The French - Indian War and Its Consequences - Essay Example

Britain took measures to retain control over the colonies and to raise income to settle the debt. In 1763, King George III issued a Royal Proclamation which had a provision barring any colonial settlement beyond the west of the Appalachian Mountains.  In so doing, Britain hoped to avoid expensive Indian wars; and to keep western land speculation under her control (Kindig 1995). Immediate resistance led to its modification. In 1764, Parliament enacted the Sugar Act, in an effort to raise income in the colonies through a tax on molasses. The British parliament also passed the Stamp Act of 1765, which obliged colonists to obtain a government-issued stamp for paper goods including all legal documents. There were massive protests to oppose these Acts, which often resulted in violence (Kindig 1995).

It seems the British fruits of victory sowed the seeds for future problems with her American colonies. Attempts to increase taxes to service debts for the expensive war; and to limit western expansion by colonists were met with great resistance and resentment from the colonists. These disagreements would eventually encourage colonial rebellion and consequently the full-scale independence war.