The seven years war

French and British colonists in North America quarrelled on and off over territory for years. In 1754 fighting broke out between them in a war that was at first called the French arid, Indian War (1754-1763). Both sides recruited native^Americans. The Iroquois ['irl^wpiz] fought for the British, while the Algonquins [ Eel'gorjkwinz] and Hurons ['hju^ranz] helped the French. The British won the crucial Battle ofJ^Krebec. Defeated, the French lost control of North America.

In 1756 the conflict became part of a larger European war known as the Seven Years War. It was fought between France and Britain for control of North America. The British won an outright victory, taking control of all the Eastern North America.

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The early English settlements in America were founded by small groups of people, like the Mayflower emigrants. These colonies grew larger and became important factors in Britain's struggle for greater role in the world. They gave Britain different materials and much money.

From the mid-1700s relations between Britain and the 13 British coJ^ijes_on_the east coastof North America began to break down. After the British defeated France in the Seven Years War in 1763, they tried to ex?rt more power over the colonies. The colonies had no right to trade with other nations than England. They also had to pay duty on everything imported by England to the colonies from other countries.

At the same time the American colonies themselves were becoming stronger and were establishing their own industry, agriculture and trade. They ignored many rules introduced by the English Parliament which did not let them trade with other nations.

The colonies did not want to pay the duties on products brought from Britain and her other colonies. They were especially against the duty on all tea imported into colonies, and duties on some other less important products like paper.

So late in 1773, when the colonists learned that seven British ships carrying tea were on their way to New York^Boston and other ports, they decided that the tea duty was not going to be paid and that the tea was not going to be landed.

When the first ship, the Dartmouth, reached Boston, a meeting was called to discuss the problem and decide what to do.

At the meeting the Americans decided not to take this tea and made a plan. Fifty Boston men dressed as Indians and after dark climbed up the sides of the Dartmouth and two other ships which had already reached Boston and threw the boxes of tea into water. This incident was named the Boston Tea Party. . ----- -

What had happened at Boston was greeted by other colonies. All of them were beginning to understand that they could develop better without a mother country. Many people began to think that they would have to fight for their rights. These people were called Patriots.

The next year the leaders of the colonies called a meeting to discuss relations with Britain. It was held in Philadelphia, in September, 1774. At this meeting, which was called the continental Congress, the colonies' problems were discussed for many days.

In the end the Congress decided to send a letter to London asking the Government to respect the rights of the colonies in America; but there was no change for the better. So the patriots understood that the Congress hadn't helped them much and they would have to fight for their rights.

Preparations for the war, which cost Britain its American empire, began. It was the war for the independence of American colonies from British rule.

z THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

The War of Independence started in 1775 and ended in 1783. It lasted for 8 years. It was a war betweenBritain and its colonies in North America which wanted to be free. George "Washington was commander-in-chief of the North American army and he did very much for the victory of the colonists.

In 1776 the Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas efferson and some other people and adopted on July 4. Thirteen English colonies declared themselves free and independent of England, and each of them was called a state. That is why July 4 is a national holiday in the United States, it is Independence Day and birthday of^Jhe American nation. The Declaration was signed in a building (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On that building we can see the famous Liberty Bell which told the happy people outside that a new nation had been born.

After the Declaration of Independence the first national flag was ; taken on June 14, 1777. The flag had thirteen red and white stripes and i thirteen stars on a blue filed in the left-hand corner. There was a star and a \ stripe for each one of the former thirteen colonies.

Fighting between the Continental Army and the British army , continued. In 1778 the French offered to help the Americans and sent a fleet I of ships. Later, in July 1780, an army from France arrived to help American armies. In 1781 a combined force of American and French won the battle of YorJctojwm_in Virginia. Then two years of peace talks followed. At last in . 1783 Britain recognized American independence and the Peace Treaty of. Paris was signed. i

When peace had been formally made with Britain in 1783, the people _; of the United States had to decide how they wanted to run their new country. In 1787 the Constitution was adopted. It stated that the United States was to be a republic (a country, governed by the people). The Americans chose George Washington as their first President.