French and Indian War: the American Revolution

The American Revolution refers to the colonial revolt that occurred between 1765 and 1783. As a result of the revolution, the American Patriots, those that instigated the rebellion, resulted in the Thirteen Colonies gaining independence from Great Britain. This was after defeating the British during the American Revolutionary War. France’s role in the war was twofold. First they were allies with the Americans during the Revolutionary War. Second, they participated in the events leading up to the war. In the latter case, together with the Indians during the French and the Indians war, the gears of the Revolutionary War were turned. The French Indian war achieved three roles in leading to the American Revolution. One, it changed the relationship between America and Great Britain. Two, it permanently shifted the global balance of power between the French and the Britons. Thirdly, it made the British enact policies against America that did not go well with the Americans. A result of these three roles was the American Revolution.

Prior to the French and Indian war, America was under the rule and authority of the British. The British as the colonial masters held America as its colony and America responded in total obedience paying taxes to the British monarch. However, following the French and Indian war, the relationship worsened and instead of acting in total obedience, America revolted. Additionally, because of the war, the French were pushed out of North America. With the French being out of North America, the colonies never had to fear both colonial masters, the French and the British, for they now had to contend with only one colonial master, the British. Therefore, Americans figured that if they were to act out in total disagreement of the British in their pursuit of breaking free, then they would not have a lot of opposition to face.

The British and the French were two major colonial powers prior to the French Indian war. The seven year war ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Following the Treaty of Paris, Britain had a large territory to manage this was because the terms of the treaty demanded that France give up all of its territories in North America. Now that France was out of contention for the North American colonies, the British became the sole power in America and thus they sought to make their power felt by increasing their influence. With increased British control, there was in effect an increase in anti-British sentiments in the American colonies. While prior to the French and Indian war the Americans, the British influence and its power was not so much felt, the French Indian war escalated this influence and power by the British on the American colonies.

With the French signing the Treaty of Paris and Britain gaining sole control of North American territories thus being free of having to contend with other external influences, the British sought to have their power and influence felt. They thus became active in the American political and economic affairs. One way in which they did this was through imposing a series of regulations and levies on American colonies. These taxes and unfair regulations as the British intended was meant to help pay for the on-going war as well as cater for the costs of defences. Thus while the British were subtle in their control of their colonies including the American colony before the French Indian war, this significantly changed after for they became ruthless and strict.

In conclusion, the French and Indian war led up to the American Revolution in a number of ways. First, it changed the relationship that existed between the British and the American colonies. While the relationship was better in some aspect prior to the war, the war further worsened it. Secondly, the war increased the rule and the authority that the British held over its colonies. The British now became a force to reckon with and the only colonial power to contend. Finally, the war made the British enact economic and political policies against the Americans. All these three were reasons enough to stir hatred against the British by the American colonies the end result being the American Revolutionary war.

Bibliographies

1. Denny, Ebenezer “A Common Soldier’s Account of the Battle of Yorktown (1781)”

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