Overview
This lecture explains how the Seven Years War and new political and religious ideas set the stage for the American Revolution by changing colonial society and relations with Britain.
The Seven Years War (French and Indian War)
- The Seven Years War (1754–1763) was a global conflict between Britain and France, known in America as the French and Indian War.
- Mercantilism, the belief that colonies exist to benefit the mother country's economy, drove European expansion and competition.
- The colonial economy heavily depended on slave labor for crops like tobacco and sugar.
- Tensions arose as the French expanded into the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys, forming alliances with Native Americans.
- The 1754 conflict started when George Washington attempted to remove the French from western Pennsylvania but failed.
- British victories at Fort Duquesne, Ticonderoga, and the Plains of Abraham (Quebec) turned the tide in their favor.
- The war ended with the Treaty of Paris (1763); Britain gained Canada and Florida, while France kept more valuable sugar islands.
Consequences of the War
- Native Americans were the biggest losers, losing French allies and facing expanding British settlement.
- Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763) was an unsuccessful Native American revolt against British postwar policies.
- The British issued the Proclamation Line of 1763, forbidding colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains; colonists ignored it.
Roots of the American Revolution
- Colonists began to challenge British authority, especially when Parliament limited westward expansion.
- New political ideas like republicanism (government without a king, focus on the public good) and liberalism (government protects natural rights) gained popularity.
- John Locke’s theories of social contract and rights to life, liberty, and property influenced colonial thinking.
The Great Awakening
- The Great Awakening was a major religious revival in the early 18th century, making religion more emotional and personal.
- New denominations (Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist) and preachers like George Whitefield challenged traditional church authority.
- The revival promoted questioning authority and contributed to a spirit of independence.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Mercantilism — economic theory where colonies exist to enrich the mother country through controlled trade.
- Seven Years War — a global conflict (1754–1763) mainly between Britain and France, called the French and Indian War in America.
- Treaty of Paris (1763) — agreement ending the Seven Years War, redistributing colonial territories.
- Proclamation Line of 1763 — British law barring colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.
- Republicanism — political philosophy supporting government without a king and prioritizing the public good.
- Liberalism — political philosophy emphasizing protection of individual rights and limited government.
- Great Awakening — religious revival in the colonies promoting emotional faith and challenging traditional authority.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review concepts of mercantilism, republicanism, and liberalism.
- Prepare for a discussion on how these conflicts and ideas led directly to the American Revolution.