French and Indian War

The time period of 1754-1763 eventually led the American colonists to realize that they did not need the British any longer. The colonists felt that they themselves, were not Englishmen but members of their own society within the American colonies. By winning the French and Indian war the British were entitled to the land east of the Mississippi River to the Appalachian Mountains. As the Americans began to move westward thinking that if they fought the war in the colonies, they were entitled to that land. While the American soldiers and their families were moving upon the lands they had won, the Indians attacked. The Americans asked for Parliament's protection, and assumed since they fought for them that Britain would assist them. Unforutanely, this was not the case. After Parliament denied protection for the American's, an outlet for a intercolonial government became more and more of an appealing option.

Their were many realtionships between the British and their American colonies that changed, and not necessarily for the better. One of these being their political relations. At the start of the Seven Years' War American colonists proudly waved the British flag. Colonists considered themselves a part of Britain, even though most of their reasons for leaving were the fact that they were second, third, or fourth sons, who were not entitled to any inheritance of their father's. These sons were discriminated against by the laws of their government from the start, yet they proudly called themselves 'Englishmen'. As the war went on, representitives from seven colonies met with 150 Iroquoi chiefs, in hopes of creating a intercolonial government. This meeting was known as the Albany Congress and held in Albany, New York in 1754. Benjamin Franklin offered the plan of this perfect intercolonial goverment, proposing that it would manage Indian affairs and defense. Also, that it would have the power to pass laws for the colonies and be able to raise taxes within them, if ever needed. Though, even with the help of Franklin's infamous politcal cartoon, of the snake broken in 13 pieces saying "Join or Die", his proposition did not interest the Indians. Many of the colonists talked much about union of the colonies being necessary, but as Ben Franklin saw it they were just not ready for it. The idea of intercolonial government did however get colonists thinking of themselves as a whole, and needed to organize themselves more. Most importantly the colonies found themselves less dependent on Britain

, and this was a big step into their detatching from the British government. It was in 1755 that the French had driven the English traders out of the Ohio Valley. The French then established forts at the fork of the Ohio River, one of these forts being, Fort Duquesne. It was at that time, George Washington had already been sent there by his colony of Virginia's government to expel them from the area, but obviously was unsucessful. During this same year Washington had written a letter[document C] that he would like to serve under General Braddock. He states that he would serve with his best abilities for his King and country. His letter shows that Washington strongly believed he was a direct citizen of England, though he strongly fought for his colony. It is possible that Washington's letter was to decieve the British and while gaining military experience, he was also learning British fighting tactics and their weaknesses. Being that the English with American assistance had defeated the French before, England rounded up a several thousand American troops to fight for them. The Americans had no other choice than to fight for England, and they did so willingly. A very strong factor in American colonies unsteady relations with Britain was the factor of Salutary Neglect. Especially having to do with the act of smuggling. Plenty of Americans had gotten away with it before, and England was aware of it. As the war ended and England realized their debt, they decided to strengthen the vice-admiralty courts by passing the Sugar Act. Colonists were not happy about this. If the English haven't enforced the law in this long, they have no right to now. This was surely something for the colonists to rebel about, and a large factor to make them realize how little of help Britain

is for them. One Massachusetts Solider wrote in his diary in 1759 that even though he was English born he and other colonist soldiers are being denied any liberties that Englishmen are granted[document D]. He is one who is realizing that the American Colonists are fighting equally beside the British soldiers and yet are not getting the same treatment. Once the war ended, American colonists began to move onto the land that the English had gained by signing the Treaty of Paris with France. Once they arrived at these lands they realized the Native American's