Colonial intellectual resistance to 18th century british imperial control was often based on

This is grounded on the enlightenment. The Enlightenment was a rational and philosophical movement that conquered the world of thoughts in Europe thru the 18th century, "The Century of Philosophy". The Enlightenment comprised a variety of notions placed on reason as the main basis of power and legality, and came to develop ideals like right, growth, broad-mindedness, group, constitutional government and parting of church and state.