How did the French and Indian War affect the colonies?

The French and Indian War had a dramatic effect on the American colonies. Britain was occupied with the Seven Years War with France and had kind of left the American colonies to its own devices. The crown was very lax in tax collection during the war. Colonial leaders enjoyed a great deal of autonomy in this period.

At the conclusion of the American theater of the Seven Years War, the relationship with the English crown...

The French and Indian War had a dramatic effect on the American colonies. Britain was occupied with the Seven Years War with France and had kind of left the American colonies to its own devices. The crown was very lax in tax collection during the war. Colonial leaders enjoyed a great deal of autonomy in this period.

At the conclusion of the American theater of the Seven Years War, the relationship with the English crown was in flux. The war changed the economic and political dynamic. Britain had incurred heavy debt in the process of conducting war. Its plan was to collect more revenue from the colonists. The American colonists were not happy with this process because it affected important import industries like rum production.

With increased agitation because of the taxation policy, the British felt the need to increase military presence in the American colonies. This action led to warfare between the colonies and England.

The war also created a certain unity amongst the colonies. Before the conflict, there was no cohesion between the thirteen colonial governments. After fighting against a common enemy in the French and Indian War, the colonists felt a common bond that had not existed earlier. The fact that the French were forced to vacate their colonies to Britain also meant that the lands to the west of the colonies became an attractive incentive for freedom from England.