The Enlightenment:
educated men and women
began to question
traditional ideas, e.g. the
divine right of kings
French and Indian War: in 1756
Britain and France went to war
over North America. American
colonists fought alongside the
British Army and gained
experience. Among these men
was George Washington
Immigration: people
moving from countries
such as Holland and
Germany reduced the
British identity of the
colonies. By thr 1760's
people no longer referred
to themselves as 'British',
but 'American'.
No representation in
Westminster: Colonists
did not have any say in
the decisions that were
being made about
matters that affected
them. Thomas
Jefferson, John Adams
and Benjamin Franklin
were among these
people.
Navigation Acts: Trade
restrictions were imposed on
the colonies. e.g. they could
only sell tobacco to Britain at
whatever low price Britain
wanted to pay. American
colonies, in turn, were forced
to buy their sugar from British
plantations.
No Taxation without Representation: in
the 1760's the British Parliament
introduced a number of new taxes on the
colonies: e.g. The Quartering Act, The
Stamp Act.