Editing American Revolution (section)

===1651–1763: Early seeds===
{{Further|Colonial history of the United States}}

The [[Thirteen Colonies]] were established in the 17th century as part of the [[English Empire]], and they formed part of the [[British Empire]] after the [[union of England and Scotland]] in 1707.{{Sfn|Taylor|2016|p=17}} The development of a unique American identity can be traced to the [[English overseas possessions in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms|English Civil War]] (1642–1651) and its aftermath. The [[History of the Puritans in North America|Puritan colonies]] of [[New England Colonies|New England]] supported the [[Commonwealth of England|Commonwealth]] government responsible for the [[execution of King Charles I]]. After the [[Stuart Restoration]] of 1660, [[Massachusetts Bay Colony|Massachusetts]] did not recognize [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] as the legitimate king for more than a year after his [[Coronation of the British monarch|coronation]]. In [[King Philip's War]] (1675–1678), the New England colonies fought a handful of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes without military assistance from England, thereby contributing to the development of a uniquely American identity separate from that of the [[British people]].{{Sfn|Lepore|1999|pp=5–7}}

In the 1680s, Charles and his brother, [[James II of England|James II]], attempted to bring New England under direct English control.{{Sfn|Nettels|1938|p=297}} The colonists fiercely opposed this, and [[the Crown]] nullified their [[Colonial charters in the Thirteen Colonies|colonial charters]] in response.{{Sfn|Lovejoy|1987|pp=148–156, 155–157, 169–170}} In 1686, James finalized these efforts by consolidating the separate New England colonies along with [[Province of New York|New York]] and [[Province of New Jersey|New Jersey]] into the [[Dominion of New England]]. [[Edmund Andros]] was appointed royal governor and tasked with governing the new Dominion under his [[direct rule]]. Colonial assemblies and [[town meeting]]s were restricted, new taxes were levied, and rights were abridged. Dominion rule triggered bitter resentment throughout New England.{{Sfn|Barnes|1960|pp=169–170}} When James tried to rule without [[Parliament of England|Parliament]], the English aristocracy removed him from power in the [[Glorious Revolution]] of 1688.{{Sfn|Taylor|2016|p=12}} This was followed by the [[1689 Boston revolt]], which overthrew Dominion rule.{{Sfn|Webb|1998|pp=190–191}}{{Sfn|Lustig|2002|p=201}} Colonial governments reasserted their control after the revolt. The new monarchs, [[William III of England|William]] and [[Mary II of England|Mary]], granted new charters to the individual New England colonies, and local democratic self-government was restored.{{Sfn|Palfrey|1864|p=596}}{{Sfn|Evans|1922|p=430}}

After the [[Glorious Revolution]] in 1688, the [[British Empire]] was a [[constitutional monarchy]] with sovereignty in the [[King-in-Parliament]]. Aristocrats inherited seats in the [[House of Lords]], while the [[Landed gentry|gentry]] and merchants controlled the elected [[House of Commons]]. The king ruled through [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|cabinet ministers]] who depended on majority support in the Commons to govern effectively.{{Sfn|Taylor|2016|pp=12–13}} British subjects on both sides of the Atlantic proudly claimed the unwritten [[British constitution]], with its guarantees of the [[rights of Englishmen]], protected personal liberty better than any other government.{{Sfn|Taylor|2016|pp=12–13 & 32}} It served as the model for [[Colonial government in the Thirteen Colonies|colonial governments]]. The Crown appointed a [[Colonial government in the Thirteen Colonies#Governor|royal governor]] to exercise [[Executive (government)|executive]] power.{{Sfn|Middlekauff|2005|p=46}} [[Property qualification|Property owners]] elected a [[Colonial government in the Thirteen Colonies#Assembly|colonial assembly]] with powers to legislate and levy taxes, but the British government reserved the right to [[veto]] colonial legislation.{{Sfn|Taylor|2016|pp=12–13}} [[Radical Whig]] ideology profoundly influenced American political philosophy with its love of liberty and opposition to tyrannical government.{{Sfn|Middlekauff|2005|p=51}}

