The choice of language was just one part of the so called "American war for independence". This war had its significant cultural aspect. The colonists, now calling themselves Americans, changed whatever they could, and where things couldn't be changed because Americans simply didn'r have their own material (local legends and myths, for instance) they invented them. A good chunk of early American lit. was pretty much "tailored to size", so to speak. Rip Van Winkle, or Hawthoirne's novels were results of that struggle. Yup, these literary pieces had a purpose that went beyond the need to tell a story. They were designed to create a nation's sense of tradition.
The UK lost the war of independance as we did not see it economicaly viable at the time. As a result we cut off the resources: namely, finance, weapons and infantry.
Less than 100 years later Americans were buying entire European castles and transporting them back to the US brick by brick.
Yeah, the Brits sure showed them, huh? :))
z_dariusz what the hell nationality are you dawg?
I thought it was obvious. Isn't it?