The Birth of A Nation

The Colonial Period

By 1733 England occupied thirteen colonies along the Atlantic Coast. The French
controlled Canada and Louisiana along the Mississippi River. By 1756 England and France
were fighting the Seven Years War known in America as the French and Indian War. The
British forces captured the Canadian strong points for example Louisburg 1758, Quebec 1759
and Montreal 1760. In 1763 Britain and France signed the Paris Treaty (Peace Treaty) that
gave Britain title to Canada and all the North America east of the Mississippi River.

Paris Treaty 1763

-The end of the Anglo-French war.

-Extension of the territories under British rule.

-The necessity to raise money to levy taxes.

The Era of Salutary Neglect 1720-1763

While Britain was busy fighting France many changes took place in the colonies:

-The colonists developed their own trade.

-There was a spirit of independence.

-There was a regression of the British power over the colonies (loosening).

-There was a questioning of the relationship between the mother country and the colonies.

-The colonists’ gradual awareness of the unjust relationship.

The Relationship Between Britain and its Colonies

-The colonies were considered as a source of raw material.

-The colonies were a market for the English manufactured goods.

-It was a colonial relationship

-Dependence – Domination – Exploitation – and Taxation

In order to keep these colonies dependent Britain took some measures:

-It enforced the existing laws such as the Navigation Acts.

-It passed other Acts such as:

The Quartering Act 1765: This act required the colonists to provide food and living quarters
for British soldiers stationed in the colonies.

The Sugar Act 1764: It imposed an import duty, or tax, on sugar, molasses, coffee, wines,
and other luxury items.