The French and Indian War: Causes, Consequences, and Resolution

In 1754, a war between Britain and France with their Indian allies broke out in North America that came to be known as The French and Indian War. The war ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris. The French and Indian War created tension between Great Britain and the American colonies politically through the expansion of borders, economically through extreme taxes, and ideologically through taxation without representation. The expansion of the borders of the English territory through the Treaty of Paris created a tension between the colonies political relations with Great Britain. After the war in 1763 (Doc. A) English colonies dominated the North American continent. The new land the colonists controlled led to the proclamation of 1763 that prevented colonists from settling to far west. The Indians thought the colonists had “no right to settle” (Doc. B). This was Great Britain’s resolve to prevent further conflict with the already angered Native Americans. Colonists were infuriated by the Proclamation because they felt they deserved the land for fighting and dying alongside British regulars, and believed they had been denied of their right to be free (Doc. E). Another result of the war was Britain’s great debt, in which they had to solve by placing taxes on common items in the colonies. The Stamp Act and Tea Act were two examples of taxes Britain put on the colonists that led to political unrest. The expansion of English territory was not the only cause for colonial unrest, severe taxation also played a major part in straining the relationship between Great Britain and its colonies. After the war British troops were still stationed in North America, resulting in massive debt (Doc. F). Heavy taxation made it near impossible to make a profit by exporting and importing any goods. The Stamp Act was the tax act that set many of the colonies overboard. Benjamin Franklin, one of the most important and respected colonists of the time said the Stamp act needed to