The French And Indian War As A Cause Of The Americ Essay Example For Students

The French And Indian War As A Cause Of The Americ Essay an RevolutionAt the outset of the eighteenth century, the Ohio Valley can identified as the maincatalyst in triggering open hostilities between the French and the Americans. The Frenchoccupied parts of Canada but also wanted a stake in America. Its means to do this wasthrough the Ohio Valley it maintained. However, the colonists were bound to permeatethis area in their push towards the west. And as they did, competition for the lush landsflared up and came to a breaking point. This directly lead to the French and Indian Warwith the Indians, for the most part, siding with the French against Britain. The events andsentiments that took place during and immediately after the French and Indian War(1754-1763) were extremely important in contributing to the outset of the AmericanRevolution. By looking at the perspectives of the two diverging peoples, it is evidentthere is a strong contrast, which lead to increasing tensions. We will write a custom essay on The French And Indian War As A Cause Of The Americ specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The intermingling of arrogant British redcoats and the proud colonial militiamenprecariously produced a strong mutual dislike and contempt. The majority of Britishofficers hated colonial service and took great care to avoid it. After all, America was astrange wilderness to them. The West Indies specifically were infested withdisease-carrying pests, and fevers were known to kill hundreds of men. Britains found thecolonists uncooperative and very reluctant to serve for their country. Religious minoritygroups especially opposed to war â€Å"could play hell with appropriations.† (Chidsey) Forexample, the Quakers absolutely would not fight to protect their very own homes andrefused to be taxed for a war because they thought, according to their religion, it wassinful. Most colonists altogether refused to contribute money. It was not until WilliamPitt offered to reimburse them a share of the money did they render some wealth, thoughnot much (Bailey 98). When American recruits finally dribbled in, they were primitive inmilitary customs. Some even deserted camp, and when they were seized and broughtback to camp, they were whipped. British General Braddock went so far as to forewarnhis soldiers of a penalty of hanging for the next that deserted him. The colonists, having always thought the British militia to be noble andindomitable, were shocked at their behavior. The almighty Redcoats were actuallyrunning and hiding in battle times when they should have proved valorous. The Britishwere probably embarrassed too over a childish rivalry between English generals WilliamJohnson and Governor William Shirley at Fort Albany. Competition arose because ofShirley’s greed for Indian allies, and neglecting Johnson simultaneously. Theyimmaturely wrote secret letters about each other, getting others involved and annoyed. Afactor also contributing to the disappointment of the colonists is how the Britishconsistently fought a European war instead of a new style war, partic ularly guerrillawarfare (based on sneak attack and using camouflage), which limited their success andsometimes determined failure. Impressment prevailed for part of the war, adding insult tooutrage. Impressment refers to the British sending â€Å"press gangs† from their warships tobring in mariners to serve in the British ships. They received little to no pay, and about900 of the seamen died leaving their families bereft and embittered (Reeder). With boththe Americans and the English referring to each other as cowardly dogs, conflict becamemore personal between people than just between two land areas. Although still disunited, the colonies were beginning to melt this hindrance,sometimes without knowing it, to realize they shared more in common with each otherthan with those of the mother country. The disunity that had predominated since thefounding of the colonies can be accounted for and understood because of geographicalbarriers like rivers and lack of roads, diverse religions, mixed nationalities, variousgovernments, boundary disputes, social classes, different currencies at altered worths ineach colony, and jealousy. As British Sir Winston Churchhill said, â€Å"They were united indistrusting the home government but in little else.† However, steps were being taken,sometimes not even purposely, to promote rapport among the colonies. Newspapers, forinstance, not only covered the war effort, but they also promoted a unity of consciousnessfor the colonies. Through these reports and therefore awareness, the English were warnedof French troops moving southward from Canada and of the French master plan tocapture the continent in 1753. The Albany Plan of Union was a positive step in achievingunion. The ingenious Benjamin Franklin proposed a layout of creating a central militaryfund and appointing a military governor. He was, unfortunately, ahead of his time and thecolonies voted his proposal down because it provided too much central power andtherefore less power to the states. The king also would have vetoed it because it â€Å"smelledof independence.† (Chidsey) Despite this failure, unity was still obtained somewhatthrough the simplicity of soldiers gathering from different colonies. Interaction with eachother, in times of battle and also just in eating dinner together and gathering aroundcampfires to ward off the cold, revealed their singularity and questioned the Britishmonarch, with whom they often had nothing in common. They found they spoke thesame language, shared the same problems concerning England, and for the most part hadmutual ideals. Having unity, especially in having a common defense and a strongcommon cause, is extremely important in a revolution. One could even say that it isindispensable. Therefore, building a common cause and subsequent unity was in directconflict with the English. To the disgust and aversion of the British, some of the colonists were committingtreason by smuggling goods to the enemy. Officials in Paris had, partly because of theBritish Navy, abruptly limited importation on items such as rum and molasses in theFrench West Indies. These planters were desperate to feed themselves and also theirslaves, and found salvation through the colonists. Commerce centers, in particularNewport, Rhode Island, Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia enjoyed surplus wealththrough this traitorous trade. The English, of course, were shocked at their subjects’disloyalty. The British navy was determined and working ardently to starve the French byblockading their ports, and at the same time the colonyâ⠂¬â„¢s shippers were using fraudulentpapers to trade foodstuffs with the adversary. The blockading of the St. Lawrence River,the only entrance to New France, was especially dangerous and difficult. This treacheryled directly to the end of a period of salutary neglect, where the Navigation and TradeLaws were loosely enforced. This itself led later on to the loathed writs of assistance,which were unrestrained search warrants that entirely violated the colonists’ privacy. .