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

Despite the discomfort the Mercantilist system caused it did however enable the Colonies to enjoy a financial boom of its own. It enabled the Colonial products enjoy a protected market in Britain and the rest of the Empire. Parliament also granted generous financial support to producers of Colonial necessities for example indigo. The American ship building industry also profited dramatically. This in turn enabled Britain to profit from the supply of tobacco, flour and fist etc.

The Mercantilist system strongly affected Colonial economic development, few Americans complained about the system which enabled Britain and the Colonies to prosper. However the implementation of such polices could be seen as reducing the freedom of the Colonial people. This could suggest why some Colonists were anti the Mercantilist system and did not welcome the policies; signifying weakened ties.

It could also be argued that the spread of the English – French conflict from mainland Europe to the Colonies weakened ties. Between 1756-63 the 7 years war took place in North America. The Colonists saw the English – French mainland wars as insignificant and foreign wars, due to the little or no involvement they had. However the spread of the 7 years war changed their attitudes. The Colonists were eager to defeat the French and Spanish due to their heavy Catholic views; which many of the Colonists has fled Europe to avoid due to the religious persecution they faced from the Catholic Church. They Colonists regarded the French and Spanish with fear and suspicion. The British forces helped somewhat by the Colonial people prevailed to win the 7 years war. The Peace of Paris (1763) followed, which saw the withdrawal of the French from North America. The elimination of the French also saw the removal of threat to the 13 colonies. This meant the Colonists now had less dependence of Britain for protection. This would have also given the Colonists a sense of independence and could have been argued that they no longer needed Britain, as they already ran much of the Colonies.

Despite this sense of independence however Britain and the Colonies on the whole enjoyed a strong relationship. The British system implemented into the colonies was in practise easygoing. The strong relations stemmed from the Colonists pride in their British heritage and rights. Many Americans were loyal to the British. This was shown when around 25,000 Colonists fort alongside the British in the 7 years war. It could be argued that the main reason for unity was due to the economic interest for both nations. The Colonists were very much aware of their economic strength which was due to the British Mercantilist system and enabled both the Mother Country and the Colonies to enjoy a sustained period of prosperity.

In conclusion, from looking at and analysing the influence the British had on the Colonists and the economic wealth and unity both nations shared it is fair to suggest that ties between Britain and the Colonies were not in fact strained by 1763. Just because the Colonies achieved their independence 13 years later it would be an unfair and inaccurate statement to say that relationships were infact strained. Therefore to answer the question taking into account the points stated above I disagree that by 1763 relationships were strained.