During the 18th century, an event called the Enlightenment caused a wide-spread change in society and government. Everybody didn't just think what happened in life was determined by religious beliefs, but they questioned the world around them and that led to a magnificent step forward in political views and science. Britain left America alone and didn't have many restrictions on the colonists. The British saved their money by supplying very little military support! This act is known as "Salutary Neglect." The Americans were basically detached people, having nothing to do with Britain at all. The colonists were getting frustrated with the taxes and their treatment by the British. They began to rebel with the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party, which ultimately led to the Revolutionary War.