The French and Indian War
Britain and France were fighting for land around the world. In Europe, this was called the Seven Years' War, because it lasted from 1756 to 1763. This war between the British and the French spread around the world. They fought in Europe, in India, and in America.
In America, the war was called the French and Indian War. The conflict began when British fur traders started moving into land in the Ohio River Valley. This upset the French and Indians who were already living and trading furs in that area.
This conflict over land continued, and the British went to war with the French. The war was long and hard. Many colonists volunteered to fight with the British army, but they did not have experience as soldiers.
Both the British and the French tried to get the Native Americans to fight on their side. The Indians did not want the French or British to take their land. The French army was able to get many Indian groups to fight with them against the British though. This was an advantage to the French.
After many lost battles, the British finally sent more troops from Europe. As the British army grew stronger, some Indians, like the Iroquois, decided to fight on the side of the British.
Finally, the British won the war. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris was signed. The British took control of all land east of the Mississippi. Late in the war, Spain had joined to help the French, and as a reward, the Spanish were given control of the French land west of the Mississippi. The French were left with no land.
After the war, the Native Americans were concerned that the British colonists would move onto their land. They were right, and fighting resulted. In Pontiac's Rebellion, Native Americans responded by attacking many British forts. After that, the British issued the Proclamation of 1763. This made the land west of the Appalachian Mountains off limits to colonists, so that the Native Americans could live in peace there.
The war with the French had other results as well, including that it cost the British a lot of money. After it was over, the British decided to tax the colonies more to help pay for the war.
After the French and Indian War, the British made several changes in how they dealt with the colonies. It was the end of salutary neglect. These changes were not popular with the colonists.
One of the first actions that angered the colonists was the Proclamation of 1763. The colonists were unhappy about this because they wanted to move to the western land.
After the war, there were other disagreements between the British and the colonists. The British increased their taxes on the colonies. They needed the money because the war with the French was so expensive. The colonies did not think these taxes were fair. Two of the first taxes were the Sugar Act (1764) and the Stamp Act (1765). The Sugar Act put a tax on all imported sugar and molasses shipped into the colonies. The Stamp Act required that all official documents, like contracts, wills, and even newspapers, have a stamp that showed a tax had been paid. This tax especially made the colonists angry because it affected everyone.
After the French and Indian War, the British wanted to keep soldiers in America to keep the peace. The Quartering Act said that the colonists had to provide housing for these British soldiers. This further angered the colonists. The British also punished some colonists for speaking out against them.
The colonists began to protest against British actions. As their unhappiness grew, some colonists boycotted British goods. A boycott is when someone refuses to buy something as a protest.
Although the British repealed some taxes, they continued to put new ones in place. The Townshend Acts of 1767 were another attempt to raise money for England. They put taxes on many imported goods, such as glass, paper, and tea. The British also wanted to crack down on smuggling, so they began issuing warrants to search colonists' homes to look for smuggled goods.
Another problem was that the colonists had no voice in the British government or in how the rules were made. This is called lack of representation. This means that the colonists had no say. They used the rallying cry "no taxation without representation," which means that people thought that they should not have to pay taxes if they had no voice in the government.
Some colonists became angry and wanted to get rid of British rule. They were called rebels or Patriots. Other colonists still thought the British were right and should rule. These people were called Loyalists. The colonies did not agree about what to do.
In America, the war was called the French and Indian War. The conflict began when British fur traders started moving into land in the Ohio River Valley. This upset the French and Indians who were already living and trading furs in that area.
This conflict over land continued, and the British went to war with the French. The war was long and hard. Many colonists volunteered to fight with the British army, but they did not have experience as soldiers.
Both the British and the French tried to get the Native Americans to fight on their side. The Indians did not want the French or British to take their land. The French army was able to get many Indian groups to fight with them against the British though. This was an advantage to the French.
After many lost battles, the British finally sent more troops from Europe. As the British army grew stronger, some Indians, like the Iroquois, decided to fight on the side of the British.
Finally, the British won the war. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris was signed. The British took control of all land east of the Mississippi. Late in the war, Spain had joined to help the French, and as a reward, the Spanish were given control of the French land west of the Mississippi. The French were left with no land.
After the war, the Native Americans were concerned that the British colonists would move onto their land. They were right, and fighting resulted. In Pontiac's Rebellion, Native Americans responded by attacking many British forts. After that, the British issued the Proclamation of 1763. This made the land west of the Appalachian Mountains off limits to colonists, so that the Native Americans could live in peace there.
The war with the French had other results as well, including that it cost the British a lot of money. After it was over, the British decided to tax the colonies more to help pay for the war.
After the French and Indian War, the British made several changes in how they dealt with the colonies. It was the end of salutary neglect. These changes were not popular with the colonists.
One of the first actions that angered the colonists was the Proclamation of 1763. The colonists were unhappy about this because they wanted to move to the western land.
After the war, there were other disagreements between the British and the colonists. The British increased their taxes on the colonies. They needed the money because the war with the French was so expensive. The colonies did not think these taxes were fair. Two of the first taxes were the Sugar Act (1764) and the Stamp Act (1765). The Sugar Act put a tax on all imported sugar and molasses shipped into the colonies. The Stamp Act required that all official documents, like contracts, wills, and even newspapers, have a stamp that showed a tax had been paid. This tax especially made the colonists angry because it affected everyone.
After the French and Indian War, the British wanted to keep soldiers in America to keep the peace. The Quartering Act said that the colonists had to provide housing for these British soldiers. This further angered the colonists. The British also punished some colonists for speaking out against them.
The colonists began to protest against British actions. As their unhappiness grew, some colonists boycotted British goods. A boycott is when someone refuses to buy something as a protest.
Although the British repealed some taxes, they continued to put new ones in place. The Townshend Acts of 1767 were another attempt to raise money for England. They put taxes on many imported goods, such as glass, paper, and tea. The British also wanted to crack down on smuggling, so they began issuing warrants to search colonists' homes to look for smuggled goods.
Another problem was that the colonists had no voice in the British government or in how the rules were made. This is called lack of representation. This means that the colonists had no say. They used the rallying cry "no taxation without representation," which means that people thought that they should not have to pay taxes if they had no voice in the government.
Some colonists became angry and wanted to get rid of British rule. They were called rebels or Patriots. Other colonists still thought the British were right and should rule. These people were called Loyalists. The colonies did not agree about what to do.