1. The French and Indian War. In the first place, this war facilitated the union of the colonies.  Several attempts at union had failed; there were too many opposing influences.  While by far the greater number of the colonists were English, there were many Dutch in New York, and some Swedes remained in Delaware.  Moreover, the English themselves differed radically in politics, those in the South having been royalists, while those in New England sympathized with Cromwell and parliament.  But more serious than these political differences, were the differences in religion.  The old European quarrels had an echo here, and the catholics of Maryland, the episcopalians of Virginia, the puritans of Massachusetts, the baptists of Rhode Island, the lutherans of New York, and the quakers of Pennsylvania, all had grievances to remember.  Travel, which does so much to broaden the mind and free it from prejudice, was both difficult and dangerous.  The French and Indian War, bringing together men from all the colonies, was of great service in breaking down intercolonial animosities.  Facing the same dangers, standing shoulder to shoulder in battle, and mingling with each other around the camp fires, the men of the several colonies came to know each other better, and this knowledge ripened into affection.  The soldiers on their return home did much to disseminate the good feeling.

In the second place, the French and Indian War by annihilating all the claims of France to American soil removed the principal enemy that had rendered the protection of England necessary to the colonies.

In the third place, this war gave the colonists an experience in military affairs and a confidence in their own powers which emboldened them to dare open rebellion.

And in the fourth place, this war produced the debt which led to the taxation which was the most immediate cause of the outbreak.

2. Various tyrannical acts of the king.  These are given explicitly in the Declaration of Independence.

Some Pertinent Questions.

Name a country in the world’s history that ever allowed its colonies representation in its home parliament or legislative body.  Name one that does it today.  Why do territories in this country desire to become states?

Name some country, other than England, which could have given birth to the United States.  Prove your proposition.

The Duc de Choiseul, the French minister who signed the treaty whereby France yielded to England her claims to American soil, remarked after doing it, “That is the beginning of the end of English power in America.”  What did he mean?  Upon what did he base his opinion?  Why did France help the Americans in the Revolutionary War?

What is meant, in speaking of the colonies, by royal province? Charter government? Proprietary government?

What experience in law making did the colonists have?  Where and when did the first representative assembly in America convene?  Find in the Declaration of Independence an expression complaining of non-representation in parliament.