For many years, through the early 17th century Britain maintained a parent -like- relationship with its American colonies. The American colonists during the early 17th century would abide to the Crown at each demand and law. By salutary neglect, The British Policy of avoiding strict enforcement of parliament laws caused the American colonists to remain compliant to Britain.
However, during and after the French and Indian War (1754-1763) the relationship between Britain and the colonies became strained. The war changed politically by the need or want to have independence from the Atlantic colonists. Economic views increased price of the unfair taxes and the ideological views were altered by the distrust and control between the parent country and the American Colonists that sparked a rebellion.
Before the French Indian war started,in 1754, the relationship with Britain was flourishing. The colonial power started out as evenly disputed throughout the land of North America were shared between Great Britain and the French ( Document A). The land had provided a new income,cash crops, to the economics of Britain that then provided materials from the raw goods. The sole purpose of the colonies is to support Britain, to have a florshing settlement; early colonist needed to have the parent country support and help nourish it for survival.
The relationship was a barter system, the colonists give the raw goods back to Britain while the British would provide military security and political administration. Natives that lived near the colonies were the Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy, tension began to arise between the different cultures. Canassatego, the chief of the Onondaga Nation of the Iroquois delivered a speech to the representatives of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. In the speech, he speaks with an accusatory tone as he is angered by the unrightfully settlements of the American colonists (Document B). He sees that the white settlers as those who spoil the lands of his hunting; he then insists on them leaving because they have no right to settle. Chief Canassatego’s speech had later sparked as a influence to Pontiac’s rebellion, Britain was then forced to implement the Proclamation line (1763). When war was drawing near, the British had promised the natives that they would receive their land back, only under one condition: if they did not precipitate in the war. During the war, the French had good relations with the Natives, the Hurons, which helped benefit them for the war, they captured fort Necessity which then the British promised not to build anything west of the Appalachian mountain for a year.
That was the Englishes first brutal loss, three years later at fort William Henry, contained a massacre of british soldiers by the French and Indian forces. In 1755, George Washington was willing to go in the war. He wanted to serve both the crown and his country, but his motives were to be considered as a self consideration. Washington would join the battle on two conditions: He wished to attain knowledge of the military profession and to serve under General Braddock (Document C). His influence had ignited the start of the independence from the colonists by letting their own views benefit them instead of following the Crowns views. Englishmen in the colonies were seen as a lesser being.
The soldiers of Britain were treated as people, they were very well respected and received basic needs and necessities. The soldiers from the colonies did not have that luxury, they would be denied clothing, rights and liquors, (Document D). They now see what it was like to be under the martial law: that of a slave to the officers. The colonists started to realize that changed was needed, issues that needed to be addressed were not and colonists were starting to question the authority of the crown. Economics: debt ? After the war in North America, the French had created a pathway for the expansion of the British territory (Document A).
The colonists began to settle on the land beyond the Appalachian mountains, which caused tension between the natives and Great Britain. Britain’s economy was declining and it struggled to pay its war debt. A British Order in Council of 1763 concluded that the current profit of the colonists was not adequate to pay the cost to collect it (Document F). It was esteemed necessary to impose the Stamp Act, a tax on all paper goods. A war still continued over in Europe between England and France, the seven year war, that debt was too much so the colonists were punished and taxed even more to support the British economics. The council stresses the concern of the commerce of the colonies diverted from its preferred course and the colonists alone was not able to pay off debt.
The council only views the Parliament’s views,which cause the colonists opinions and views to be overlooked and influences the saying, “No taxation without representation.” Actions taken by the Council was to establish the military into the colonies to maintain control, implying that the colonies needed further protection (Document F). On August 9h, 1765, Benjamin Franklin to John Hughes.
In the letter Franklin informs his friend of his uncertainty of the removal of the Stamp Act. He believes, to stay loyal to the British because if caught, they would be tried for treason (Document G). Benjamin Franklin’s view is that of caring for his friend and the future. He goes on to tell Hughes if he repeals the act, he would be greatly remember among the colonists. The colonists realized that they no longer need the crown for advancement and survival; instead the crown was in need of them.
From the overbearing and controlling nature of the parent country and the lack of understanding led to the empowerment of the colonists opinions and views being pushed into the British and fighting for their rights.
