The Crisis of the British Empire Essay - 1260 Words

The Crisis of the British Empire Beginning in 1754, two years later the French and Indian war spawned what is known as the Seven Years War in Europe. Attempting to gain control over the Ohio River fur trade, the North American French colonies in alliance with the American Indians attacked British troops along the western frontier. The war ended in 1763, forcing France and Spain to cede their regions of North America to the British empire (namely, Canada and Florida). This acquisition and the resulting withdrawal of Spanish troops weakened the escaped slaves defense in refugee camps stationed in the Florida bayous. By 1768, the British parliament had established multiple taxes on trade in the North American colonies and†¦show more content†¦African Americans used these concepts in their appeals for freedom. African Americans in the Revolution As the revolution began to spur talk of liberty and anti-slavery sentiment, African Americans were optimistic that this would enable the white patriots to realize that the institution of slavery contradicted their ideals. An instance of African American activism occurred in 1766 when a procession of slaves marched in Charleston, South Carolina. Throughout the low country of South Carolina and Georgia, large numbers of slaves continued to escape during the 1760s and 1770s. Since 1701 slaves had formally sued the courts for their freedom, but during the revolutionary era they relied increasingly on fundamental ideas of equality to support their cases. African American petitions for liberty also adopted these principles of equality. Neither were African Americans absent from revolutionary demonstrations; in 1765 black men protested the Stamp Act in Boston, rioted in 1768 against British soldiers, and fought alongside Crispus Attucks in the 1770 Boston Massacre. Black Enlightenment Both the Great Awakening and the Enlightenment contributed to the distinction of African American intellectuals during the late 18th century. Phillis Wheatley Phillis Wheatley arrived in Boston at around age eight during the year 1761. An avid reader, she rapidly learned the English language and was writing poetry by the time she turned thirteen. A compilationShow MoreRelatedThe British Empire And The Colonial Crisis854 Words   |  4 PagesThe British Empire and the Colonial Crisis Starting in 1754, the Seven Years’ war began and led up to a sequence of events involving the Parliament. The Parliament is the highest legislature in Great Britain and consisted of the House of Lords and House of Commons. 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