[allmendream]

What “intelligence” was involved in changing American English from English English? It was just random variation cropping up within two populations in isolation from each other.

No “intelligence” decided to call rolled tobacco a cigarette in America and a fag in England, or make them sound like a bunch of prissy wankers.

[editor-surveyor]

Actually, the “cigarette” was a French/Italian version, and came before “fag.” (small cigar?)

[ml/nj]

What “intelligence” was involved in changing American English from English English?

I suggest you have a look at the Oxford English Dictionary and try to concentrate on why it's not a "dictionary" in the sense that people now most use that word. Anyone who doesn't think intelligence is involved in the development of human language just isn't payin' attention.

ML/NJ