How far do you agree that by 1763 the ties between Britain and the American colonies were already strained?

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Sinéad Longden

How far do you agree that by 1763 the ties between Britain and the American colonies were already strained?

By 1763 the American colonies had developed so rapidly, in terms of population, culture somewhat and economically, that it is not hard to wonder whether the relationship with Britain was perhaps strained. If the American colonies were becoming quite independent then they might wonder whether Britain should have control over them. Colonial government meant that, especially in royal colonies, the crown had power over them. Also, the American colonies were, in theory, controlled by the laws set by British parliament. Furthermore the Seven Years’ War caused many problems that were likely to lead to key reasons for the War of Independence.

Britain knew from the outset that American could perhaps provide materials and key trade opportunities for Britain. In order to successfully harbour the potential Britain created the Trade and Navigation Acts (1651-73). These meant that all cargoes to or from the colonies were to be transported in ships built and owned in England or the colonies. This ensured that foreign trade was unlikely to become dominant, as the ships had to be owned in England. Also it meant certain commodities could only be exported directly from the colonies to England. Again this shows how Britain tried to have a monopoly on certain products from the colonies. Acts like the Woollen Act (1699) stated that woollen yarn could not be exported outside the colony it was produced in. Britain did not want the colonies to become too powerful and rich. The acts did benefit the colonies. American products had a protected market in Britain and the colonies imported British manufactured goods. The benefits worked for Britain and the colonies. By the 1760s a third of British imports and exports crossed the Atlantic. Furthermore the acts were not strictly enforced and so the colonists had little to argue with. These acts had limited effect on the colonists in the interior and so, along with the fact these acts were openly disregarded, few colonists had a substantial issue with these acts. On the other hand, these acts could be provocative to some colonists. Britain wanted a mercantilist system, whereby the colonies existed in order to serve the interests of Britain. However this was likely to annoy some colonists as some of them left Britain to start a new life. Also, the trade and navigation acts benefited Britain primarily and so this could sour the relationship between Britain and some colonists as they were being used to make Britain money.

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Between 1689 and 1763 France and England fought four wars, with the Seven Years’ War being the most important when talking about the relationship between Britain and the colonies. The colonists at this time still thought of themselves as having British ties and feared French Catholicism and so were happy with having to fight the French for the British, at first. However as time went on some colonists began to question why they were defending themselves in wars that had started in Europe. There are some reports that the British and American soldiers did not have a good relationship. ...

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