This ties in with the Stamp Act question I answered. In reaction to Stamp Act of 1764, which taxed all colonists including common man for the first time, the colonists decided to boycott the British goods. Before this colonists loved to dress like British and felt pride in doing that but after boycotting their goods, they started making clothes at home and now the trend changed. People who dress like poor were honored more because it showed their contribution towards loyalty to the colonies.
