The French and Indian War, Start of the American Revolution? Essay Example
The French and Indian War, Start of the American Revolution? Essay Example

The French and Indian War, Start of the American Revolution? Essay Example

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  • Pages: 2 (499 words)
  • Published: September 18, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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George Washington's lack of military skill led to his surrender at Ft. Necessity in 1754, which marked the onset of the French and Indian War. This war was both lengthy and costly, eventually extending to Europe.

Following the war and its immediate aftermath, the English began to tighten their grip on colonial government, causing resentment among colonists due to their oppressive tactics and arrogance. This eventually led to all-out rebellion. The resentment towards the British began with General Braddock's military blunders in 1755 when he led 2,000 men, largely composed of colonials called "bucksins," to capture Fort Duquesne. The colonials' undisciplined behavior and their unorthodox fighting methods similar to those used by Indians earned them contempt from the established British Red-Coats.

This resulted in the colonials harboring dislike towards the British as they believed that they fought competently using meth

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ods taught to them, which was not acknowledged. In 1756, the British initiated an attack on Canada but did not concentrate their troops on Montreal and Quebec. Instead, they spread out their forces and attempted to attack multiple places simultaneously. This ill-advised decision by the British led to the deterioration of their reputation as an unbeatable army. This change in perspective boosted the confidence of colonials during the upcoming revolution.

Despite ultimately triumphing over Montreal in 1760, the British army's image suffered a permanent blow. The conclusion of the war sparked enthusiasm among colonists and bolstered their belief in their military prowess, as they perceived themselves as possessing a noteworthy amount of capability. With newfound confidence and a revised perception of the previously unbeatable British army, this would later have negative consequences for the Brits.

The revolution could b

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ignited by just a few small sparks. The British had a disregard for the amateur colonial military efforts, not allowing any colonist to have a rank above captain, and held low opinions of the colonists in general. This angered the colonists who resented not being acknowledged for their hard work in building an empire for Britain. However, the colonists were also not without fault.

Several colonists declined to contribute military forces or funds towards the war efforts. However, they discovered that they had many similarities while serving alongside one another from various regions. This bond was critical for the success of the revolution. The war's significant debt caused the English to tighten their grip on the colonies. Additionally, the British imposed numerous new taxes on the colonists in an attempt to repay the debt, causing outrage over taxation without representation.

The American Revolution began with many factors, including the French and Indian War. The British made mistakes during their military campaigns and their attitudes towards the colonists caused resentment. The colonials were partly ungrateful and believed they shouldn't have needed to defend themselves actively. Ultimately, British blunders and arrogance eroded the bond between the colonists and England.

Within a span of approximately twelve years, the colonists' newfound self-assurance and bitterness towards Britain would lead to an open revolt against the monarchy.

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