JQ+September+16,+2009

__**Question:**__ Why is the French and Indian War a major turning point between British and colonial relations?

__**Answer:**__ There was always a very neutral relationship between the British and the colonists. However, the French and Indian War in North America during the mid-18th century drastically changed this relationship. __England put taxes on goods that were hot commodities among the colonists and created different laws to ensure colonist obedience.__

The Britain Prime Minister, George Greenville, established a program that consisted of four acts that colonists were supposed to abide by. Three of them impact the economical situation of the colonists. The Sugar Act taxes sugar that the colonists can only buy from England. This gave Britain extra money to help pay for their debt in warfare. The Currency Act attempts to make the all of the unique thirteen colonies use the same currency, which upsets the colonists because of how complicated the attempt is. Also, the Quartering Act says a colonist must give British soldiers food and a place to stay for as long as they want. This affected the economic situation because of the cost to feed and provide shelter for the soldiers. All of these acts were despised by the colonists because they affect the economical situation of all of them. The French and Indian War is a turning point for the relationship of Britain and the colonists because it put a financial burden on England, who later taxed the colonists, which angered the colonists a lot.

There were two major laws that were put into place under the rule of King George III. The first was the Proclamation of 1763 that said no colonist could settle west of the Appalachian Mountains. The main reason the king makes this law is so he can assert his power and enforce the law. However, the colonists are infuriated because they can no longer expand their colonies and become more established. The second law are the writs of assisstance that was to prevent colonists to stop smuggling goods that were being shipped somewhere. The colonists were angered by this because they didn't want to be taxed for these items and could not believe that Britain would put a law in place like this.

The French and Indian War changed the relationship between Britain and the colonists because of the economic and social restrictions Britain gave to the the colonists. The colonists do not want to pay taxes on commonly used items, nor do they want to stay east of the Appalachian Mountains. However, because of King George III's army that was established during the war, they have no choice but to live by the laws.