Colonists were united by their ties to England. What tied them to England?

By answering this question I am going to assume that we are referring to the English colonists in America before the Revolutionary War.  First, there was a common language, though American English was starting to change and it would change more radically after the War of 1812.  There are commercial ties--England was the colonists' primary trade partner.  A lot of finished goods in America were made in England.  Most Americans shared a common Protestant religion with England and relied on English redcoats to defend them from traditional Spanish and French enemies as well as native groups.  There were also ties of English common law which gave some freedoms of property ownership and civil liberties.  Most Americans before 1770 were very much pro-British and even during the time that Britain increased taxes many Americans still wanted reconciliation with the British Crown.