American Colonies Dbq

America and England had intertwined economies that supported each other with things such as land expansion, but separated due to their conflicting ideas on the American value of economic freedom of the taxation of the colonies. During the French and Indian War, England expanded American land by seizing French and Indian territory. A map of territorial change shows the difference in land owned before and after the French and Indian War and the Treaty of Paris. England claimed much more land past the Ohio River Valley in America (Document C). Britain was willing to help America gain land which was economic support because the amount of land a country is able to maintain is a large part of a country’s economy. Britain expanded their empire in …show more content…
The colonies initially felt as if they were Englishmen living in America. In “Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress”, America fought for their rights as Englishmen: “...his Majesty’s liege subjects in these colonies, are entitled to the inherent rights and liberties of his natural born subjects within the kingdom of Great Britain… (Document G).” By deeming themselves as “his Majesty’s liege subjects”, America represents how they are fighting for the rights of Englishmen who happen to be living in America. They feel as if they are in the same social group as Englishmen who live in England and that they share the same nationality. They are content with their social relationship and social freedom because they feel socially equal to the English who live in England. The atmosphere quickly changes as Americans feel awkward by the presence of Englishmen in their homes.. The Americans were required to share their homes with English soldiers and were not happy with the situation due to the Quartering Act: “His majesty hereby requires the people to house and quarter the officers and soldiers… soldiers must be quartered in the homes of the people of the colony (Document K).” The Americans were not willing to share their homes with the British. The Americans no longer felt the same social connection with the English. The Americans once saw the English as the same type of person, but now saw the British people in their homes as a requirement and not something they’d be willing to do as a favor. The Americans and English are forced together but feel separate due to the new life the the Americans have. The separation created social differences between the two countries, and was shown through the enforcement of Americans and Englishmen together. Eventually, Americans started to feel like a different group of people