Position:Home>History> How was the French and Indian War a catalyst on the American Revolution?

A whole SERIES of CHANGES in Britain's behavior toward its colonies as a result of the French & Indian War sowed the seeds of discontent and finally rebellion!. Some of these originated with economic concerns (such as the need to PAY for the war), but others were based on the determination of the new young monarch, King George III, to truly *exercise* his authority as king:

1)<TAXES>
For one thing (NOT the only thing), as many have noted, war debts to be paid off resulted in new taxes on the colonies -- but not JUST out of need, but because they thought it "only fair" that the colonies should pay for their own defense

2) <AUTHORITY TO TAX, etc>
before the F & I War Britain had not been paying so much attention to the colonies -- following a policy of "benign neglect"-- and the colonies had become, in practice, very independent in governing themselves in their local affairs!.!. as well as trading fairly freely!. There were duties on the BOOKS, but they were largely unenforced!.

After the F & I War the British changed this policy!.!. and it came as a shock!. The change was, again, PARTLY due to the felt need for revenues to pay fo the war and colonial defense needs after the war!.

But it was also the case that Parliament and the King had all along believed they had the RIGHT to levy such taxes, etc!. So once they BEGAN to do so, and the colonies reacted against these taxes (esp!. their response to the Stamp Act), the leaders of the British government felt impelled to ENFORCE their authority

3) <FREE TRADE!?>
Many of the taxes involved were DUTIES, and the authority issue included that of the British government to dictate trade arrangements to the benefit of the mother country, limiting who they could trade with, etc!.

After the F&I War they started trying to exercise THIS authority as well!.!.!. which they had NOT been doing!. Hence, the colonial merchants (esp!. traders) were hemmed in, no longer enjoying their earlier freedom in trade (incluing smuggling that was technically illegal but had not, for some time, been actively opposed by Britain)!.

4) <LAND>
to avoid further troubles on the borders, esp!. to keep the Indians satisfied, Britain issued a Proclamation forbidding settlements beyond the Appalachians!.!.!.!. an area the colonists were already spreading into (and that land surveyors and speculators, like Washington) were already laying claim to!. So the colonies were not happy abou that!.

5) <MAINTAINING BRITISH TROOPS>
related to this, Britain LEFT a number of soldiers in the colonies for their defense, and mostly in the east coast cities -- which began to grate on the locals who were expected to support them!.!.!. and the more so since the colonies were proud (a bit beyond what was due) in how they felt THEIR militia troops had performed in the French & Indian War, and did not feel their need of British troops

also, with the French gone from the border territories, the colonists did not feel threatened in the same way, did not feel that they NEEDED the protection of the British armiesWww@QuestionHome@Com

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The French and Indian war did play into the American Revolution!.
1st its cost helped justify the British creation of taxes that they imposed on the Colonies, such as the Sugar tax, Stamp Tax and on that the colonies felt unjustly were targeted at them, to pay for the War!. this lead to many of the starting revolts and protests, which also help unify the colonies as well as further develop their local governments and leaders!.
2nd it helped develop and institute the concept of local militias, and the need for armories, Which as in the Battle that really started the Official Revolution the Battle of Concord and Lexington, was part of the British troops goals to seize (the armories at both locations)while they were also trying to apprehend Sam Adams and John Hitchcock!.

But the taxes and the Unifying of the Colonies against them, along with the British determination to collect taxes and the elevation of force(escalation of measures like the coercive acts) to do so clearly built the early revolutionary forces to out right rebel!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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England spent considerable money defending its colonies from the French, who controlled Canada and wanted the New World to itself by using Native American warriors as allies/mercenaries in the French and Indian War!. After the Fall of Quebec in 1759, and Treaty of Paris in 1763, the French were defeated!. England then tried to recover some of the military aid money by taxing the colonies, including the famous tax which inspired the Boston Tea Party!. America balked at the taxation -- "no taxation without representation" -- and the Revolution for Independence began!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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