With little industry except shipbuilding, the colonies exported agricultural products to Britain in return for manufactured goods. They also imported molasses, rum, and sugar from the [[British West Indies]].{{Sfn|Taylor|2016|pp=19 & 23}} The British government pursued a policy of [[mercantilism]] in order to grow its economic and political power. According to mercantilism, the colonies existed for the mother country's economic benefit, and the colonists' economic needs took second place.{{Sfn|Middlekauff|2005|p=28}} In 1651, Parliament passed the first in a series of [[Navigation Acts]], which restricted colonial trade with foreign countries. The Thirteen Colonies could trade with the rest of the empire but only ship certain commodities like tobacco to Britain. Any European imports bound for British America had to first pass through an English port and pay customs duties.{{Sfn|Taylor|2016|p=23}} Other laws regulated colonial industries, such as the [[Wool Act 1698]], the [[Hat Act 1731]], and the [[Iron Act 1750]].<ref>{{cite book |author=John A. Garraty |url=http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/uhs/WebSite/Courses/APUSH/1st%20Sem/Garraty%20Short%20History%20Chapters%201-18/chapter_threei.htm |title=A Short History of the American Nation |author2=Mark C. Carnes |publisher=Longman |year=2000 |isbn=0321070984 |edition=8th |chapter=Chapter Three: America in the British Empire |chapter-url=http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/uhs/WebSite/Courses/APUSH/1st%20Sem/Garraty%20Short%20History%20Chapters%201-18/chapter_threei.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517130635/http://edweb.tusd.k12.az.us/uhs/WebSite/Courses/APUSH/1st%20Sem/Garraty%20Short%20History%20Chapters%201-18/chapter_threei.htm |archive-date=May 17, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Max Savelle, [[iarchive:empirestonations00maxs/page/93|Empires to Nations: Expansion in America, 1713–1824]], p. 93 (1974)</ref>

Colonial reactions to these policies were mixed. The [[Molasses Act 1733]] placed a duty of six [[History of the British penny (1714–1901)|pence]] per gallon upon foreign molasses imported into the colonies. This act was particularly egregious to the New England colonists, who protested it as taxation without representation. The act increased the smuggling of foreign molasses, and the British government ceased enforcement efforts after the 1740s.{{Sfn|Miller|1943|pp=98–99}} On the other hand, certain merchants and local industries benefitted from the restrictions on foreign competition. The limits on foreign-built ships greatly benefitted the colonial shipbuilding industry, particularly in New England.{{Sfn|Thomas|1964|p=632}} Some argue that the economic impact was minimal on the colonists,{{Sfn|Whaples|1995|p=140}}{{Sfn|Thomas|1964}} but the political friction that the acts triggered was more serious, as the merchants most directly affected were also the most politically active.{{Sfn|Walton|1971}}

The British government lacked the resources and information needed to control the colonies. Instead, British officials negotiated and compromised with colonial leaders to gain compliance with imperial policies. The colonies defended themselves with [[Militia (United States)#Early-mid Colonial era (1607–1754)|colonial militias]], and the British government rarely sent military forces to America before 1755.{{Sfn|Taylor|2016|pp=31–32}} According to historian [[Robert Middlekauff]], "Americans had become almost completely self-governing" before the American Revolution, a practice that was consistent with the British monarchy's practice of [[salutary neglect]].{{Sfn|Middlekauff|2005|p=30}}

During the [[French and Indian War]] (1754–1763), the British government fielded 45,000 soldiers, half [[British Regulars]] and half colonial volunteers. The colonies also contributed money to the war effort; however, two-fifths of this spending was reimbursed by the British government. Great Britain defeated France and acquired [[New France|that nation's territory]] east of the Mississippi River.{{Sfn|Taylor|2016|pp=45 & 47}}

In early 1763, the [[Bute ministry]] decided to permanently garrison 10,000 soldiers in North America.{{Sfn|Middlekauff|2005|p=55}}{{Sfn|Taylor|2016|p=51}} This would allow approximately 1,500 politically well-connected [[History of the British Army|British Army]] officers to remain on active duty with full pay (stationing a standing army in [[Great Britain]] during peacetime was politically unacceptable).<ref>Shy, ''Toward Lexington'' pp. 73–78</ref> A standing army would provide defense against Native Americans in the west and foreign populations in newly acquired territories (the French in [[History of Canada (1763–1867)|Canada]] and the Spanish in [[British Florida|Florida]]). In addition, British soldiers could prevent white colonists from instigating conflict with Native Americans and help collect customs duties.{{Sfn|Middlekauff|2005|pp=55–56}}

Migration beyond the [[Appalachian Mountains]] increased after the French threat was removed, and Native Americans launched [[Pontiac's War]] (1763–1766) in response. The [[Grenville ministry]] issued the [[Royal Proclamation of 1763]], designating the territory between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River as an [[Indian Reserve (1763)|Indian Reserve]] closed to white settlement. The Proclamation failed to stop westward migration while angering settlers, fur traders, and land speculators in the Thirteen Colonies.{{Sfn|Middlekauff|2005|p=60}}