French And British Empire Relationship

The seven years’ war was a long and bloody war in Northern America between the French and their Indian allies versus British troops and the American Colonist from 1734 to 1763. The war was over resources, trade routes, territory, and the long time rivalry of the French and English. The French and Indian War had a significant impact as a turning point in the American Colonial and British Empire relationship. The war leads to the end of an age of salutary neglect by the British and changed for the worse how the Colonialist and British viewed each other.

For years the English crown neglected the American Colonies and did little to impose British tariffs and laws on the territory. This created an environment of self-sufficiency and an atmosphere of opportunity and independence. The colonies to a certain extent were able to govern themselves and established many of their own taxes and courts of law. The Colonist relied on the British for very few things. Furthermore, British taxes or tariffs were not heavily imposed or enforced in the colonies this becomes the status quo for the Colonist.

The British amass a substantial debt from the war and can no longer afford to neglect the colonies. In an effort to raise money to pay off the debt the English initiate a series of new tariffs and taxes on the Colonist such as the Molasses tax, which like the ones that will follow serve the sole purpose of raising money for England. The English use a heavy hand in enforcing the new taxes and laws leading to colonial resentment to British authority. The antipathy that the new British directive generates will continue to escalate along with a desire for independence from England. Each new British tax and act levied upon the Colonist creates an increasing amount of resentment until it finally boils over leading to outright revolt and the American