British North America 1764–76

In the aftermath of the Seven Years’ War victorious Britain would nevertheless become the victim of North America’s phenomenal success. France and Spain were united in their determination for revenge for their near expulsion from the continent and, in the thirteen colonies, young military leaders like George Washington had gained the battle experience critical to the future success of the Revolution. The British Crown had huge territories to administer and defend, and crippling debts incurred prosecuting the world’s first global war. The combination proved toxic for its relations with the American colonies. Its attempts to mitigate its costs with new taxes provoked civil unrest. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 alienated the colonists further by pacifying the Indians formerly allied to the French. The result was the Pontiac Rebellion, in which an alliance of the Indian tribes destroyed eight British frontier.