How Did The Seven Years’ War Lead To The American Revolution?
1. First Phase: From the year 1756 to 1763, the empire of France and the empire of Great Britain fought the Seven Years’ War.
2. Second Phase: Although the empire of Great Britain managed to win the war against France, it completely ruined the British economic spine.
3. Third Phase: So to regain the economy and solve the economic problems caused by the war, Britain had to impose some heavy taxes on the 13 North American colonies. Some of those taxation acts were Sugar Act (1764), Stamp Act (1765), Townshend Acts (1767), and Tea Act (1773).
5. Fourth Phase: All those acts were like a heavy blow to the socio-economic and political life of the American colonists. As a result, it made them extremely unhappy, and finally, after some major incidents (Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Intolerable Acts), it led them to choose the path of revolution.
Four Phases That Led Seven Years’ War To The American Revolution
Phase Number One
The Seven Years’ War, also known as the French-Indian war, was a historical military conflict between the Empire of Great Britain and the Empire of France. This war was fought between the years 1756 to 1763.
Starting from North America, till the ending years, it spread to five other continents, where these two European powers clashed against each other.
| Read More Content: |
Phase Number Two – Seven Years’ War Led To The American Revolution
At the end of this conflict, the British Empire managed to gain a huge victory over France. After the victory, both sides signed the treaty of Paris in 1763.
As a result of the treaty, Great Britain gained a huge land area in North America, previously controlled by the French authority. It completely ended France’s influence in that region.
Phase Number Three
Somehow the British managed to win the war. But after the event, their economic condition started deteriorating. Due to excess debt, their financial situation stood on the verge of bankruptcy.
So what did they do to get rid of the economic crisis?
Yes, of course, as they did all the time, they increased taxes on the colonists via some taxation acts.
Phase Number Four – Seven Years’ War Led American Revolution
In the years 1764, 1765, 1767, and 1773 the British Parliament passed some controversial acts to gain more revenue and make their economic condition better.
All these acts by the British Government were a huge blow to the economic, social, and political life of the American colonists.
Some of those infamous acts were:
- Sugar act (1764): Sugar would be exported only through England.
- Quartering act (1765): Colonists would have to allow British troops to stay in their private homes. Even the act gave their troops the power to acquire shelter forcefully.
- Stamp Act (1765): All legal documents needed to have a stamp.
- Currency Act (1764)
- Townshend Acts (1767)
- Tea Act (1773), etc.
All these laws forced the people in the 13 colonies to protest against the British government’s decision.
Over time, the protest went bigger and bigger. Finally, after some major events (Such as the Boston tea party, the Boston Massacre, and the imposition of Intolerable Acts), it took the extreme form of the American Revolutionary war.
As a result of the Revolution, in 1776 on July 4th, all 13 colonies declared their independence from Great Britain and formed their own nation, the United States of America.
So, this was how the Seven Years’ War led Americans to the great revolution.
Was The Seven Years’ War The Main Cause of France’s Participation In The American Revolution?
Yes, this was one of the main reasons for France’s participation in the American Revolution.
Great Britain and France were always two hard-headed rivals for many centuries. Due to being two almost equal powers at the time, they were always in conflict.
In the Seven Years’ War, the France Empire had to face major defeat, but they never forget it. France’s King Louis XVI was always conscious to take revenge on Britain for the defeat.
Therefore, when the revolutionary war broke out in 1775, they came further to provide military, economic, and other support to the revolutionists. In the year 1778, they became an official ally of the revolutionists through the ‘Treaty of Alliance’.
