AS+September+16th,+2009

// Why is the French and Indian War a major turning point between British and colonial relations? Cite specific examples focusing specifically the economical and social aspects of the period. (1763-1774) Due Thursday 2nd Period. //

The French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, affected the relationship between England and it's 13 colonies in the New World. __Many laws and acts were put into place that angered and frustrated the citizens of the colonies, and the effects of those laws and acts ruptured the already shaky ties between the two societies.__

After the English and colonial forces defeated the French and Indians in the war, the French were removed from the Ohio Valley, which was west of the Appalachian Mountains, this then became England's territory, as well as all the land east of the Mississippi River. This whole new frontier was the major prize that hundreds and hundreds of colonists gave their lives for. Then, in 1763, King George declared the Proclamation Line. It stated that the colonists were not allowed to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains, which was ultimately what was gained out of the war. England telling the colonies that they fought all those years, and then got nothing out of it angered them beyond belief.

Even wars back in the 18th century cost countries significant amounts of money, much like today. Although all of the French and Indian War was fought in the New World and over in India, the citizens of England were paying it for it all. Taxes jumped very high and reached over 10%. Over in the colonies, taxes never went about 5%. In order to get out of the debt that they were in, England enforced a number of acts to make money for themselves. One of the acts was the Sugar act of 1764. This act stated that the only sugar that the colonists could buy could come from England. That meant no trading with France or Spain, and that there would also be a higher tax on sugar. Another one of the enforced acts was the Currency Act of 1764. This act enforced a common currency among England and the 13 colonies. At the time, the 13 colonies were like 13 different countries, many with their own currency. The population of the colonies combined was around two million, making restructuring the economy with a new currency almost impossible and very expensive. England learned quickly, that enforcing both these acts cost more money than what they were making. Enforcing the laws was almost impossible with only 10,000 troops scattered about, and many of them located in the four major cities.

Combining laws like the Proclamation of 1763, and acts like the Sugar and Currency Acts of 1764, put a huge amount of stress on the unstable relationship of England and the colonies. Salutary neglect was present up until the end of the war, and the colonies prospered. England's new-found interaction/interest in the colonies business after the French and Indian war caused the relationship to go from bad to worse.