* Geographical separation: The first English settlers in America were geographically separated from England, which limited contact and linguistic influence.
* New language influences: American English incorporated elements from other languages spoken in the colonies, such as Native American languages, Dutch, French, and Spanish.
* Social and cultural shifts: The American Revolution and subsequent social and political changes fostered a sense of national identity, leading to further divergence in language and accent.
* Regional variation: The vast geographical expanse of the United States led to the development of regional accents, with different dialects emerging in the North, South, Midwest, and West.
* The "standard" accent: The rise of American English as a global language, with its center in the Northeast, led to the "standard" accent associated with broadcast media, education, and government, which has had a significant influence on how Americans speak.
So, rather than losing an accent, Americans developed a new one that reflected the unique circumstances and influences of their own culture and history. It's also important to remember that there are still many different accents in America, just as there are different accents in England.