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048 , .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048 .postImageUrl , .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048 , .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048:hover , .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048:visited , .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048:active { border:0!important; } .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048:active , .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048 .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua083e479bb7c1b79b96b74ca50c04048:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Morality. It has been questioned by people, honore Analysis EssayWhat the British perceived as reprehensible treason, the colonists saw as a golden tradewhich they had an absolute right to do. Upon issuance of the Proclamation Act of 1763, a misinterpretation in thecolonies and failure to communicate thoroughly provoked outrage in America. TheBritish government, fearing that settlers migrating into the new lands would provoke aseries of Indian wars, like that of Pontiac’s Rebellion, believed that the lands should beopened to colonists on a more gradual basis (Reeder). The King’s Cabinet Counciltherefore prohibited settlement in the area east of the Appalachian Mountains. TheEnglish saw little other alternative. Both the Treaty of Easton in 1758 with the OhioValley Indians (which was ratified by the king), and in the avowals of such militaryvanguards as Colonel Bouquet, the Indians were assured security in the lands west of theAppalachians. This was their compensation for deserting their French allies (Gipson 87). However, the colonists found extreme indignity in this. After all, had they not just shedblood and endured a war to obtain this land? In 1788, groups such as the Patrick Henrygroup in Virginia and the Richard Henderson group in North Carolina decided to movewest, in open defiance of the crown. Within that same year people were moving west bythe thousands. The Proclamation of 1763 was one of the first documents issued to governthe colonies, and it required those already settled in the specified regions to return east. Although it was laxly enforced, the colonists refused to tolerate this, and tension over theProclamation Act was inevitable. The British felt the colonies they had protected should shoulder some of theresponsibility of the enormous debt England had incurred, but were faced withdiscrepancy from the colonists. The debt of England was the largest ever induced in awar, totaling 140 million pounds, about half of which had been contracted in defendingthe American colonies. The severe debt, though, was of little concern compared to thethirty-five hundred thousand pounds it would cost to supply and train 10,000 troops forthe protection of the colonies (Jennings 145). When the French were removed from theNorth, the British wanted the seacoast colonies to continue raising fresh bodies of militiaso that they could take over routine guard duties, releasing regulars for service in theCaribbean area (Chidsey 145). The colonies, however, were generally altogether sick ofwar. They simply did not want a standing army and did not want to be taxed. Thecolonists felt this was justified through the notorious slogan â€Å"no t axation withoutrepresentation†. There were no colonists in the English Parliament, therefore they feltthey could not be taxed. The Grenville Program, first consisting of revenues with the solepurpose of generating funds, was abhorred in the colonies. Their determination to havetheir way fiancinally, although residents of England most definitely carried the burden ofthe debt, was a threat to British government, and harsher programs were enforced, pavingthe way to revolution. The war helped to bring about important changes in the British colonies. Inaddition to the fact of their ocean-wide distance from the mother country, the coloniesfelt themselves less dependent militarily on the British by the end of the war. Theybecame most concerned with their own problems and put greater value on their owninstitutions. The French and Indian War prepared colonists for later battles; it was thenthat good leaders such as Washington, Stark, Putnam, and Pomeroy gained invaluableexperience. In other words, the colonists began to think of themselves as American ratherthan British. The English had become exasperated in handling the unsatisfiable colonies. .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab , .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab .postImageUrl , .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab , .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab:hover , .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab:visited , .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab:active { border:0!important; } .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab:active , .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u0238f75030ad5db34915864a2c42e2ab:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Jesus Christ EssayEverything they did seemed to do was met with discordance. Revolution, though notknown at the time, was imminent. BibliographyBailey, Thomas and Kennedy, David. The American Pageant. 9th ed. Massachusetts:D.C. Heath and Company, 1991. Chidsey, Donald. The French and Indian War. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc.,1969. Gipson, Lawrence. â€Å"The American Revolution As An Aftermath Of the Great War Forthe Empire.† The Causes Of the American Revolution. Ed. by John Wahkle. Boston: D.C. Heath and Company, 1950, 82-94. Jennings, Francis. Empire of Fortune. 1st Ed. New York: W.W. Norton Company,1988. Reeder, Colonel Red. The French and Indian War. New York: Thomas Nelson Inc.,1972. History Essays