English colonists at a dockside tobacco warehouse, from a 1751 map of Virginia above 2. Restrictions on trade
Relations between Britain and the colonies had become tense by the 1750s. Britain wanted a cheap supply of raw materials like cotton for its expanding industries and saw America as a good source for these. However, Britain did not want American competition for its industries. They wanted America as a market to sell the finished goods made by British industry using American materials. The British Parliament passed the Navigation Acts, which forced the colonies to sell some of their products (cotton, sugar, tobacco) to Britain alone. This meant that the British could decide the price, as the Americans had nobody else to sell to. These rules caused a lot of smuggling, which led to clashes with the British navy.
3. The Seven Years’ War
France had also settled colonies in North America. During the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), the British had defeated them and seized a lot of their territory. Huge numbers of British soldiers fought in America, and the British government wanted the colonies to contribute to the cost of the army, as it was there for their protection. The war also meant that many Americans had gained military experience through fighting with the British army.
