically we are discussing matters in this instance, so too does what we mean by “American” and “English.” They meant different things to different people at different times and places.

I hope this helps!