The Seven-Year War - Research Paper Example

?Seven Years War Introduction War was one of the tactics used by many countries in the past centuries to establish dominance in the world. The Seven Years War is one of the wars fought among countries to establish dominance. This war lasted from 1756 to 1763 and was fought between an alliance of Great Britain and its allies and France in the northern part of America. George Washington, who was a wealthy planter, was instrumental in this war. At the end of this war, Britain and its Allies became victorious, while France and its Allies conceded defeat. All of its northern colonial ownership such as Canada and Ohio was taken by Britain. However, at the end of this war several challenges faced Britain (Rickard Web). This paper seeks to discuss Seven Years War and how it affected the British Colonies in North America and what were the policy changes after 1763. Influence to the Colonies Britain started to assess the relationship it had with the colonies. This did not take place before the war, but success of war prompted Britain to take this initiative. British authority thought of colonies as subject to authority of the king and parliament. Consequently, colonial assemblies were given authority to supervise the implementation of directives from royal governors in the colonies (Henretta and Burke Web). Additionally, Britain failed to put its laws in these colonies. For example, the molasses Act of 1733 was not implemented. This required the colonist to pay taxes on import from West Indies under French authority. This was because there was huge profit that Britain was generating from the colonies (O'Brien 125). Consequently, colonist gained both political and economic autonomy. However, the colonies were sometimes uncooperative to royal directives (Henretta and Burke Web). According to Knopf, “The success of Britain in the war increased its American control to a size that was challenging to any European metropolis to exercise control” (Knopf Web). In north, it had to control both Canada and the Mississippi region. The original inhabitants of these regions were Indians and French speaking Catholics. They were against authority of the British crown, and the English common law. As a result, financing these areas proved a challenge to Great Britain when war was halted. Consequently, Britain was faced with huge debt. Compounding British financial woes was uprising calling for tax relief due to bulging taxes for those living in British Isles. There was also a negative response by Indians living in areas formerly under the French dominance. Actually, there was suspicious relation between Great Britain and tribes in Ohio and the great lakes region. They had established a cordial relationship with French settlers before. However, after French and its allies defeat, British settlers started to inhabit this region. This was rampant in the Appalachian mountain where there was rich agricultural land. As a result, the Indian viewed these settlers from another perspective that was not pleasing to them (O'Brien 125). In addition, Major General Jeffrey Amherst contributed to a tense relationship between the Indians and British in the culmination of the War. During the war, a considerable support was given to British by Indian tribes. As a result, British gave various gifts to their leaders. However, this was terminated after a successful termination of the war. General Amherst considered these tribes as inconsequential as he no longer needed their support. Trading links were also severed with Indians. Furthermore, the Indians felt that British were treating them as subjects rather than their allies. Digital History notes, “The colonist’s encroachment of Indian land was a source of frontier retaliation in the form of Pontiac’s uprising” (Digital History Web). The Pontiac revolution led various Indian tribes against British forces and settlers. This was a protracted war seeking to reduce British dominance. A number of British soldiers were killed, while settlers fled to safer locations in the eastern side. Challenges resulting from this war compelled Britain to leave a standing army in America at the end. In addition, the currency Act of 1764 affected colonies significantly. In colonies, the bills of credits were not given the same status as other tender. The bills of credit were essential in colonies as they acted as a local solution due to lack of silver and gold coins in the colonies (Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Web). Majority of population in the colonies were dissatisfied with the Act due to rampant economic downturn because British traders rejected the devalued bills of credit and requested a stronger currency. Additionally, there was the Quarantine Act passed in 1765 (Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Web). This Act compelled colonial authorities to pay lodging expenses incurred by British soldiers in the colonies. Another important Act was the Townshend Act. This Act increased revenue collected on imports on goods such as leads, glass, and paints. However, this was repealed after it faced a major resistance. Digital history further claims, that the defeat of French and its allies made colonists less dependent on military assistance (Web). There was also no more fear on France and Spain threat (Norton et al 116). Colonial policies were aimed at countering the threats posed by Pontiac’s rebellion to the colonial government. This called for controlling the aggressive settlers looking for land in the west side of the Appalachian Mountains. British also noted that the large areas that were under its control needed an orderly manner of establishment of authority. As a result, royal authority issued the proclamation of 1763 (Ayers et al 87). This decree curtailed the settlement of the western side of Appalachian mountain. Settlers were emphasized to settle on the eastern side of the mountains. This acted as a source of discontentment among settlers who had supported the war and the land speculators whose wealth acquisition depended on these lands (Ayers et al 87). Initially, after the war, Britain was faced with challenges of revenue acquisition. To ensure there was an increase in tax collection, sugar Act was put into place and replaced the sugar and molasses Act of 1733 (Nellis 45). This was meant to promote trading activities in British West Indies, and lower trading activities in French controlled areas. However, smuggling and bribery became rampant and hence the envisaged revenue was not collected from French and Dutch West Indies. Consequently, the British legislature passed the American Revenue Act of 1764. As a result, customs officials were empowered to pass instant fines to those who defied the law instead of them being taken to the general court (Henretta and Burke Web). However, more money was needed to support army in North America. Grenville imposed a Stamp Act to the colonies. All legal documents and playing cards were required to have a tax stamp (Hofstra 24). This increased revenue collection from the colonies. The stamp Act had been in existence in Britain for five decades. The Tea Act of 1773 was a policy adopted by the British parliament (Nellis 49). This was meant to assist the East India Company prosperity by removal of custom duty on company tea. This was meant to give it advantage over smuggled Dutch tea. However, it faced resistance in colonies. Finally, the intolerable Acts were passed by the British parliament (Nellis 7). This was meant to compel colonies to compensate the losses accrued by East India Company. Consequently, this led to major resistance that shaped the revolution period. Conclusion The seven-year war took a long period than any war that occurred between countries in the world. This war was between Britain and its allies against French and its allies. Although France and its allies were victorious in initial stages, at later phases of the war Britain and its allies became victories. However, this war led to the establishment of a pact. As a result, colonies that were put under Britain rule went through various problems as well as the colonial master. This was further compounded by various policies adopted by Britain but proved unpopular to the colonies. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation cites these policies changes as factors contributing to the American Revolution and subsequent acquisition of independence (Web). Works Cited Ayers, Edward et al. “American Passages.” New York: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print Digital History. “The Seven Year's War.” Digitalhistory. Web 28 March 2012. < http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/bsol/bsol_part4.cfm > Henretta, James and Burke, Priscilla Alden. “French and Indian War.” Angelfire. Web 28 March 2012. < http://www.angelfire.com/realm/shades/nativeamericans/frenchindwar.htm > Hofstra, Warren. “Cultures in Conflict: The Seven Years' War in North America.” New York: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007. Print Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. “Road to Revolution 1760-1775.” Historyisfun. Web 28 March 2012. < http://historyisfun.org/pdf/Curriculum-Materials/Road_To_Revolution.pdf > Knopf, Fred Anderson. “The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766.” New York Times. Web 28 March 2012. < http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/a/anderson-war.html > Nellis, Eric Guest. “The Long Road to Change: America's Revolution, 1750-1820.” New York: University of Toronto Press, 2007. Print Norton, Mary Beth et al. “A People & a Nation: A History of the United States.” New York: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print O'Brien, Patrick Karl. “Atlas of World History.” London: Oxford University Press, 2002. Print Rickard, John. “Seven Years War (1756-1763).” Historyofwar. Web 28 March 2012. < http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_sevenyears.html > Read More