Loss of the American Colonies

What was the loss of America from English control?

In 1776 the 13 American colonies broke away from Britain and, in 1783, became an independent country, the United States of America.

What were the causes of the loss of America?

Although England ruled a prosperous and still growing 'empire' in North America, many colonists started to resent the English government and the way it treated them. This eventually led to war and independence.

• ❖ The American colonies had grown prosperous, and had developed a strong economy through trade. They did not need to rely on England as much anymore.
• ❖ America was populated by self-made men, who had become rich through trade. The English class system, which saw government in the hands of the nobility, seemed outdated to them.
• ❖ The American colonies had developed their own constitutions, which did not always agree with English rule.
• ❖ After the Seven Years' War, Britain imposed the Navigation Acts - strict rules on imports and exports. These favoured British merchants, and made luxury goods expensive in America.
• ❖ After the Seven Years' War, Britain imposed direct taxes on the American colonies, but the colonists resented the fact that they were taxed without any say in how those taxes were spent.
• ❖ The Stamp Act of 1765 created a heavy tax for the paper used for official documents.
• ❖ Events such as the Boston Massacre of 1770 made the colonists argue that British rule was tyrannical.
• ❖ The colonists responded to British taxes on tea by destroying stores of East India Company tea, in what was known as the 'Boston Tea Party'.
• ❖ Britain's reaction to the Boston Tea Party - the Coercive Acts - led to further discontent.
• ❖ Fighting broke out, notably at Lexington and Concord, in 1775. The War of Independence started in 1775.

Why was the loss of America significant?

These are some of the reasons why the loss of America was significant.

• ❖ Britain lost the American colonies from its empire. It now had to turn its attention to other areas - notably India - in order to develop its empire and increase its power.
• ❖ The American War of Independence cost Britain £80 Million. However, although this added to Britain's debt, the country was still very wealthy.
• ❖ Up to 100,000 loyal American colonists migrated to British Canada, as they did not want to live in a republic. This created a large number of loyal colonists in Canada.
• ❖ Britain realised that it had to treat its colonies differently, in order to avoid repeating the problems it had faced in America. This led to Britain giving its colonies in Canada more self-government.
• ❖ Britain also had to find somewhere else to send its convicted criminals, as they had previously sent them to America. This led to the development of the colonies in Australia.