>England thought we were subjects.
We were.
>We thought we should be independent.
That would be slightly before the Declaration of Independence; the thing that probably galvanized the sentiment FOR independence was when King George III hired _German_ mercenaries to ‘keep the peace.’
>Most of our founders disagreed fundamentally with the “Divine right of Kings”.
I’m not sure which came first, the disagreeing or the abuses; it is likely akin to the Chicken and the Egg... but I tend to think that if the King had acted Justly and Honorably to the Colonists we would be saying “God save the King” & “God save the King” today. Do not underestimate the ‘popular support’ of a ruler who DOES act justly.