Discussion Topic
Colonial reaction and response to the British following the French and Indian War
Summary:
Following the French and Indian War, colonial reaction to British policies was marked by growing resentment and resistance. The imposition of taxes and restrictive laws, such as the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, led to widespread protests, boycotts, and the formation of groups like the Sons of Liberty. These actions set the stage for the American Revolution.
What was the colonial reaction to the French and Indian War?
In general, the colonial reaction to the French and Indian War led to rebellion against their former allies in the war. The colonies felt a sense of confidence and unity from the victory. More and more colonial leaders were feeling isolated and independent from the politics of England. At the same time, the British crown and Parliament was feeling that the colonies should be contributing more to the debt that was incurred by the French and Indian War. In that vein, the Crown decided to enforce taxes on the colonists and added new taxes like the Stamp Act. The Thirteen Colonies felt that in order to be taxed, they should have a representation in the government that was taxing them. The confidence and unity felt as a result of the French and Indian War led the colonists to eventually fight for separation from England.
References
What was the colonial response to the British following the French and Indian War?
I am not exactly sure what...
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it means to “consider the colonial response.” I hope the following will be helpful.
The colonial response to the British after the French and Indian War can be seen as understandable, but it could also be seen as excessive. After the war, the colonists were asked to pay higher taxes and to obey British laws (on things like trade) that had always been on the books. In a sense, these demands from the British government were quite understandable. The colonists had not been taxed as heavily as people in England. They, too, had benefitted from the French and Indian War (and the larger Seven Years’ War). Therefore, it makes sense that they should have paid more taxes and should have obeyed the laws. When considered in this way, their reactions to being taxed seem to be excessive.
On the other hand, their reactions were very understandable. It is easy to see that people who had been left to run their own affairs would be upset when Britain tried to reassert control. If Britain had always kept close control over the colonies, it would have probably been acceptable to the colonists. But what actually happened was that Britain let them do as they wanted for a long time and then tried to take that privilege away. It is like what would happen if parents suddenly, and for no reason, took away privileges from a teen who had been enjoying those privileges for years.
So, the colonial response to the British was understandable, but can also be seen as excessive.
What were the British and American reactions to the French and Indian War?
Basically, the Americans reacted to this war by expecting more freedom and the British reacted by giving them less freedom.
After this war, the colonists expected to be able to do largely as they pleased. The British had generally let them do so already and now there was no fear of the French who had been driven out of North America. The British, however, wanted to control the colonists more. They wanted, in particular, to tax them and to regulate them so that they would provide more money for the British treasury. The British government thought the colonists should do this to help pay for the cost of the war.
These two opposite reactions were the cause of the problems that eventually led to the Revolutionary War.