The Relations Between Britain and Its American Colonies

From 1754 to 1763, the French and Indian War took place. This war altered the political, economic, and ideological relations between Britain and its American colonies. It was the last of four North American wars waged from 1689 to 1763 between the British and the French. In these struggles, each country fought for control of the continent with the assistance of Native American and colonial allies. The French and Indian War occurred to end the land dispute between the British and French. Whoever won, in reality, gained an empire. It was a determined and eventually successful attempt by the British to get a dominant position in North America, the West Indies, and the subcontinent of India. Although Britain had won all this land, political, economic, and ideological relations between Britain and its American colonies were totally annihilated.

Politically, the French and Indian War torn apart Britain and its American colonies. In Document C, George Washington is asking Robert Orme to let him become a higher rank in the military. He wanted more power. Washington wishes to serve under, “a Gentleman of General Braddock’s abilities and experience.” Although he was very sincere when he wrote this, Britain was not giving what he truly wanted. Upon this note, George Washington went against the British government. He started a revolution. Reverend Thomas Barnard also had some similar views and thoughts about Britain and its colonies. In his sermon of 1763, he says, “Safe from the Enemy of the Wilderness, safe from the gripping Hand of arbitrary Sway and cruel Superstition, here shall be the late founded Seat of Peace and Freedom.” He believes that the American people have suffered and died on this land and they deserve more. They deserve freedom. Britain was losing control of their colonies. The people of the colonies wanted freedom. All of these political events led to the Revolutionary War.

With all the horrible political things that happened between the American colonies and Britain, you would think that economically maybe something good could come out of it - but sadly, nothing did. In Document F, everything is explained. The commissioners say, “We find that the revenue arising therefrom is very small and inconsiderable,...and is not yet sufficient to defray a fourth part of the expense necessary for collecting it.” What this basically means is that the land that Britain won after the war wasn’t getting them the money and wealth that they thought it would. One reason they probably thought it would get them a lot of cash was the fact that the land was in such good condition. It had a lot of animals for fur trading and new interesting crops. In Document B, Canassatego, who was the Chief of the Onondaga of the Iroquois Confederacy states, “We know our Lands are now become more valuable.” He was correct when he said this, but Britain did not gain a lot of wealth from it at all.

The ideological relationship was definitely altered between Britain and its American colonies. In 1759 in Document D, a Massachusetts