Also the document presents the triumphs and tragedies of the epic struggle on a continent placing them in a larger context in France and Great Britain global conflict. The book also offers an insight on the nature of Native Americans opposition in the evolution of American Independence. As soon as French presence disappeared, white colonists started moving aggressively in Indian territory creating even more instability in the region for Britain. The wars were so weak fought inside and outside the American continent. It created social, economic along with cultural and ethnic borders and relations reshaping its state borders due to the American Independence War fought by the Spanish, British or France.
In 1754, a war between Britain and France with their Indian allies broke out in North America that came to be known as The French and Indian War. The war ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris where Britain acquired Spanish Florida and all remaining French North American land (Document A). Throughout the war and for some time after, the actions of the American Colonies’ Mother Country caused many colonists to feel some resentment towards them. The French and Indian War created tension between Great Britain and the American colonies politically through the expansion of borders, economically through extreme taxes, and ideologically through taxation without representation. The expansion of the borders of the English territory through the Treaty of Paris of 1763 created a strain between Political relations with Great Britain.
Conflicts of this time arose from growing tensions between residents of Great Britain's 13 North American colonies and the colonial government, which represented the British crown. The war officially begun in 1754 when twenty two year old militia officer George Washington ambushed a French patrol in the Pennsylvania back woods. Skirmishes between British troops and colonial militiamen in Lexington and Concord in April 1775 kicked off the armed
From 1763 to 1775 the Colonies in North America under the rule of Great Britain had many conflicts and tensions. The Colonists were struggling to fight for their independence. While Great Britain still perused in taxing goods and ruling with complete control. The Colonists began a long battle for independence with Great Britain thus known as the American Revolution. On January 14th 1766 George Grenville a member of British parliament stated that the reason Britain is taking goods and imports is due to them being in debt with the Colonies.
These arguments, although they do not specifically state to physically riot against authority, become enabling factors by which the population should rebel. To begin with, Paine argues that the population of each individual colony would be subjected to better living should they be responsible for their own governing laws. Rather than follow the set rules of the British monarchy, Paine suggests the citizens should “establish a common interest with every part of the community, [and] they will mutually and naturally support each other.” (Paine, 49) Next, he argues that the British monarchy is very complex, contradictory, and unfair to its citizens. For instance, Paine notes that the monarchy “first excludes a man from the means of information, yet empowers him to act in cases where the highest judgment is required.” (Paine, 50) The contradictory case does not just end here, it is also witnessed in the fact that the monarchy continues through the act of hereditary succession – whereby the King’s descendent automatically becomes heir to the throne. He
Depending on how one looks at it, it may be stated that a series of miscommunications ultimately caused the American Revolution. In general, when Parliament passed an act, tax, or law, it was to fix a problem they felt was detrimental to the colonies. The colonists, however, perceiving these policies as a deliberate attempt to repress colonial growth and gain wealth at the expense of the colonies, often misinterpreted them. These misunderstandings, such as the Proclamation of 1763, further alienated the colonists from their mother country, and along with obstinate resistance from Britain towards addressing colonial concerns, led to the consequent revolution. Although the colonists sustained a connection to Britain for more than a decade after the British victory in the French and Indian War, the strategies Parliament implemented to strengthen their hold on the colonies and pay off war debts, as well as their provincial views towards the colonists, primed the American colonies for independence as relations between Britain and its colonies began to sour.
Disagreements erupted over how the colonies felt that they should be treated and the way they were actually treated by Britain. The British stance was that the colonies were created for the benefit of Britain and the Colonialists wanted more say in their own existence. One main cause of the revolution was that the Colonists wanted more representation within the British government hence “no taxation without representation”, (Hickman n.d.), Britain was unwilling to do this. Another factor was the geographical distance between Britain and the Colonists, this created a sense of independence with in the colonies. Britain therefore tried to tighten control over the Colonists through a series of acts designed to quell any sense of rebellion.
As the war continued on Britain would eventually will the fight and take control of what was known as the Ohio River Valley as well as land in Canada. This was an unwelcomed war by the colonists that lead to questionable decisions from the British government. The British government faced two main problems after winning the French Indian War that the colonies were starting to come very independent and
America’s decision to declare independence form Great Britain was both due the change of economic policies and to the development of refining life and liberty. After driving the French out, with help from the Indians and British troops, colonist began to quarrel with Parliament’s insistence of testing the limits of their power in North America. Their control was made difficult when residents decided to smuggle and boycott goods. Eventually, the colonies resistance and loss of patience would lead them directly to independence. The Proclamation of 1763 was the first to anger the colonist.
Taxation became an huge issue as British needed money to pay off their debts from the previous war so they passed the Sugar Act in 1764 and then the Stamp Act shortly afterwards. This taxed sugar, molasses, and paper goods which was a huge deal to the colonies that started getting them angry right away. The colonies first act of rebellion was the creation of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty and came up with the idea to tar and feather tax collectors while threatening their life. Trade even became tougher as the British started putting tax on pretty much everything especially tea with the Tea Act in 1773. Was this a tax?