The Sugar, Quatering & Stamp Act

After the Seven Year War, the debt of England nearly doubled. People in Briton pay far more taxes then the colonists in America. This unbalanced seemed unfair, for the war had been fought to protect the colonists. British agreed that the colonists should payr more taxes to recover from the debt and make a greater empire. Led by Grenville, Parliament levied heavier taxes on British subjects, especially the colonists. They created three acts: The Sugar Act, the Quatering Act and the Stamp Act. Colonist felt offended by this new laws.

The Sugar Act

The Sugar Act was passed by the Parliament in 1764. This act reduced the rate of tax on molasses from six pence to three pence per gallon, while Grenville took measures that the duty be strictly enforced. The act also listed more foreign goods to be taxed including sugar, certain wines, coffee, pimiento, cambric and printed calico, and further, regulated the export of lumber and iron. The enforced tax on molasses caused the almost immediate decline in the rum industry in the colonies. The situation disrupted the colonial economy by reducing the markets to which the colonies could sell, and the amount of currency available to them for the purchase of British manufactured goods.

The Quartering Act
In 1765, Parliament passed the Quartering Act, which required residents of some colonies to feed and house British soldiers serving in America. These acts outraged colonists, who believed the taxes and regulations were unfair. Many also questioned why the British army needed to remain in North America when the French and Indians had already been defeated.

The Stamp Act

Though the colonists disliked all of these acts, they particularly took offense to the 1765 Stamp Act. This tax required certain goods to bear an official stamp showing that the owner had paid the tax. Many of these items were paper goods, such as legal documents and licenses, newspapers, leaflets, and even playing cards. Also many products. This was the first time the Parliament imposed direct tax to the colonies.

Video on the French & Indian War

The French & Indian War

England and France had been building a conflict in America since 1869; their effort for their colonies in American territory was remarkable. In Europe this war was called The Seven Years War and spread in Europe, Asia, Africa and West Indies. The French and Indian War between the French and the British was fought for the Ohio River Valley. The French and Indians allied in 1754 to fight against the English troops.

At the beginning of this war, the British suffer great losses. From 1756 - 1757, the French destroy the English on Lake Ontario and Lake George. The Indians were really helpful to the French; they settled and protected the frontier especially in Pennsylvania and Virginia. The war shifted in favor of the English in 1758 - 1759. French ships were blocked and the weapons, ammunitions and material needed for the war did not arrived to America. As a result of the lack of resources, they began to lose battles. French also suffer the abandonment of the Indians, who benefit from material given by them. Since the French could not supply them any more with material, Indians stop giving help to the French.

The British captured the St. Lawrence River, which helped them find their way to Quebec in 1759. The following year, in 1760 they captured Montreal. English forced the French Commander Governor General to surrender and grant them the rest of Canada.

The war ended in 1763 with the Treaty of Paris. British won a great part of the French territory, The Great Lakes and The Ohio River Valley.